I have a meeting with the district this week because I found out DS will not get credit for online or summer institute courses. We didn't set out to take any courses for credit, but thought we'd ask in case he could graduate early. I asked for a meeting because I want to ask them how they can address my high ability kids, if not allowing online courses (from highly reputable univ/programs), because they cannot otherwise offer what they need. There are such limited electives, AP classes reserved for jrs/srs, math goes up to calculus, etc. and our community college offers very little else.

I have this vision that down the line, they'll allow 1/2 time enrollment, and let the boys do 1/2 online or dual enrollment, even for a freshman or sophomore. If a teacher is horrible, I'd have a choice of letting my son take the course elsewhere. I know I'm dreaming, but the actual high school is a nightmare for an HG kid. Are there alternatives I don't know about that I should be advocating for to accommodate HG needs?

Will a community college let them enroll in a class or two?

You should advocate that they make a list of approved programs that they will give credit for . I will PM you a link, if I find it :-) But aren't CTY courses generally given credit for? Is there an option of testing out of a class?

Well, where I was really going with this is that perhaps there are other options if the school won't allow part time status. In our state legislation allows for part time school but the wording is vague and could probably be challenged. BTW, the school didn't offer up this info, I found it myself and then they verified it and said they would work with us if it came to it. Admittedly, they would rather have the children in school the entire day.
At the high school level another alternative would be to have the child pass community college classes. At that point the community college would be more likely to accept the student even at a younger age. Then the student could fulfil requirements to be entranced into a more traditional college. At that point, withdrawl from high school after passing the GED would be appropriate as child is already on their way to college. There are obvious drawbacks, but, I would say choose your poison. If you let a kid sit in class for four years doing nothing because they have already mastered the material, then aren't you conditioning that child to be unproductive. To, spin their wheels, so to speak?
I don't know the severity of the situation....just an idea.......

Could you set up some kind of independent study contract? Credit by examination? (This is different from "testing out" of a class.)

Our district has an independent study charter school. It's not exactly homeschooling because you and the school create the plan of study and they approve the curriculum. But the student studies at home on their own schedule.

Argh. This is all so depressing. Intelligent kids are the future of this country and our school system actively squanders them.

I've been dealing with this idea elsewhere today and it's so frustrating that everyone is subject to a set of ridiculous ideas espoused by "educators." Someone seems to have had a bad idea some time ago and now everyone else at the schools just goes along with it!

I mean, who decided that the best thing for a kindergartner is to learn to identify letters, regardless of actual knowledge? And why do you have to be 16 to take an AP course? Arghhh!


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Cym: community colleges usually offer courses on discrete maths, linear algebra, and statistics. Some even have independent study options allowing a student to explore a topic in depth. Would these courses be useful?

Val

Great suggestions! Thank you! I will ask about these possibilities.

I feel like they're all trying to keep it secret (school counselors/administrators) because I've met with them SO many times and made no progress. Partly because of turnover.

incog, we have similar legislation and funding for dual enrollment classes/concurrent enrollment, but the district has decided to reserve it for jrs & srs. Driving down to the college, waiting there, and driving back, for one kids when you have 4 seems old-fashioned in this internet age. I know human instruction is valuable, but if you had a self-teaching personality kid, wouldn't you opt for internet? My other kids are not as much like that.

Quote from Val:

"Someone seems to have had a bad idea some time ago and now everyone else at the schools just goes along with it!

I mean, who decided that the best thing for a kindergartner is to learn to identify letters, regardless of actual knowledge? And why do you have to be 16 to take an AP course?"

I Know! Isn't it cruel? Control freaks! I will keep trying because this is only the beginning of High School drama for me (1 in & 3 more coming up).

Part of my beef may not be reasonable, even to you all...The quality of teachers varies. Last year DS was in Honors Eng. The teacher was not good, lots of people left class, even as late as last 9wks, transferring to regular english (no honors) because of teacher. I wish we had the freedom to opt out of a class offered if we didn't like the teacher for an online or community college offering and then the district could identify weak teachers and Make Changes. I know this is unrealistic because of teachers' unions, but the school won't approve an online class that they offer.

We all know that we suffered through some pretty quirky teachers in high school, so I wonder if my quest for DS to not waste time, not suffer through, is just part of the usual High School experience. Not every class is going to be valuable, interesting, engaging. Is it just having too high expectations?

Well, if it's high expectations....count me in. We actually have a very promising tech/college opening up quite locally (branch deal), and I have my sights on it for the future. BUT...the current deal is that dreaded "juniors/seniors", when of course DS will need it before then. I'm wearing my rose colored glasses at the moment, and assuming "common sense" will prevail, but I'm going to start tapping on some doors come fall just the same.

Cym, it seems sooooooooo obvious to me that the kid needs to just take their year end test, to "prove" he knows their material as well as the (more advanced, but forget that for the moment) online/summer classes, but again...there's that common sense approach. It's apparently not very popular.

Best wishes! I'm watching closely as you brave the waters we'll eventually have to dive in to. Don't be afraid to push for outside the box. Really...there are "rules" that work for most, but clearly our kids are exceptions, and we have to sometimes insist that they be treated as such. One thing I learned from a seminar this summer with Wes Beach is to not take the initial "no" at face value.

On the topic of teachers, I think it is important for teenagers to start taking charge of their learning regardless of the teacher. This is an important skill for college and grad. school. Maybe the teacher is lousy, but kids can learn to follow the rules and get the grade while doing their real learning. Of course, this advice does not apply to abusive situations and if most of the classes your child is taking are like this, it's time to look for a new learning environment.