tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post8312862723706157258..comments2024-03-25T21:39:36.083-07:00Comments on Homeschool Distractions: Columbia Virtual AcademyJoAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843337250225596454noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-31455053210975864662016-10-06T22:08:33.961-07:002016-10-06T22:08:33.961-07:00Here is a sneak-peak into what academic writing is...Here is a sneak-peak into what academic writing is all about, especially for those who want to make a career in this field of writing. <a href="http://www.knowledgeskillsabilities.com/" rel="nofollow">ksa answers</a>Troy Floreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10629316619066644960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-91530605392770186922013-03-12T22:01:45.574-07:002013-03-12T22:01:45.574-07:00I greatly appreciate all this information. We atte...I greatly appreciate all this information. We attend WAVA and had been considering moving to CVA because of some of the pluses, but it wounds like the things which would suit our family best are no longer there.<br /><br />I think someone above said it best, you have to figure out what works best for your family and deal with the kinks if there are any.<br /><br />thanks so much for all the info!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-47287901104193743022013-01-10T15:13:18.832-08:002013-01-10T15:13:18.832-08:00Bella Jean, we opted to not continue with CVA afte...Bella Jean, we opted to not continue with CVA after seen the new curriculum catalog at the end of last year. Thanks for reminding me that I needed to update this post. I've put a note at the top.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06843337250225596454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-86119553632099075252013-01-10T14:36:47.513-08:002013-01-10T14:36:47.513-08:00The 2012-2013 school year for CVA has drastically ...The 2012-2013 school year for CVA has drastically changed for the worse. The parent no longer get a "fund" to use for curriculum and activities. CVA has a index of curriculum options to choose from and you get only one set per class that your child is taking. They are no longer as flexible with meeting your child's needs. There have not been any field trips this year. They no longer pay for PE activities/classes. Even the teachers are stricter. Doesn't have that homeschooling feel that it once had. They are really trying to be like a brick and mortar school as much as they can from a distance.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11285832491210617933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-49067121909846907572011-07-01T21:56:19.967-07:002011-07-01T21:56:19.967-07:00Local programs like CVA often can serve your homes...Local programs like CVA often can serve your homeschoolers needs better than programs across the state. Look into your local programs or help start one now! You can support your local economy this way. CVA is not a bad program, but the funds from your student are used to support only one small district and many high administrative salaries. Support local programs and your local community!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-25587299853639676702011-02-15T19:01:16.900-08:002011-02-15T19:01:16.900-08:00Anonymous, have you discussed your feelings with o...Anonymous, have you discussed your feelings with one of the principals? Did you get that specific things would be covered in full in writing?<br /><br />I would try talking to the principal about how you feel and what the teacher has told you, not told you, or done slowly or poorly. <br /><br />I fired my first teacher. Actually, I emailed the principal about my issues in some fairly strong language and was given the option to finish out the school year with her and change the next year or change right away. I love my current one.<br /><br />As far as budget, our learning plan takes us over budget but I have in writing that they are covering x,y,z in full even though it is over the budget. I'll push the issue if it comes up.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06843337250225596454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-90528207319251768452011-02-15T18:25:00.948-08:002011-02-15T18:25:00.948-08:00This was our first year with CVA, and it does have...This was our first year with CVA, and it does have its pluses, but it also has some negatives a newcomer might want to be aware of.<br /><br />CVA currently has a budget of $1,180.00 per student. That may seem like alot of money, but trust me it's not. Even if you are very resourceful and get your curriculum for next to nothing, music, dance, swimming, karate, etc. all add up very fast. <br /><br />I had inquired at the beginning of the year, before signing my children up, as to what would happen if the money ran out. I was told by an administrator not to worry about the budget, that my children would get what they needed. Well, that has not proven to be the case.<br /><br />We're half way through the year and my children's budget is spent, and I am trying to figure out how to pay for those activities so my older child, who is in high school, can get her credits. It's a real mess. And the upsetting thing is that these activities count toward credit she needs to graduate. They were not extra.