[Teribear]

Use the search terms Homeschool Opposition to Virtual Charter Schools and you'll be able to find some of the reasoning you're looking for Blue Savannah.

Interestingly enough even the creators of the virtual charters make a distinction between themselves and homeschooling,

K12 describes a charter school as "an independent public school of choice, freed from rules but accountable for results." Although charter schools vary in approach from state to state because of government regulations, K12 identifies four "pillars" - freedom, innovation, choice and accountability - as the general basis for charter schools.

Although the curriculum is home-based, K12's founder and CEO Ron Packard told CNSNews.com that its mandated rigorous curriculum, enforced accountability through state tests, and access to state-certified teachers makes it "dramatically different" than the home school approach.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.as...20020813b.html

"A private home education is really a liberty issue, and it’s very tough to see how a government operated home school could be in the best interests of liberty for home education,” Smith said.

Because virtual charters are still under the curriculum and testing requirements of traditional public schools, home-school parents lose the right to choose faith-based materials. “If [parents] want credit for this, if they want a diploma later or a transcript or anything like that, they have to teach over the curriculum that is approved,” Smith said. “That doesn’t prevent them, outside the time they’re getting credit, to augment [teaching materials] with Christian curriculum, but if they want to be in compliance with the program, they have to use whatever the charter school provides by way of curriculum.”

“There have been efforts to take the regulation of those who are under the virtual charter schools who are teaching their children at home and apply it to all of the home schoolers,” Smith said. “It looks like a good way to regulate home schooling, and that is the problem with these programs long term. They may look good now, but I have no doubt that the government, somewhere down the road, will try to tighten up on all of the home-schoolers.”

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclu...e.html?id=4304

Until 22 years ago homeschooling was illegal in this state and many others. Don't think for a second that its accepted enough that we can afford to relax and believe the option will always be available to us. The NEA is vehemently opposed to homeshooling in any form, including the virtual charters...and they are a powerful large political body. When homeschoolers buy into the use of public money and submit to the demands of public school "authority" we weaken our political position and that political position is what keeps us able to do this in the first place.

Alternative school choices should be available to all. Whatever school choice suits an individual family should be there for their use. But calling these Alternatives something other than what they are dilutes the political strength of the push required to keep independent homeschooling legal in all states.