Being homeschooled earlier was not an idea widely accepted. But during the pandemic of 2020, the world went back to virtual learning from home and it opened a world of new options. Homeschooling in Bakersfield was no different.
People became aware that they could provide adequate learning to their children at home. Of course, the learning during Covid was not exactly homeschooling
What is it then one may ask? So to answer this and other varied questions regarding homeschooling and that too in Bakersfield, we are here.
If you want to learn everything about an established homeschooling community in Bakersfield all you need to do is read on.
Table of Contents: Homeschooling in Bakersfield
The World is Changing
The Stats is mind-blowing when it comes to homeschooling. From 2017 to 2022 the number of homeschoolers has increased drastically. Now in 2024, it is still going up.
Given the change in the world, people now understand that public school is not the only way for your child to learn. Sometimes, it is not even in your child’s best interest.
In homeschooling, you are in charge of your child’s education and he is allowed certain freedoms which improves his mental growth in a way that isn’t possible in a closed, rule-based environment.
Again, every child is different and it is not necessary that a child can only operate better in homeschooling or a public school. Everybody is allowed a choice these days which makes the process of education fun as it is meant to be.
What are Your Options?
If you are not interested in putting your child in any public or private school, then homeschooling has a wide spectrum. You can either go completely off the grid by making your own curriculum and timings for your child or you can just compromise on the timings and follow a certain curriculum using a university model.
You can also follow the timings of the public school and forget about the curriculum, it is up to you. Other than these, more models are being developed to ensure smooth homeschooling, catering to individual needs.
The one method of detailed discussion today is the Private Christian university model. For this method, multiple churches are already being developed in Bakersfield.
So we are going to discuss this method along with the institutes providing guidelines and other material for homeschoolers. So stay tuned!
Are you moving to Bakersfield? Here are a few things you should know!
Valley Oaks Charter
One of the most common ones in Bakersfield is the Valley Oaks Charter. The most amazing thing about Valley Oaks is that you are given a curriculum and after that, you have maximum liberty to tutor your child as you like.
Of course, you have to follow the traditional school timeline but you can pace it however your child is comfortable; parent participation is at your disposal. In short, you have complete liberty.
To top that, the tuition is free. There’s a huge community of teachers, students, and parents related to Valley Oaks. The school isn’t private and you are firmly under the umbrella of Kern County Schools.
So all in all it’s a great choice if you are looking for these qualities.
Heartland
Next up is the Heartland. This is a big one. Multiple areas such as Kern County, San Luis Obispo, Tula County, LA County Santa Barbara County, Inyo Kings, San Bernardino, and last but not least Ventura County.
Heartland not only caters to a large area of the public but also provides a flexible, tuition-free experience to homeschoolers from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Multiple programs and vouchers are available for student participation that range from swim lessons, and piano lessons to even karate lessons.
Above all, you can design the curriculum for your child according to your wishes and will. You may change counties but even then you can stay with Heartland for it has a grasp over most of the larger communities.
So if you want to keep your child aligned with Heartland you can check out their website for more information.
Outsiders
As the name indicates, Outsiders is the sort of school where outdoor activities are more part of learning. The students are given hands-on experience of all they learn.
The school is based on nine acres of outdoor campus. It also offers indoor classes from kindergarten to 12th grade. It offers a two-day per week program.
The Outsiders’ community is vibrant and also has all the fun activities of a regular school such as proms, formal and get-togethers.
So if you want your child to be homeschooled along with experiencing all the outdoor adventures then Outsiders is an ideal option for you.
Legacy Christian Academy
Legacy Christian Academy is based on a university model. It is one of two rare homeschools in the state of California when it comes to the university model.
It is Christian-centered in terms of curriculum and other educational decisions. 95 percent of instruction is provided by teachers on campus for two to three days a week. It can be either Tuesday or Thursday or Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Then on other days’ parents are the co-teachers and have the freedom to teach and reinforce what was taught on campus. Parents follow the lesson plan in every subject and the process allows the child to learn better and quickly in both environments.
Christ-centered learning makes the students competent enough to defend the Bible at the college level. The school is from kindergarten to 12th.
Other Programs for Homeschoolers
Homeschoolers can also indulge in programs for improving writing or sciences. These programs include but are not limited to:
- WOO
- HERC
- PSAT
- SAT
- CT Prep
Other than these institutes like IEW help in providing students with resources, counseling, and tutors.
Some of these programs are even for home educators such as HERC helps parents to become better home educators as they are provided with all the necessary resources required for homeschooling.
Be Informed
So all the major information for homeschooling is covered here. However, it is also up to you to research homeschooling in Bakersfield yourself. The best way to be informed and remain ahead of your game is by joining Facebook pages and online communities.
These provide a ton of information on homeschooling and what suits you and your child best in terms of area and your needs.
Is this guide interesting? Check out the Things to do in Bakersfield in April 2024 Edition
Quick Review
We have gone through all the major homeschooling options available for you at Bakersfield. The homeschooling community is large and dynamic and you have plenty of options according to your child’s requirements.
Remember the world is changing and now you can opt for a better education, by choosing options where your child can thrive more.
