| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Distance Learning for Gifted Homeschoolers: Gifted Enrichment, Acceleration, Full-time Programs by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Here are distance learning institutions that offer gifted enrichment to homeschool students (for some programs students must qualify by examination or by submitting standardized test scores). Thru a choice of either online or correspondence programs they can offer an accelerated learning pace, compacted-curriculum courses, Advanced Placement Classes, and a variety of classes that are beyond the standard scope and sequence. Most allow part-time enrollment. Some of these institutions offer early graduation options, some issue accredited diplomas. Some will prepare individualized educational plans for each student. Some are willing to tailor the curriculum to fit with a family's preferred homeschooling approach. Costs of the different programs vary widely. Please contact each to compare your options. Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) - (K-12) distance education program thru Stanford University offers computer-based multimedia courses in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Programing, and English to high-ability students, also offers a newly-formed online gifted high school, students must pre-qualify for all classes, based on achievement test scores and (for K-7) students must pass an online admissions test, provides accelerated class options to gifted students in public schools, also used by homeschoolers Center for Talented Youth (CTY) - (2 - 10) distance education program thru Johns Hopkins University offers courses in mathematics, science, social studies, and Advanced Placement (AP) to gifted students, students must pre-qualify based on achievement scores (95% or above) orstudents may also qualify thru the annual academic talent search, testing, summer programs also available in some locations Center for Talent Development (CTD) - (K - 12) "Learning Links" distance education program thru Northwestern University, offers enrichment, honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses to gifted students, students must qualify based on SAT or ACT scores (7th - 12th grade), over 95% on achievement tests (4th - 6th grade), or portfolio, students may also qualify thru the annual Midwest Academic Talent Search Talent Identification Program (TIP) -- (8 - 12) "e-Studies" distance ed program thru Duke University, offers enrichment courses to gifted students, students must qualify with SAT or ACT scores Academic Talent Searches -- Many universities provide online distance learning and/or weekend and summer enrichment classes for gifted students who are identified thru annual talent searches. The requirements and procedures vary by institution, so do a Google search for your regional universities and the words "academic talent search" to find out more. Several universities conduct regional searches, including: Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (MATS) University of Iowa's Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS) Johns Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Talent Search, Duke University's Talent Identification Program (TIP), University of Denver's Rocky Mountain Talent search (RMTS) . Early College Entrance programs for students who need to begin full- time college years early -- This Wikipedia article has a list of several colleges with Early College Entrance programs -- check with your own local and regional colleges, too. Dual Enrollment programs -- when a student is enrolled in high school (a public or private secondary school or homeschool) and also at a local institution of higher learning, such as a community college or university. Students take classes at both institutions to earn credit toward their high school graduation requirements. Often, the local school district will pay for the cost of tuition and books. Some dual enrollment courses may result in college credits being earned, and some colleges may use the information for internal class placement and prerequisite requirements... but often the courses are simply considered as Honors level high school courses and not counted towards college. Check with your state homeschool association for information on Dual Enrollment opportunities for homeschoolers in your state. Some states do not allow homeschoolers to participate in the state-run and funded programs (though homeschoolers can still enroll as non-matriculating, part time students and take college classes on their own) Gifted Online Accelerated Learning (GOAL) -- (4 - 8) from the University of Missouri Distance and Independent Study, an accredited, independent study curriculum specifically designed for gifted students in grades 4–8 who want to accelerate their learning with high school-level courses, can be used as enrichment or in coordination with schools for credit, several other high school level gifted classes also available, lesson previews for each course, year-round enrollment Pennsylvania Homeschoolers -- online AP test prep classes and SAT essay-writing classes for homeschoolers North Atlantic Regional High School -- (9 -12) an accredited private high school in Maine, issues private school high school diplomas, parents and students select materials to meet school requirements, a custom designed program for each student, work at your own pace, no age limits, The Trent Schools - the world's oldest Internet homeschool service, offers a separate gifted program, all courses are completely online, no books or CD-Roms, ability-based program where children are allowed to work at different grade levels in different subjects, offers a separate "Professional Child" program for children heavily involved in professional pursuits that require extensive travel (such as acting and athletics), Westbridge Academy - ability-based (rather than age-based) education, individualized academic plans prepared for each student, the school allows acceleration and compaction and supports early graduation, where appropriate. Offers educational options for various academic methods (classical, traditional, unschooling, etc) and is open to student and parent curriculum preferences. Virtual School for the Gifted -- an entirely online school based in Australia which provides gifted enrichment courses to students (approximately) 4th grade and up, includes discussion forums and e-mail lists, a web browser and e-mail access are all that is required. Mentis Online -- online gifted enrichment courses for grades 3 - 6, taught by a gifted ed specialist formerly with Northwestern CTD TutorVista -- inexpensive tutoring services out of an Asian call center, straight monthly fee, read a CNN.com article about this service Free Online Open Courses MIT Open Courseware - free online course materials for actual MIT classes (no credit given) Open Learning Initiative by Carnegie Mellon -- free, online "intellectually challenging sequences of instruction" at the level of introductory college courses webcast.berkely -- free online podcasts and webcasts of UC Berkeley current and archived courses. Open Educational Resources (OER) Commons -- free online courses in all subject areas, K - adult, from many sources National Repository of Online Classes: AP -- free, self-study, online AP courses in science, math, and history Connexions by Rice University - free online modules, contains educational materials in all subjects for all levels, from children to college students to professional. Information is organized in small modules that stand alone or can be easily connected into larger courses. Connexions is an innovative environment for collaboratively developing, freely sharing, and rapidly publishing scholarly content on the Web. All content is free. There are also many a la carte free and subscription online courses, modules, and tutorials -- you will find them in each school subject in the Homeschooling by Subject section. For fun and free online enrichment resources check out: Favorite Websites for Free Educational Enrichment |
| "...life does not stand still and society is developing scientifically and technically. Anyone who does not engage in self-education, voluntarily or not, lags behind the demands of the time." -- L.I. Ruvinsky (1986) |