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There’s never been a better time to homeschool your child in Florida. As concerns grow over your child’s safety in a traditional school setting as well as the quality of education they may receive there, more and more parents like you are bringing their children’s education home.
Florida offers some of the most flexible homeschool regulations in the country. But whether you choose to pursue traditional homeschooling or enroll your homeschooled child in the Personalized Education Program (PEP), you don’t have to do it alone. Homeschool programs offer expert-developed lesson plans, academic advisors, and other support for both your child and you, helping you to be successful in your at-home educational journey.
Deciding to homeschool can seem easy compared to the challenge of choosing the best homeschool program for your child. To help, we’ve outlined some of the key factors to look for.
Accreditation
Whether you’re planning to teach your child yourself or you plan to use an online homeschool program for your child’s instruction, homeschool programs bring a wealth of educational options to your door. But because the quality of education available in public and private schools is a top concern for many Florida parents like yourself, you are likely also concerned about the quality of the homeschool programs you’re evaluating. That’s where accreditation comes in.
Accreditation can help you to determine if a homeschool program meets the academic standards you want for your child. Accreditation is also important to ensure that their education will be recognized by colleges, universities, trade programs, and future employers.
Accredited homeschool programs have met, or even exceeded, the rigorous requirements of an independent agency such as Cognia. As you consider your child’s homeschool program options, look for the Cognia seal of approval, as well as any other awards and accreditations the program has received.
Proven Results
In a post-COVID world, with increasing concerns over educational quality and the threat of school violence, homeschooling is on the rise in Florida. As more and more conscientious parents like you are keeping their children at home, the resources available to support you and your child are increasing too.
Today, there are more homeschool programs on the market than ever before. Entrepreneurs, both with and without the expertise necessary to offer the best homeschooling programs in Florida, have built thriving businesses claiming to support homeschooling families with all their educational needs. However, only a few of these service providers have the history, reputation, or expertise necessary to support their claims.
There is no comparison between a newly-established homeschool program and one with decades of experience serving homeschool families. As you work through your homeschool program options, be wary of those formed in the last five years. Ask to speak with other parents who have used the program. Learn about their experience, how their child did and where they are today. Be sure to also examine the educational expertise on which the program is built: where did it come from, and what kind of results can you expect for your own child?
One-to-One Academic Advisors
Most homeschool programs offer academic advising for your child, but the form it takes is an important differentiator between programs. Many times, academic support is available only through a call center, where any number of on-staff advisors may answer your child’s questions each time they call.
While a rotation of advisors usually means that someone is always available to support your child, it also means that the advice they receive is generalized, or customized only to the knowledge the advisor can gain on the spot. They don’t know your child, their goals and aspirations, or the things that excite them about their education or future.
With the one-to-one academic advising offered by the best homeschool programs, your child is matched with an individual advisor. Serving as a direct resource and partner in your child’s academics, these advisors learn about your child and draw on that knowledge with every interaction, offering thoughtful guidance and advice to help your child through their unique educational experience.
Homeschool Communities and Groups
Homeschooling families like yours have always found ways to connect with others across the state, often with the support of homeschool programs. The growth of homeschooling in Florida and the invention of modern technology have made it easier than ever for you and your child to connect with others.
Virtual meet-ups, online and in-person field trips, and even live graduation ceremonies are all part of the modern homeschooling experience. For your child, the homeschool communities and groups offered by your homeschool program should offer invaluable connections to other students around the corner and around the world. Through these groups, your child can engage with other students through shared academics, athletics, or common interests.
For parents like you, your homeschool program’s communities and groups are just as important. By participating in homeschool groups, you have a space to connect with other parents, allowing you to share resources and advice, and supporting each other through your child’s educational journey.
Customized Approach to Learning
Every child is different, and understanding and working with these differences are critical to help them learn well. If your child has a physical or learning disability, it becomes even more important.
Unlike a traditional, one-size-fits-all educational approach, homeschooling allows you and your child to customize how they learn, from the subjects they study to the way they study them, to the hours that they are “in school.”
To help you build a custom curriculum and approach to help your child succeed, the best homeschool programs learn about your child’s unique learning style and needs, making individual recommendations for their education. These top-tier homeschooling programs are built on educational expertise, with years of advanced education and hands-on experience in a classroom. This provides them the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively assess your child’s needs and recommend a program and approach to match.
Funded by the Florida PEP Scholarship
As part of Florida’s Step Up for Students funding program, the Personalized Education Program (PEP) Scholarship offers funding for Florida students pursuing educational options outside of the state’s public and private school systems.
For homeschooling families like yours, the funding can help pay for curriculum and other expenses associated with an at-home education. But there is a catch: if your child has a PEP scholarship, you are required to submit a student learning plan every year, and they have to take the same standardized tests as enrolled students. For many families, the trade-off is worthwhile, but it also makes it more important to select an approved Service Provider within the Step Up for Students program. Homeschool programs like those offered by Bridgeway Academy, are already approved by Florida’s Step Up for Students program.
PEP Service Providers like Bridgeway have been pre-approved by the scholarship’s administrators. That means that our curriculum has met the state’s requirements. This is critical for both validating legitimacy as a homeschool program and ensuring that your valuable PEP funds can be used appropriately.
Bridgeway’s homeschool curriculum available through Step Up for Students include:
Choosing the Best Homeschool Programs in Florida
If you’re looking for the best homeschool program in Florida, consider Bridgeway Academy. With more than 35 years of support for homeschool families like yours, one-on-one academic advising, a 96% success rate in matching students to the right curriculum and learning plan, and robust virtual and in-person communities (including Parent Connections), Bridgeway Academy’s accredited homeschool programs meet all the criteria to help you provide a high-quality education that meets the unique needs of your child and family.
Bridgeway Academy’s comprehensive homeschool program options allow you to select the products and services you need for a customized education package. With everything from community groups to online classes and teacher support, we tailor our offerings to meet your child’s needs based on their learning style, personality, educational level, and future goals.
To connect with our Florida homeschooling experts, call us toll-free at (800) 863-1474, fill out a contact form, join our next virtual open house, or use our live chat feature!
