Online Homeschools

Before the 1990s there were only a couple hundred thousand homeschool students across the U.S. This might sound like a hefty amount but considering the entire school age population, it is a tiny, granular size of sand. By 2012 that number skyrocketed to 1.8 million and today it has become increasingly difficult to accurately measure. Wonder why? Principally because folks have moved online as homeschool curricula and the flexibility of following a highly interactive online course has become the preferred method of homeschooling.

The three more popular online homeschool programs are Time 4 Learning, BJU Homeschooling and IXL Learning. Let’s take a look!

Time 4 Learning

Lauded by Homeschool.com as a Top 100 Educational Website, Time 4 Learning has been a leader in the online homeschool sphere since 2009. Its approach is highly personalized which is great for a range of learning levels – advanced to those that need some extra assistance or have been diagnosed with a learning weakness. Contracts with Time 4 Learning are not part of their normal system. Rather, a month-to-month enrollment and payment system is structured where in the lower grades (pre-K to 8th grade) the fee fluctuates in the $20 range for the first student while the second, third, fourth, etc is then charged $15. High-school courses costs $30 per student per month and the program provides parents control over their children’s curricula coupled with detailed overviews of grade reports, progress and transcripts.

BJU Homeschooling

Some homeschooling parents are seeking religious content and for a Bible-based focus, BJU Homeschooling is an excellent choice for an online Christian education. Reviews have corroborated that the strength of BJU is their proven ability to eliminate the sometimes-ever-present complexity and drudgery that can come from homeschooling curricula while providing a well-rounded Christian education.

The organizational features on BJU are what parents enjoy the best, however. Tests and quizzes and student progress are displayed on a very user-friendly dashboard and the program lays out assignments over daily lesson plans that make independent progress simple. Once one enrolls, e-books are included, and families can purchase kits per grade or per subject.

IXL Learning

If you’re seeking a technology slant, curricula with a heavy emphasis on the use of technology, IXL is the place to start. IXL utilizes technology to give students a more immersed, hands-on learning experience guided by the latest developments in the tech world. Common core subjects (math, social studies, language arts and science) are offered and families pay a monthly fee, like the other services previously mentioned. With IXL students can easily adapt their learning level and the program provides in-depth analysis to student strengths and weaknesses.

While these three are leaders in their respective areas there are a plethora to choose from. It’s a burgeoning industry to say the least.