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Sunday's Internet Edition, October 12, 2008.
Non-traditional schooling a perfect fit for some students
District supported home schooling offers flexibility for families
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Reading materials are available for checkout to home study students. Also available are the same hands-on science materials and mathematic manipulatives students in the classrooms are using.
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By Dana Edlund
Staff Writer
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Galt elementary school district provides an option to traditional schooling called “the home study program.” Deb Kenneweg, a teacher with more than 20 years experience, leads this program, currently housed at Marengo Ranch Elementary.
The program has started the year with 10 students, but the numbers will fluctuate as families come and go. For the school year 2007/2008, 32 kids participated in the home study program at some time throughout the year.
“My clientele is home school parents who want the support of the district,” said Kenneweg. “Parents can contact me by phone or e-mail for support, between our appointments.”
The program is open to district students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Non-district students can apply for an inter-district transfer. There is no cost to the parents for the instruction or materials. Kenneweg plans the core program based on district curriculum. Parents are offered teacher manuals. The parents have some flexibility as to how to teach that core program. Because a credentialed teacher oversees the home study program, the families in the program were not affected with the now-overturned ruling that parents must hold a teaching credential to home school their children.
The children of the home study program can qualify for any regular district offered services, like speech. They may check books out from the Marengo Ranch or McCaffrey library as well.
When they first start on the program, they meet with Kenneweg one time a week, for up to one hour. Work is checked, parents are coached in how to teach materials, and students can use the available hands-on science items. Students may also participate on-site, at Marengo Ranch, in extras they may not be easily able to do at home – like music or P.E. For the middle school students, they have the option of science lab time, at McCaffrey, if they want it.
Kenneweg organizes field trips open to all the program students. For example, they may go to McFarland Ranch. The parents are responsible for getting their child to and from these field trips. There are occasional combined grade level activities held in Kenneweg’s classroom as well.
“There are as many different reasons for using the home study program as there are home studiers,” said Kenneweg. “Some students get overwhelmed by all the non-academic things at school, like friends. Some families need flexibility to travel for their work; some need options because of custody issues. Some families may be in transition and just need short term schooling before moving again.”
Cari Reiswig, a seventh grade student in the program, participates in gymnastics. She practices at least five hours a day at Byers Gym in South Sacramento. Between her practice and travel time, traditional school was not an option.
Her mother, Kaye, says she is thankful to all the people at Galt schools who have supported her and Cari.
“Principal Rammer (from McCaffrey Middle School) has been so supportive,” said Reiswig, “He calls to find out how she is doing; he made sure she was invited on the field trip. This helps Cari from being too far removed from her friends. Judy Bullard at the district office helped us get into the home study program, and Deb Kenneweg has been emotionally supportive. Some of Cari’s past teachers have told us we can contact them for additional support if we need.”
Home study students must still pass state tests, and they take district assessments. They are held to the same curriculum standards as traditionally schooled students. Attendance is based on the work completed.
For more information on the home study program, please call the Galt elementary school district office at 209-744-4545.
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