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 Info, opinions about IDEA-NM (currently 7,076 views) |
| Gretchen |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 12:46pm |
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I've been told that Lisa Bell-Johnston is the person to contact, so I'm going to be calling her later today with a few questions. If anyone has any more questions they'd like me to add, please let me know.
I'm sure Elizabeth is right, and "what's in it for them" simply boils down to money. I talked with my husband about it last night, and his thought was that they are, in a sense, helping us get "back" some of the money we pay in taxes to support public schools, so it could potentially be mutually beneficial. |
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| Crystal_Miller |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 4:34pm |
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I already voiced my concerns on our private list but wanted to just pull some info to put here. Coming from CA and watching our freedoms begin dwindling, so many of my friends unhappy, added pressures upon friends children, and many of our homeschool groups segregating over the issue...I really feel it necessary to put some articles here. If you are thinking of joining, please please please think about homeschooling in all of our futures, our childrens futures, our grandchildrens futures, etc. and not just for a few bucks today. I pulled these very quickly and I am sure that if you google: "Problems for Homeschoolers with Charter Schools" that you could find many more. This, for me, has been a battle I watched for 5 or so years now. I thought that moving from CA that I would never have to think about it again....BUMMER!!!
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/HSatSchool.htm |
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| elmuyloco5 |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 5:29pm |
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Hi Ladies,
I just got off a conference call with IDEA and would like to pass along all of the info that I learned. I appologize for not having complete info to begin with, but as I said, I'm a new mom to all of this too.
Here are the basic Program Requirements (if you ever feel like you can't find enough of the info you are looking for on the program, please let me know, or contact one of the administrators listed on their contact page and we can all help you).
1. You will have to first sign up (and each year you need to let them know you wish to stay enrolled), this requires a copy of the child's birth certificate, vaccination records, and proof of residency in New Mexico. You will also fill out a form that explains that your child will have to take a standardized test at the end of the year (by the way, they are the same tests that public school children take in the state....at the end of the year.....once they hit third grade) and a place for you to agree to this. You will be required to attend an orientation meeting that will provide you with everything you need to get set up as well as answer all those questions you might have thought of. These will be held by Family Reps in your local area, or you can call and talk on the phone if you are unable to make the meeting times.
2. You will set up an ILP (individualized learning plan), due by Sept. This will cover your learning goals for the year, how you will assess your child's progress, etc). There are people available to help you with the process. It is still ALL your choice what the child is going to cover that year, they just help you with the actual format of the form since most of us have not made one before. They are also available if you would like suggestions on what to teach as some parents may require that. Also, ILP's can be changed throughout the year as you need to (kid breaks a leg and can't do the sport you chose; you find something new you'd like to take your kid to that fits their learning goals).
3. Once you have your ILP, you will be alloted $1000 per child, and if you have more than 1, the money will be set up in a famliy account. You will then start to shop the vendor list for items that you will need to help you fullfill your ILP. There are vendors that sell specific curriculums (like Singapore Math), ones that sell a variety of curriculums and other school supplies, vendors that sell scientific equipment, art supplies, music supplies and instruments, as well as places like Office Depot, Hastings, etc. If you can't find a particular item that you would like on the list, you can request that it be put there. They are very quick with it (did one for me in an hour). If they can't place them on their vendor list, you can still use the item at your cost. There are no rules put on the $1000 determining what types of items, portions of the money must go to. If you would like to spend $1000 on your child's music lessons this year, you may. You will just have to spend your own money for the rest of what you need.
4. Once you have found your list of items that you would like purchased, you will submit your order form online to IDEA. They check to see that your items correspond with the goals you have set on your ILP. (This is so parents can't go buy a cell phone for themselves at Office Depot and use their kids money. It's a shame that they have to check like this, but lets face it, there are people out there who would try it). If they have any questions about your items, they'll just call and talk to you so they can understand what you plan on using them for in your teachings. Then they place the order for you and send it off to you. (High School students also have the opportunity to take college courses for both high school, and college credit).
5. You will then start school (and by the way, there is no set schedule....you can teach all year long, or Sept to May, or Oct to June, etc, etc. You just need to let them know your basic plan for a time frame as you still have to abide by New Mexico Homeschooling Law and kids must attend for 180 days).
6. You will be assigned a teacher for each child you enroll. Sometimes the teacher will be the same for all of your children, and sometimes not. You are required to have contact with the teacher once a month. This can be by email, phone, or face to face in your local area as your needs arise. No one will show up at your home to observe your kids. But they are there to get advice from, listen to problems that you might be having, and to get a general overview of how things are going that month for your child. (By the way, Family Reps, like me, are here to also talk to if you feel you'd like to talk to another homeschooler. We will happily listed to your troubles and frustrations with homeschooling/subjects/curriculum/whatever). If your child is high school aged, they offer career planning. They also ask that you check the website weekly to look for any important news that they need to get out to you.
