The first reading of new restriction put forth by the governing board of Gilbert Arizona’s public schools address testing, assessments, record keeping, credits, online courses and involvement in student oganizations for homeschoolers.
Board to consider homeschool, online class restrictions
by Emily Gersema, The Arizona Republic
The Gilbert Public Schools governing board is mulling a series of proposals that would impose new restrictions on students who are home-schooled but take a few GPS courses, and junior high and high school students who take online courses.
~~~~
The message of this policy is largely philosophical. Board members such as Helen Hollands and president Thad Stump have said at recent work study sessions they believe the district needs to emphasize traditional classroom instruction as the preferred method of learning.
The board stresses in its proposal: “It is the belief of Gilbert Public Schools that students learn best in a traditional classroom setting.”
Homeschoolers are the focus of these restrictions and on most levels they make sense. But how will proposals like these play out in Arizona’s quest for Race to the Top money?