AFHE Statement re: Gilbert Public Schools Proposals

December 13, 2009

Homeschooling parents should thoroughly investigate any educational options that are funded by tax-payer money before they participate. AFHE, along with other state organizations across the country, has witnessed the predictable erosion of individual freedom and liberty of choice when private and public models of educational delivery are mixed. Homeschooling is a form of private education and we urge families to avoid publicly funded programs in order to help preserve our freedom. The following article appeared in the Arizona Republic on December 7, 2009.  

AFHE Board of Directors

Board to consider homeschool, online class restrictions
Source: azcentral.com, December 7, 2009, http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/12/07/20091207gr-newpolicies1208-ONL.html#comments
by Emily Gersema - Dec. 7, 2009 05:04 PM
The Arizona Republic

The Gilbert Public Schools governing board is mulling a series of proposals that would impose new restrictions on students who are home-schooled but take a few GPS courses, and junior high and high school students who take online courses. The board is expected to discuss these issues at its meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the board room at 140 S. Gilbert Road. The board plans to schedule second and final readings of these proposals at a later meeting.

Homeschool students
Under the first reading of a new policy considered by the board, families who enroll a home-schooled student at GPS would have to provide student assessment records and grades for all subjects taught at home. Any home-schooled student in fourth grade or above without assessment records would have to take a test. Junior high-level home-schooled students interested in taking a GPS course would be required to take at least two courses. Home-schooled students enrolled at a GPS high school could get credit for home instruction by taking a district final exam or using AIMS results. Credits would be capped. A high school-level home-schooled student could get credit for five core subjects, such as math and science, and three electives. Home-schooled students who don't plan to graduate from GPS would be allowed to take distance learning courses or classes at a high school campus. Home-schooled students would be barred from participating in graduation or commencement, academic nights, student councils and from holding an elected office in any student organization.

Online courses
The board is proposing to restrict the number of online courses a junior high or high school student can take. The message of this policy is largely philosophical. Board members such as Helen Hollands and president Thad Stump have said at recent work study sessions they believe the district needs to emphasize traditional classroom instruction as the preferred method of learning. The board stresses in its proposal: "It is the belief of Gilbert Public Schools that students learn best in a traditional classroom setting." Under the board's first draft, high school students would be required to take at least four credit-bearing courses on campus each semester. For most high school students, this means they could take a few online courses each semester but would spend most of their day in class on campus. Junior high students would have to take at least seven credit-bearing courses on campus per semester.