Pro IDEA Letter

This is from an Albuquerque homeschooler who is pro IDEA:

Here are the basic Program Requirements ...

1. You will have to first sign up (and each year you need to let them know you wish to stay enrolled), this requires a copy of the child's birth certificate, vaccination records, and proof of residency in New Mexico. You will also fill out a form that explains that your child will have to take a standardized test at the end of the year (by the way, they are the same tests that public school children take in the state....at the end of the year.....once they hit third grade) and a place for you to agree to this. You will be required to attend an orientation meeting that will provide you with everything you need to get set up as well as answer all those questions you might have thought of. These will be held by Family Reps in your local area, or you can call and talk on the phone if you are unable to make the meeting times.

2. You will set up an ILP (individualized learning plan), due by Sept. This will cover your learning goals for the year, how you will assess your child's progress, etc). There are people available to help you with the process. It is still ALL your choice what the child is going to cover that year, they just help you with the actual format of the form since most of us have not made one before. They are also available if you would like suggestions on what to teach as some parents may require that. Also, ILP's can be changed throughout the year as you need to (kid breaks a leg and can't do the sport you chose; you find something new you'd like to take your kid to that fits their learning goals).

3. Once you have your ILP, you will be alloted $1000 per child, and if you have more than 1, the money will be set up in a famliy account. You will then start to shop the vendor list for items that you will need to help you fullfill your ILP. There are vendors that sell specific curriculums (like Singapore Math), ones that sell a variety of curriculums and other school supplies, vendors that sell scientific equipment, art supplies, music supplies and instruments, as well as places like Office Depot, Hastings, etc. If you can't find a particular item that you would like on the list, you can request that it be put there. They are very quick with it (did one for me in an hour). If they can't place them on their vendor list, you can still use the item at your cost. There are no rules put on the $1000 determining what types of items, portions of the money must go to. If you would like to spend $1000 on your child's music lessons this year, you may. You will just have to spend your own money for the rest of what you need.

4. Once you have found your list of items that you would like purchased, you will submit your order form online to IDEA. They check to see that your items correspond with the goals you have set on your ILP. (This is so parents can't go buy a cell phone for themselves at Office Depot and use their kids money. It's a shame that they have to check like this, but lets face it, there are people out there who would try it). If they have any questions about your items, they'll just call and talk to you so they can understand what you plan on using them for in your teachings. Then they place the order for you and send it off to you. (High School students also have the opportunity to take college courses for both high school, and college credit).

5. You will then start school (and by the way, there is no set schedule....you can teach all year long, or Sept to May, or Oct to June, etc, etc. You just need to let them know your basic plan for a time frame as you still have to abide by New Mexico Homeschooling Law and kids must attend for 180 days).

6. You will be assigned a teacher for each child you enroll. Sometimes the teacher will be the same for all of your children, and sometimes not. You are required to have contact with the teacher once a month. This can be by email, phone, or face to face in your local area as your needs arise. No one will show up at your home to observe your kids. But they are there to get advice from, listen to problems that you might be having, and to get a general overview of how things are going that month for your child. (By the way, Family Reps, like me, are here to also talk to if you feel you'd like to talk to another homeschooler. We will happily listed to your troubles and frustrations with homeschooling/subjects/curriculum/whatever). If your child is high school aged, they offer career planning. They also ask that you check the website weekly to look for any important news that they need to get out to you.

7. 2 to 4 times a year, you will be asked to make a progress report for your child. You don't have to give A's and B's, you can give Excellent, Satisfactory, whatever as long as you identify, for IDEA, what those "grades" mean. For high school level, they require real grading (you determine the actual scale), but with that they suply your child with a full transcript and a accredited diploma just like they would at public school. This allows for ease into college.

8. 4 to 5 times a year you will be asked to submit a few work samples from your child.

9. Once a year, after your child begins the 3rd grade, they will be required to take a standardized test appropriate for the child's grade level. This is provided by IDEA and set up in a testing facility in your local area and will consist of small groups of children. This test is called the New Mexico Criteron Reference Assessment. It is not typically normed to the national standards, but standards of other children in New Mexico. They are not a means of determining pass or fail, rather they are an indicator of the progress of your child. NO child will fail or be thrown from the program for this. If your child is having difficulty in some areas, they will merely offer you tools to help your child. If they find many kids are having difficulties in a certain are, they will offer a workshop to help out. You DO NOT have to attend if you don't wish. Once your child hits high school age, they will have to take a High School Compentancy Test. This is a one time test that can be taken after 9th grade. This is a 3 part test (writing, languare arts, and math). If they fail any portion of the test, they can take those portions the next year and so on until graduation date. If they never pass all three, they will be given a transcript of their time in IDEA, but cannot recieve a diploma. They've never had a child not receive their diploma. They also offer PSAT, SAT and ACT for the older children. (As an aside, you don't need to teach your child at grade level if you have an advanced kid, however, they will be tested at their grade level, not the level you teach).

10. You will also be given a computer (desktop for most families or laptop for those with 4 or more kids or high school aged children) and a multi-function printer/scanner/fax/copier to use. If you have 4 or more children enrolled, you can receive an additional computer.

11. Once your family is finished with any non-consumable materials (computer and printer included), you must return them to IDEA. However, as long as your family can use them, even if the school year is up and you need them for the next school year, you may keep the items.

That's it for the program.....really pretty simple.


Some additional things they offer are :

-- Resource Room: This is where all of the non-consumables go when parents return them. They will be set up in major metro areas, but are accessible to all across the state. You can call them up and ask if they have something that you need, and it's sent to you.....with no money taken out of your allotment.

-- Student Activities: as the program grows (and some will be in place from the beginning), there will be book clubs, Battle of the Books, spelling bees, talent shows, Showcase Evenings (your child can come dance for an audience, hang up a special piece of art, etc), and group field trips.

-- There will also be various parent and student workshops available , curriculum fairs, and Parent Teacher groups.

You can take part in as many or as little as you like. There are no requirements on involvement.