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Many parents and students complain about the plight of today's public schools. Gangs, drugs, and disciplinary problems are just some of the issues that concern taxpayers and frighten children and teens. If you are wondering about academic alternatives, give some thought to homeschool education by considering the following criteria.

Home schooled students are usually taught by one or both parents. The classic school day of eight to three or thereabouts can go out the window with some families. Instead, parents may decide to supervise their kids' learning each evening after work with the possibility of including parts of some weekends. Alternatively, parents can hire a tutor or arrange for one parent to manage the kids' education while the other serves as the principal breadwinner.

Another thing to think about is curriculum. Home schooling parents need to select a program of study that works with, not against, their children's learning styles. For example, some kids are visual learners while others need more hands-on interaction by making things or taking them apart. Furthermore, the curriculum you choose will have to be approved by the local board of education superintendent's office. Check out the many variations that can be found online or that circulate among home school groups or appear in print catalogs. The school superintendent or local library may be able to help with this.

It is important to be sure that your kids are meeting educational goals in keeping with their age and grade level. Many homeschooled students actually perform better than public school pupils, but others can fall behind and may not do well in an individually oriented learning setting. It will be up to parents, who may have little or nor formal education, to supervise and direct their children's learning processes.

Finally, be sure to supplement at-home activities with field trips, community group activities, and perhaps extracurricular participation in sports, music, or art classes. You can learn more about these from the local community college, library, or certain high schools that provide this service. Home-schooled students are among the brightest and best prepared for college. But take care to ensure that your child receives a quality, well-rounded education if you decide to choose this option. For more information, contact one of the broad-based home schooling groups or check with the local school board to find other parents in your area who are taking this route. If no group currently exists, perhaps you can start one.

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