Chandra Hoffman has decided to home-school her 8-year-old son Hayden once this school year ends. She certainly didn’t make this choice to fill her “free” time — her first novel, “Chosen,” is coming out this fall, and most authors clear their calendars for an event like that. But her overstuffed calendar — and her son’s — is precisely the reason she is making this choice.

I have flirted over the years with home schooling. I decided that neither I nor my boys would thrive with that much of each other. And I couldn’t get past the blurring of roles — as a parent I am the unconditional support section, yet a teacher needs to critique and judge.

Hoffman does not see the two roles as colliding, though. In fact she makes the argument that schooling her son at home will free her of one role that makes her cringe — Hayden’s traffic cop. …”

For the complete article visit: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/deciding-to-home-school/

I especially enjoyed talking with home-school families and learning why this option works for them. Their passion to provide the best possible learning environment for their students’ needs was evident, as was HA-NC’s desire to assist with resources and training to enhance educators’ knowledge and skills. …”

For the complete post please visit:  http://www.governor09.nc.gov/eTownhall/Blog/post/2010/08/16/Home-school-families-share-passion-for-learning.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

RALEIGH – Deputy Secretary June W. Michaux today announced that Dr. Chená Flood has been selected to serve as the next Director of the N.C Department of Non-Public Education (DNPE). She is scheduled to start on July 12.

“Dr. Flood has a diverse education background which includes working with non-traditional education programs, public schools and in higher education,” Michaux said. “Her formal education, her varied experience in education which also includes being a teacher and curriculum specialist, her leadership and organizational skills will be assets to the Division of Non-Public Education.”

Flood currently serves as Director of School Partnerships at the N.C. Central University School of Education. She also has served as an adjunct instructor at several in-state and online colleges and universities, as well as a curriculum specialist and math instructor at North Carolina public schools, and has been a board member and presenter at non-public school programs.

“I am excited about this new opportunity and I look forward to supporting the strong foundation established at the Division of Non-Public Education,” Flood said. “Additionally, I will work diligently to broaden its scope to reach more of our partners in non-public education.”

Flood received her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at the East Carolina University College of Education, where she also earned a MSA in School Administration and Supervision. She graduated from N.C. Central University with a B.S. in Mathematics.  Her certifications include the N.C. Principal Licensure, the N.C. Curriculum Specialist Licensure and the N.C. Teacher Licensure (6-12 Mathematics).

Flood will join DNPE following the July 1 retirement of Rod Helder, who has served as its Director for 25 years.

“Rod has been an outstanding leader,” Michaux said.  “He has been a tremendous resource to the population served and the accomplishments made under his leadership have greatly improved the operation of the Division.”

http://www.doa.nc.gov/pio/news/showrelease.asp?id=0001-17JUN10

…Elizabeth Bridgewater, Atlanta, Ind., claimed that FACES leaders discriminated by refusing to accommodate her then-15-year-old daughter’s food allergy to chicken at an All Souls’ Day Masquerade Ball in November 2008.

FACES’ members educate their children separately but have gathered for weekly activities and organized dances.

After Bridgewater filed a discrimination complaint with the commission and then arranged for the banquet hall staff to prepare a steak dinner for her daughter, FACES expelled her family….”

For the complete text please visit:  http://www.indystar.com/article/20100623/NEWS04/6230318/1015/LOCAL01/Judge-rules-against-home-school-group

“We ended up choosing to home school when our older daughter, who eventually passed away in ‘99…was 13 [and] had an open heart surgery which led to a post-operative stroke,” Sandy explains. “So she was disabled at age 13 and we started home schooling her because we thought we would only be doing it for about six months. I knew nothing about it, had no intention of doing it, but I had these other — you know I was pregnant and I had four other kids, and the ones that were in school…were going to Christian school, and then the boys were taught. And it just came to be a road we took. She never was able to go back to school and then [my husband] Jere had job cut backs and the other two children had to come home, and we figured, well, we’ll home school them too. And we figured we’d do it a couple years, but then after about three years it became a family lifestyle and we did it by choice then, because of all the good things it was offering our family.”…”

For the complete interview please visit:  http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2010/06/cherryholmes_brings_new_bluegr.php

FONDA - Smiling and holding hands, Richard and Margie Cressy walked away Wednesday from what’s been a nearly six-month battle in the courts against criminal charges after they failed to file necessary paperwork for their children’s home education….

The Cressys faced both the criminal charges and educational neglect charges in Family Court. Cortese heard the educational neglect charges on Feb. 10 and issued a six-month adjournment in contemplation of dismissal.

Glen Town Justice Thomas J. Murray Sr. decided earlier in the month to send the criminal charges to Family Court where they were dismissed Wednesday….”

For the complete story please visit:  http://www.leaderherald.com/page/content.detail/id/522774.html

The Independent

FLATWOODS — It looks just like any other school field day, more than a hundred kids teamed up for tug-of-war, sack races, egg toss and relays. Their proud parents snap photos, right before summer vacation begins.

The only difference in this class is they’re all home schooled — here to connect with other children like themselves….”

For the complete article visit:  http://dailyindependent.com/local/x1174312733/Fun-and-games

Would this give the local public schools or the federal government (since public schools receive federal funding) any way to have control over homeschoolers. ”

Deborah Stevenson: “The short answer is yes. One of the rules usually is that the child has to maintain a certain grade point average in order to be on the team. That inevitably leads to the comment that the officials in the school must have proof that the homeschooled child is receiving that grade point. How they determine that becomes the next question. The school official likely will ask to see the curriculum, testing, work, grades, etc. of the child in order to show that the homeschooled child is receiving that grade. The
official also likely may claim that even though the homeschooled child may have received the same grade, the child was not completing the same work/curriculum as the child in the public school. Arguments ensue. Ultimately, the school and/or legislators may give the school officials more authority to “regulate” the curriculum and/or grades of the homeschooled child, ostensibly to make it “fair” for the other public school children who have to meet those requirements. It is a slippery slope. That’s why we, in Connecticut, years ago abandoned any effort to have any connection for homeschooled children with the public school system. You give them an inch, they take a mile.  Sometimes, parents need to make difficult choices - is it better for the child to homeschool, or enroll in the public school in order to do sports.  That’s just part of reality.
Deborah.”

Can be found here: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H2018v0.pdf

For the complete text of this bill please visit:  http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/HTML/S1410v0.html