What help is there for Saskatchewan home based education?
In Saskatchewan, government funding is available for homeschooling but it is up to specific school divisions whether this funding is passed onto homeschooling families or used for administrative purposes.
Some school divisions may use this funding to offer support for home educators, such as extra resources, assessment for students who have intensive needs, driver education, distance learning programs, and support for those looking to earn secondary credit in their high school years.
While homeschooled students are not required to follow a prescribed schedule of attendance, and the duration and frequency of lessons is entirely up to the home educator, the province does request that a portfolio and record of school work is kept for each child.
When a child is registered as home educated, their school division will designate an official to ensure this record keeping is kept up to date and all protocols are met. The intention is not to oversee the home education process but simply to ensure educational outcomes are being reached.
One benefit of creating a curriculum for a homeschool setting is that it can develop organically over time. However, it is useful to have a curriculum in mind when you start out, especially if parents are likely to be busy with work or other tasks during the day.
Curriculums should follow the age and ability of each child. In saying this, often a child in a home based setting can be extended beyond their usual grade level due to gaining more one-on-one attention than they would in a public school.
When a child is able to follow their own interests through a varied and flexible curriculum, they can gain valuable independent thinking skills and perspectives, which are often sought out by tertiary education providers and graduate programs. Being able to develop these skills and learn organically are perhaps why Saskatechewan families are choosing to homeschool in great numbers.
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