Option 1 – Homeschooling

Homeschooling is when a family member delivers an educational program to a child at home. Some benefits to choosing this option include:

• Families determine what content will be learned and how it is taught.
• Studies are self-paced and tailored to the specific interests of each student.
• Parents can blend schoolwork into the family schedule.

A great deal of responsibility and care is required for this type of learning. Parents must register their homeschooled child at a B.C. school and provide the entire educational program. Homeschooling programs are not:

• supervised by a British Columbia certified teacher,
• required to meet provincial standards, or
• inspected by the Ministry of Education.

High school students should be aware that, while homeschoolers in Grades 10 to 12 can choose whether or not to write provincial exams, they are not eligible to receive a British Columbia Dogwood Graduation Certificate.

Option 2 – Distance Learning

Distance learning is sometimes referred to as ‘online learning’ because a student connects with their teacher from anywhere – perhaps from a satellite learning facility or from home.

Teaching strategies and methods are similar to those in a regular classroom – textbooks, study guides and other materials. Assignments are completed and delivered through various communication methods, including mail, email, online classrooms, phone and fax. Many learners participate in online voice and video conferences with their teacher and use a variety of electronic tools and learning management systems.

Some key advantages of distance learning are that parents can help facilitate the learning process and there’s flexibility as to when and where assignments are completed.

Opting to sign up for distance learning means a student must be enrolled in a public or independent school distance learning school. Distance learning programs:

• are required to meet provincial standards,
• have all course content managed by a school under the direction of a British Columbia-certified teacher; and
• provide regular assessments, report cards, provincial letter grades and permanent student records – just like at a neighbourhood school.
• Students in Kindergarten through Grade 9 enrol in a full course of studies while students in Grades 10-12 may enrol in courses offered from a number of different neighbourhood and distance learning schools.

Comparisons at a Glance