7. 2 to 4 times a year, you will be asked to make a progress report for your child. You don't have to give A's and B's, you can give Excellent, Satisfactory, whatever as long as you identify, for IDEA, what those "grades" mean. For high school level, they require real grading (you determine the actual scale), but with that they suply your child with a full transcript and a accredited diploma just like they would at public school. This allows for ease into college.
8. 4 to 5 times a year you will be asked to submit a few work samples from your child.
9. Once a year, after your child begins the 3rd grade, they will be required to take a standardized test appropriate for the child's grade level. This is provided by IDEA and set up in a testing facility in your local area and will consist of small groups of children. This test is called the New Mexico Criteron Reference Assessment. It is not typically normed to the national standards, but standards of other children in New Mexico. They are not a means of determining pass or fail, rather they are an indicator of the progress of your child. NO child will fail or be thrown from the program for this. If your child is having difficulty in some areas, they will merely offer you tools to help your child. If they find many kids are having difficulties in a certain are, they will offer a workshop to help out. You DO NOT have to attend if you don't wish. Once your child hits high school age, they will have to take a High School Compentancy Test. This is a one time test that can be taken after 9th grade. This is a 3 part test (writing, languare arts, and math). If they fail any portion of the test, they can take those portions the next year and so on until graduation date. If they never pass all three, they will be given a transcript of their time in IDEA, but cannot recieve a diploma. They've never had a child not receive their diploma. They also offer PSAT, SAT and ACT for the older children. (As an aside, you don't need to teach your child at grade level if you have an advanced kid, however, they will be tested at their grade level, not the level you teach).
10. You will also be given a computer (desktop for most families or laptop for those with 4 or more kids or high school aged children) and a multi-function printer/scanner/fax/copier to use. If you have 4 or more children enrolled, you can receive an additional computer.
11. Once your family is finished with any non-consumable materials (computer and printer included), you must return them to IDEA. However, as long as your family can use them, even if the school year is up and you need them for the next school year, you may keep the items.
That's it for the program.....really pretty simple.
Some additional things they offer are :
-- Resource Room: This is where all of the non-consumables go when parents return them. They will be set up in major metro areas, but are accessible to all across the state. You can call them up and ask if they have something that you need, and it's sent to you.....with no money taken out of your allotment.
-- Student Activities: as the program grows (and some will be in place from the beginning), there will be book clubs, Battle of the Books, spelling bees, talent shows, Showcase Evenings (your child can come dance for an audience, hang up a special piece of art, etc), and group field trips.
-- There will also be various parent and student workshops available , curriculum fairs, and Parent Teacher groups.
You can take part in as many or as little as you like. There are no requirements on involvement.
Hope this helps answer some questions. Please feel free to contact me with any other you may have. If you don't have my phone number and would like to talk in person, please email me and I will get that to you.
Have a great day,
Katrina
elmuyloco5@gmail.com
IDEA's website: http://idea-nm.org/ |
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Reply: 17 - 61 |
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| Admin |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 5:46pm |
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Thanks, Gretchen, Crystal, and Katrina, all very interesting input.
I think I may inadvertently have misled a few people I was talking to about this yesterday, because I thought it was being started NEXT year. In fact, this program is starting with THIS school year, is that right?
If IDEA-NM is starting up for this year, I do have a quetion or two for Gretchen or Katrina. Is there a deadline to sign up? I know that Katrina mentioned that an ILP has to be completed "by September". What does that mean to families who may be interested but have not yet signed up? School for APS has already started. Is there an "official school year" for IDEA-NM? If so, when does it start?
Another question: There's mention made that immunization records must be submitted. But my understanding is that the public schools will also accept instead an immunization waiver form, which you can fill out to say that you object to immunizations on religious grounds or whatever. Does IDEA-NM accept a waiver form?
Crystal, I'd be interested in details from you of just how homeschooling rights in California have eroded since the homeschool charters started. Maybe this info is in the link you gave, I just haven't had time yet to look at that. But the erosion of independent homeschooling is certainly a concern of mine.
Thanks again, all! And a HUGE THANK YOU for keeping this conversation so considerate. I know this is a subject that engenders very strong feelings for some of us (myself included)! |
Elizabeth
Mom to Eric (8 ) and Ruby (4.5) |
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| elmuyloco5 |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 6:36pm |
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I wanted to add quickly for those of you who asked about vaccinations, they just ask for the records because all public schools do. They, however, don't require that you have your children vaccinated. If, for whatever reason, your family doesn't vaccinate, they just want you to put in a note saying that you do not chose to vaccinate. You don't have to put the reason.
