Public or home based. Virtual is the question.

For all those out there with school age kids, and you're disappointed in the traditional "brick and mortar" school... yet because of the unsteady economy, you can't afford private school... You'd like to do home school, because you can work it around your schedule, but, you don't know how to start or where to go, and what curriculum do you use? How much do you spend to be worth or not worth it?

Well, here is a solution. Go virtual. You get the convenience of being able to work it around your schedule at home. You get a laptop to log in, so if you need to travel with your child, you can still get the school work done. It's a public school online, so you still have the support of real live teachers, and even if your child has special needs, that's okay. If they are capable of working on the computer, even supervised, they are qualified to attend virtual school.

I highly recommend Wisconsin Virtual Learning, or WVL - http://www.wisconsinvl.net/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1

My son gets to go at his own pace, so in subjects that it takes him less time to do, he can use extra time in subjects that give him extra problems, to get better grades in all of his courses. He's improved so much, I can't begin to describe. But hurry, registration time is here, so make sure you sign up for it now. If it doesn't work out, you can always opt out later, but, you'll have to wait until next year if you wait. Here are the dates -

http://www.wisconsinvl.net/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=5074&&utm_source=WVL+Upcoming+Events+1.18&utm_campaign=Upcoming+Events+1.18&utm_medium=email

WVL or Wisconsin Virtual Learning has a team for your child. The principal and vice principal are active in meeting families across the state. Your child will have a homeroom teacher, a student-learning-advocate (SLA), and if special needs, a special ed teacher will also be assigned. There is also tech support, free. If you have problems, you get to call the techie guy.

There is also Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA) - http://www.k12.com/wiva

And also Wisconsin Connection Academy (WCA) - http://www.connectionsacademy.com/wisconsin-school/home.aspx

WIVA & WCA are good, as far as I've heard. My son actually went to WIVA his first year in virtual schooling. They moved to a different county, and I wanted to keep the same teachers, and WVL came in to where we were signed up. WVL is the one my son goes to and I can fully vouch for that program. The only cost is the tech fees, which are equivalent to the library fees you pay for your regular public school. Virtual schools won't have a library fee, since you'd utilize your local library, and the virtual school sends you your curriculum. WVL costs about $60 for the fees, and of course you may apply for low income assistance to get a reduced or waiver of the fee.

Not from Wisconsin? That's okay. Go to your browser, and type in mystate virtual academy or mystate virtual learning. Your state will have one or both there. I really do recommend it. You'll be able to keep tabs on your child's education, and if behavior problems are present, they won't be for long.