The NC division of non-public education website is back to normal after crashing last week due to high traffic volume.
GREENSBORO, NC – With a decision on schools still pending, many North Carolina families are in limbo over the next school year.
Uncertainty has driven many parents to take charge of their children’s education as state and school district leaders continue to grapple with plans for the next school year.
Many have started to officially apply for homeschooling while others are still looking for information to begin the process.
The NC division of non-public education website is back to normal after crashing last week due to high traffic volume. Agency staff also responded to hundreds of calls regarding the processes and requirements for starting a homeschool.
Starting a home school is a different process than learning at home using virtual academies offered by school districts and the state. Interest in homeschooling has grown amid concerns about the safety of children returning to public schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
RELATED: Governor Cooper says ‘official announcement’ on schools coming next week
“If there is so much unknown, I would prefer my kids to be in a known situation and it would probably be their homeschooling for this coming year,” said Vanessa Wedrychowicz of Kernersville.
Wedrychowicz is a mom of three who is a home educator and runs a small home business.
The window to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) to start a homeschool opened on July 1. Wedrychowicz said many families are taking the plunge.
“I get a ton of people talking about homeschooling for a lot of different reasons. We’ve done a series of zoom calls to answer questions and guide people,” Wedrychowicz said. She is part of a local home-school cooperative and helps coordinate the program.
According to the state Home school statistics summary 2019-2020, more than 149,000 students have been educated in nearly 95,000 registered home schools in North Carolina.
In Guilford County, there were 3,783 home schools with approximately 5,827 children. Forsyth County had nearly 2,692 home schools with 4,261 students, while Alamance County had 1,350 home schools and 2,170 children enrolled.
RELATED: Opening schools may mean closing bars and gyms
Figures for the 2020-2021 academic year are expected to be higher due to concerns over the coronavirus.
“You can even go to school on Saturdays and Sundays, you don’t have to follow the orders that are put in place by the public school,” advised Wedrychowicz, who home-schooled her eldest child, in 7th grade. year, since kindergarten.
Wedrychowicz said the ability to be flexible with teaching materials, location, and learning planning is one of the helpful perks.
As home schooling becomes an alternative for many, there are also concerns about children living in homes with working parents and the lack of connectivity, childcare or flexibility.
“I just want them to know that there is no right or wrong way to do it. Your child learns naturally and they will soak up and absorb even if you spend a year in the library,” said she added.
According to the NCDNPE, Notice of Intent (NOI) submissions are accepted from July to April of each school year. Online submissions can be made Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and there is no deadline for NOI submissions.
Click on HERE for guidelines and information on how to set up a homeschool for your children.
RELATED: Mother of the Triad Warns of Opening Schools Too Soon as Family Battles COVID-19
RELATED: Guilford County Schools Approved for Two Virtual Learning Programs
THE FACTS DO NOT FEAR
Remember the facts, don’t be afraid when you talk about the coronavirus. You should take the same measures recommended by health officials to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses. This means washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, and covering up coughs and sneezes.
WHERE OBTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS IS IMPORTANT
It is important to make sure that the information you get about the coronavirus comes directly from reliable sources such as the CDC and NCDHHS. Be careful not to spread false information about the coronavirus on social networks.
For more information visit the CDC WHERE NCDHHS
CORONAVIRUS NC HELP LINE
The state has also set up a special hotline where you can call 866-462-3821 for more information on the coronavirus. You can also submit questions online to ncpoisoncontrol.org or select chat to talk to someone about the virus.
You can also text the keyword VIRUS to WFMY News 2 at 336-379-5775 for more information.
Stay connected to local, national and breaking news: download the new WFMY News 2 app.
►Text the word APP to 336-379-5775
►DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE
►DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
Source link