Yes the program is starting very soon and enrollment has already started. I don't have an exact date for a deadline. Because this is new, they will be more leaniant at first, but if you are interested signing up is SOOOOOOOO easy. You can do that on their website http://idea-nm.org/. It's very fast and the processing is too. You will then mail your paper copies of the items needed and they will finishing processing you this way. You DO NOT have to have those papers in to be accepted, it just completes your acceptance into the program. We received our acceptance letter today and I just mailed my paper copies yesterday. There will be an "official" dealine for enrollment and also to tell them that you would like to stay enrolled next year, but I don't have that date right now. I will find out for sure what the end date will be for acceptance this year. |
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| elmuyloco5 |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 7:45pm |
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One last thing, to clear up any confusion......IDEA is a Non-profit organization. This program is so different from the others being used out there like Connections Academy, K12, etc. I'm not a salesman, I don't make any money by telling you all this stuff. I'm just a homeschooling mom of three little ones whose joining the program and wanted to share the info with others who might benefit. I hope I haven't offended anyone with my posts, as I am not trying to. I just wanted to get info out there.
Have a great day!
Katrina |
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| Gretchen |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 8:28pm |
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Hi Everyone. I talked to Lisa at IDEA on the phone today, and I have to say that I was very impressed. For others that might be interested, I wanted to let you know that she warmly welcomes you to call or email her, or to attend a meeting that she's holding on Thursday evening. She also said that if Thursday night doesn't work, we could arrange another time to meet with her Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Please let me know if you are interested in doing that, and I'll try to coordinate it. Her email is davelisa@mtaonline.net and her number is (907)-841-7786.
I realize that there are a lot of homeschoolers who are very uncomfortable with this. I'm not trying to promote it or change anyone's mind. But the more I have learned about it, the more interested I have become. I do feel that some of the accusations (not by those here, but by CAPE and HSLDA) were excessive and unfounded. Still, I understand that there are completely valid concerns regarding risk, freedoms, privacy, etc. I don't think anyone should do anything they're not comfortable with. I would just encourage anyone who is curious to check it out for themselves, and not rely on anyone else's opinion (including mine!). |
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| akjlfarnold |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 8:48pm |
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| is the info about the meeting on their website? I think it would be easiest for us to just go hear it first hand, KWIM? Then i don't have to pass along info to my hubby. . . |
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| elmuyloco5 |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 9:56pm |
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The meeting is at 7pm on Thurs in ABQ and I will find out the location for you. The Reps are meeting on the 8th and 9th for training, so I will be there if anyone would like to meet and get extra info on it, or you can call me too. If you'd like my number, or want me to call you, please email me privately.
I spoke with Lisa and so far there is NOT a deadline for this year, so if you are interested, please don't feel you are too late. I'm sure there will eventually be a point at which they stop for the year, but since this is so new, they are trying to give people enough time to start up in their local area.
Hey Gretchen, are you going to become a Rep?
Katrina
elmuyloco5@gmail.com |
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| ILuvMy3Byz |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 11:29pm |
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I am organizing that meeting on Thursday. It is at 7pm at the Flying Star on Manaul. If anyone has any questions let me know!
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| ILuvMy3Byz |
| Posted on: September 1st, 2006, 11:34pm |
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I had picked that location because I thought there was only going to be a few people! Do you all think I need to pick a different location? Should I look for a meeting room somewhere else? Let me know and I can keep you posted on the location. I only have two people from my homeschool group going. How many from this group are planning on going?
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| elmuyloco5 |
| Posted on: September 2nd, 2006, 12:11am |
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Hey Dawn,
I heard about you this morning on the conference call Hope your move is going smoothly. We're ex-Navy, just got out a few months ago as a matter of fact, and got a job up at the Lab. We should keep intouch as we come down to ABQ quite a bit. I won't be able to make the meeting on the 7th (my hubby is working), but we will be down the 8th and 9th for training.
Have a great night!
Katrina |
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| ILuvMy3Byz |
| Posted on: September 2nd, 2006, 12:35am |
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It is always scarry when someone says they "heard about you" LOL! I was not able to make the confrence call today! We are having MAJOR MOVING ISSUES. Believe me when I say I would have NO LUCK at all if I didn't have bad luck!! I am sorry I won't see you on Thursday but I will see you on Friday I am not sure I will be there on Saturday we are moving that weekend, plus we have our back to homeschool party for our group! I NEED A VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL! 
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| elmuyloco5 |
| Posted on: September 2nd, 2006, 12:45am |
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Ha!! I know what you mean! Moving is very stressful! Our move to Hawaii ended up in over $8000 worth of damage.....this move wasn't as bad.,...but we'd didn't have much left Well I look forward to meeting you. I hope your move goes well. If you need me to do a little extra while things are so crazy for you, let me know! We're pretty much unpacked here, just few things to organize and some furniture to wait to be delivered....and of course, decorate...but that's no big deal.
