Could Remote Learning Be a More-Convenient Alternative to Home Schooling?

December 4, 2023

4 min to read

A Learning Coach and student working together in their home classroom.

Brick-and-mortar school isn’t always the best option for all learners. Some families may want more flexibility, parental involvement, or academic freedom for their students, and to achieve that, the two most common alternatives available for families seeking options for their children’s school are online public or private school and homeschooling.

However, not all families can commit to homeschooling full-time or throughout their child’s whole academic career. Concerns about the time costs, the financial costs, and the quality of education that comes with homeschooling a child lead many families to turn to the convenience of online school.

Why Would My Family Consider Remote Learning over Brick-and-Mortar School?

There are a few reasons why brick-and-mortar school might not be a good-fit for your family.

Some major reasons brick-and-mortar schools don’t work for every student are:

Schedule needs due to extracurriculars
Mental disorders or physical conditions
Parents desiring greater involvement
Family travels or moves around frequently
Lesson pace doesn’t align with student’s learning speed

How is Online School More Convenient than Homeschooling?

Compared to brick-and-mortar school, online school has most of the same benefits families interested in homeschooling look for, while often being much more convenient than homeschooling alone.

Better Educate Students of Different Grade Levels

When homeschooling, families can struggle with educating students who are at different academic levels. It can be difficult to keep up with the lessons of a sixth grader while also trying to help a kindergartener to learn to read.

In an online school, students of different grade levels are able to focus on their lessons directly, leaving caregivers in the position of keeping their students on track. If a family has multiple children, online school can make sure each student is performing at the level that is right for them.

Also, if a homeschool family has concerns about teaching subjects they are not familiar with after a certain grade level, online school can ensure that the topics are taught by state-certified teachers. Online school can be a good choice for caregivers who want the convenience of not having to brush up on twelfth-grade Calculus or eighth-grade World History.

Parental Involvement

Both online school and homeschooling provide increased opportunities for parents to get involved in their child’s education, but with online school, parents or another trusted adult can participate as a Learning Coach for their student. Not to be confused with a teacher, a Learning Coach provides support, encouragement, and motivation, but does not teach the actual lessons.

When homeschooling, typically, parents are the teachers. They plan, develop, and teach lessons to their children. This means that parents have complete control over the curriculum and schedule for learning. However, planning and teaching the curriculum, and then grading work is a significant time commitment. Additionally, parents must teach subjects they aren’t experts in or are not qualified to teach.

Online school reduces the academic burden on parents and caregivers because teachers still provide lessons, coursework, and support to learners. Learning Coaches simply keep their child on track and focused on their learning.

Academic Freedom

Some students move at a different pace than the standard established in brick-and-mortar schools. Remote learning at an online public or private school allows students to move faster or slower, depending on their needs. It is much simpler for students to take specific classes at their level, such as earning college credits through AP courses or taking course recovery summer courses.

Accreditation

After completing their senior year, online students receive an accredited high school diploma from a state-certified school, just like they would if they went to a public, brick-and-mortar high school. Credits also can transfer between schools, so a student in the fourth grade transferring to a new school can stay in the fourth grade, typically without the need for an assessment test. Also, an accredited high school diploma ensures a student’s education will be accepted by colleges and employers in the future.

Costs

When homeschooling, families must pay for (or create) their own curriculum and buy all the necessary educational supplies. Meanwhile, for a public online school like Connections Academy, both tuition and the curriculum are completely free, just like brick-and-mortar public schools. This makes online school much more affordable than homeschooling.

Benefits of Online School vs. Homeschool

If the time and cost commitment of homeschooling isn’t a good fit for your family, online school might be a fantastic alternative that brings all the benefits of at-home learning, like more flexibility and direct involvement in the student’s education, with the accreditation and access to certified teachers of brick-and-mortar schools. If you’re interested in exploring online school options for your family, you can request more information now.