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There is an interesting trend happening in the world of education. It is reported that a whopping 1.5 million US children are being educated at home — a 75% increase from those homeschooled in 1999. If you are a parent who is planning to leave the public school system, you first must decide which homeschool program will best suit your child’s needs. So before you select a curriculum, you need to decide what type of program in which you want to participate.

Formal — This is the traditional method for teaching kids at home. Parents set up a schedule in which specific subjects are taught at specific times.

Relaxed — If your child does not work well within a traditionally-scheduled day, a “relaxed” homeschool program might work well. This method is also called “child-led learning” or “unschooling.” Learning opportunities are provided by parents, leaving children to learn naturally through a learning lifestyle.

Online — If you don’t feel qualified to assume the role of teacher, an online learning program might be the way to go. There are numerous public and private programs available. These schools have educators available who teach and create assignments for your child, while parents supervise and assist. This method works best with older children who can work fairly independently.

Homeschool Coop — This method can offer families the best of both worlds. A homeschool coop is formed when several parents decide to educate children as a group. The students will still follow a traditional homeschool curriculum and parents will direct the program, but the responsibilities are divided among them. This method can offer children an experience similar to public school, insofar as social opportunities and field trips, but will still maintain high-quality homeschool goals.

Once you decide which method will work best with your child’s learning style, you can begin the task of selecting a particular program. Here are three of the best-rated, accredited, online homeschool programs available:

Laurel Springs School is a private distance-learning college preparatory school with a highly-customizable curriculum. Students can learn through programs that are project-based, textbook-based or Web-based program, or a combination of all three. With 25 years of experience, Lauren Springs School focuses on each student’s individual learning style and utilizes a self-paced program customized for each child. laurelsprings.com

Bridgeway Academy offers a variety of programs for your child, including a Christian program with a Bible world-view curriculum and a new 100% online program for high school students. This means that no matter where you live in the world, your child can receive his high school diploma through an accredited program. Bridgeway’s NCAA status means your child can even qualify for athletic scholarships. homeschoolacademy.com

Forest Trail Academy is proud to be one of only a handful of online high schools in the country with doctoral educators. This private school offers curriculum for K-12 and college prep with advisors and counselors available for students and parents. Forest Trail Academy staff uses a friendly approach with a can-do attitude and regularly progress monitoring to ensure that every student succeeds. foresttrailacademy.com

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