Well, I'll see you next weekend...have a good night...and if there is anything I can help out with....let me know.
Katrina |
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| lieaton |
| Posted on: September 2nd, 2006, 2:40am |
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Hello;
Hope that I do this right as I have never done this before.
This whole discussion of IDEA-NM has been very interesting. I have very direct and personal experience with this program in Alaska and the things that are being said about the program don't resemble my experiences at all.
I have always homeschooled my daughter and she is now 14 years old. We moved to New Mexico in 2003. Up until that time we were enrolled in IDEA in Alaska. We missed the first year of IDEA enrollment because we didn't find out about it in time and the program filled up before we could enroll. We joined when my daughter was in 1st grade and belonged until we left Alaska. I watched IDEA grow and grew with it. I have nothing but praise and admiration for the people that conceived the program. The hardest part of leaving Alaska was leaving my IDEA group, the support staff in the office, my teacher contact, the field rep and the PAC( Parent Advisory Committee). For the first time in my homeschooling life I was alone and to this day have not found anything to compare to the network that was developed through the IDEA model.
I went to the meetings last week ( I was the only one at the 1PM session) and I spent the entire hour questioning the IDEA team as to the differences between the original program and the NM program. I also asked of any changes that had occured during the past three years. I was so excited that I offered to become a field rep. to help the program get going. If you don't mind I would like to give my impressions of the program from the perspective and understanding of an end user of the system.
I will try to answer your comments from the beginning. Please try to separate the IDEA-International team from IDEA-NM. The IDEA-International team are the people here consulting with the Raton School district on the organization and set-up of the IDEA-NM program. Those of us that choose to join will end up being part of the Raton School District enrolled in the IDEA-NM program. Just as La Cueva, Eldorado and Desert Ridge are schools in the APS system. IDEA-NM is a school in the Raton School District. The IDEA-International team is a group that was formed from some of the people that worked with Galena School District (a school district in Alaska) to create the IDEA model. After they set-up the program here it will be run entirely by members of the Raton School district as a long distance learning program. It is also my understanding that this is not a homeschool charter school. They have a different model and structure. By the way it took 3 years of work for this program to come to New Mexico.
We never saw cut-backs in the Alaska program unlike the California program. We vere never promised anything that we weren't given. We were told of the requirements and restrictions from the beginning. There were always restrictions as to the type of curriculum that could be purchased with the funds. We never had home visits and the teacher contact did not have the time to micromanage curriculum content. There was no oversight in terms of what was taught but there was an expectation that all parents wanted their children to have knowledge that is understood to be essential. The ILP were developed with that in mind. For example, we all understand that it is necessary to have a working knowledge of arithmetic and that it is essential to read and write well.
Certified teachers were available and the parents determined if and when they wanted more help. My daughter is dyslexic, has ADD, ADHD, dysgraphia and some short term memory problems. I have never used letter grades and many times the ILP and progress report would not match. I was never chastised, questioned or given the suggestion that I needed help. I did go several times and ask about curriculum, and many times I used the staff to bounce ideas off. Near the end of our time in Alaska the program became large enough to support a group that worked with children with disabilities and we used that service also. I remember several times going in despair to the IDEA office and crying on the shoulder of anyone that would listen. They listened and gave me very constructive ideas.
With regards to the bad affect that such programs have had on homeschooling in these states. Alaska has a population of 600,000 people and IDEA is but one of the cyber schools that exsist. Just Google Alaska- homeschool- government programs and search around and you will find that there are at least 6 other programs in Alaska based on the IDEA model. These programs have empowered homeschoolers in Alaska. I remember Alaska before this program came into being and we had almost no voice. IDEA came into being and we were organized and informed. There are over 3,000 homeschoolers registered in IDEA Alaska and we became a force for change. Prior to the program homeschoolers could not participate in any public school activities, just as in New Mexico. When I left any homeschooler could participate in any program at a public school without restriction. We became a force to be reckoned with and a group to be courted. We had a curriculum fair that rivaled anything that I have seen here in New Mexico. All this in a state with 1/5 the population of NM.
When CAPE-NM sent out it's warning email I did not recognize the program that was described. I cannot but think that somehow they have information that is incorrect. With regards to HSLDA I joined in Alaska under a group rate organised by IDEA in Alaska. Our group was given an Ideafamilies identity to register with. I am confused as to why they would now cast us off. I am sure that many homeschoolers in Alaska will be surprised to find that they have wasted their money over the years to join a group that would not help them. I belonged to HSLDA for seven years and I am very disppointed that it was not made clear that I would have no support from their organization.
Sorry if this is so long but I feel that this is a wonderful organization that is being given a bad time for no good reason. I can't but think that if the truth were known then there would not be the bad feelings toward the program. I am sure that there are many questions out there. Please feel free to contact me privately if you want to know more.
thanks,
Loretta Eaton |
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