Be Informed

Be informed about Parent Partnership Programs or PPP's,   Why?  Because some people think this is "homeschooling."   If that's you, hold on to your hat..... It's not.  Parent Partnerships are programs paid for by tax dollars, and clearly affiliated with the local public school;  homeschooling, is not.

Thanks to a lot of good publicity about homeschooling, what used to be considered extreme for a parent to do, has become quite vogue.  Unfortunately, many people, both those with school aged children and those who are not connected with the schools on a daily basis at all, hear about kids who "homeschool" and think it is done through the local school.  It's an easy misunderstanding to make, in some states, the only way a parent is able to teach their own children instead of sending them to regular public school classroom or a private school is through a program like the PPP.  But here in Washington state, we have what has become known as a Homeschool Law.

If you find yourself curious, ask questions in school and ask questions of people who run various homeschooiling support organizations, like the Washington Homeschool Organization or the Christian Homeschoolers of Washington.  These are people who  know what homeschool is and work voluntarily to keep the freedoms to homeschool here in our states.  Like a true learner, do not just settle for the first answer you hear, rather get the counsel of two or three people who know what they are talking about and evaluate what you hear and think about it for yourself.  If you decide a Parent Partnership Program is for you, then call it a parent partnership with the school and not homeschooling.  Please.  

And remembers, Parent Partnerships are a relatively new part of the public school system.  Many people, even those who currently run them and work for them, are not even sure what PPP's will look like years from now. These programs have already gone through many changes.  There are questions about funding, questions about what the actual the role of parent in relationship to state educators is.  One thing is certain,  and this is true whether your children are in public school or not, and that is ththat since the beginning of time, parents have been the primary educators of their children, and they do know best as to what is good for their own family and for their children.   This must always be the case no matter what kind of education you choose or value for your kids.  

One important thing for all taxpaying people to know is that Washington State law does not make any provision for the public funding of the private endeavor known as homeschooling.  Parents who "homeschool" do not receive funding from the state to do it, it is just like sending your kids to a private school.  Private schools get no state funding either.  Parent Partnerships in Washington public schools, do cost taxpayers money.... and make no mistake.... there is a lot of money being spent.

Parent Partnerships require buildings with furniture and electricity, janitors.  Teachers (and sometimes parent as classroom teachers)  must be hired too.  There must be funding available for textbook materials, computers, classes as well as books for the libraries these alternative schools now house. Make no mistake... you and I pay taxes that provide these programs. The PPP's are governed by the Washington Administrative Code and participants who register full time in these  public school programs are NOT homeschooling under the RCW.  (Although one can certainly be doing an ancillary (part time) class at the local public school and still be "homeschooling.")

As a taxpayer, as a teacher, as a  parent, as a student, be informed.