<br /><br />Also, both of my children are using online curriculum. For my younger child, curriculum is paid for by the month, so CVA may no longer continue to pay for her schooling - meaning we must pick up the tab in order for her to finish out the year. <br /><br />So, know the costs for everything and keep track of your budget. Nobody else will do it for you. CVA has something on their website that is supposed to allow you to see your budget, but it never worked for me. <br /><br />It would be a good idea if you could know your costs up front - how much for curriculum, music, dance, swimming, etc. so you will have an idea of whether the budget will cover everything, and if not you can be prepared to pay for some things yourself.<br /><br />Also, our teacher was new this year and didn't know the ropes. This cost my older child two months of school time because curriculum was not ordered in a timely manner. Thus, she ended up starting school in November. When 2nd semester came, same thing happened again, and now we are concerned she won't finish everything by year's end.<br /><br />Other things - the reporting is easy. Don't let it scare you. But, there is alot of paperwork for ordering curriculum and classes, and getting reimbursed for things. Also, reimbursements to you and payments to extra curricular instructors take about a month - which is a long time. We've had complaints from our child's music instructor because they are always paid a month late. <br /><br />Also, if you have a child going into high school, they won't be able to do running start through CVA. They will have to do it through their home district. This is what I was told by my child's teacher, who encouraged me to enroll my child in regular public high school for running start.<br /><br />At this point, I'm leaning toward not using CVA next year. I am very disappointed with the way things have been handled, from late curriculum, to late payments to vendors, to not being informed earlier of our budget's status. <br /><br />As a final thought, I have homeschooled for ten years and tried everything from unit studies to work books to online curriculum. There is no perfect program out there. You just have to find what works best for you and your family, and work with the flaws as best you can.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-37518122432987988892011-02-12T21:26:33.388-08:002011-02-12T21:26:33.388-08:00Hello, I am looking into CVA and am confused. I w...Hello, I am looking into CVA and am confused. I was wondering if you could explain this sentence, "With that enrollment, we officially became public-schoolers per state law. However, we enrolled at 99% to maintain our legal status as homeschoolers as well." Also, I noticed that you use some Christian curriculum. Is that the 1% that you don't claim because it is illegal to use public money to fund any religious instruction. (Article 1, Section 11 of the Constitution of the State of Washington states<br />that no public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment.) I am trying to understand how this works. <br /><br />My email is cbsloth2@aol.com and we are neighbors. I live in Gig Harbor. Thanks for your help!<br />Blessings,<br />BeckyUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341369521219408618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-84369979434462217942010-12-29T15:11:45.169-08:002010-12-29T15:11:45.169-08:00Oh! forgot my email: a.joy.brooks@gmail.com Than...Oh! forgot my email: a.joy.brooks@gmail.com Thanks, Alison BrooksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-72215083060750132772010-12-29T14:06:44.470-08:002010-12-29T14:06:44.470-08:00Your blog has really helped me understand CVA...th...Your blog has really helped me understand CVA...thank you! I am homeschooling my kindergarten age daughter (using Sonlight) and it's obviously the middle of the year, but we are about to enroll her in gymnastics and I am inclined to enroll in CVA to help cover that cost. Questions: did you apply part time (you say you're 99%...)? I spoke with someone on the phone and it seems like this is the best option (they just cover the subjects you want them to?)..but how do you arrive at the percentage? Also is it worth applying mid year, in your opinion? Will they cover any of the curriculum I already purchased? Thanks for any input! PS I am in Tacoma as well! ---Alison BrooksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-83949225408400544472010-11-05T08:39:09.367-07:002010-11-05T08:39:09.367-07:00Yes, you can dual enroll. It will reduce the fina...Yes, you can dual enroll. It will reduce the financial benefit from CVA because the two districts share your child's FTE, but it is possible. CVA will walk you through it.JoAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06843337250225596454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-46476729760697042062010-11-05T07:39:07.352-07:002010-11-05T07:39:07.352-07:00Do you know if we enroll our kids into CVA, would ...Do you know if we enroll our kids into CVA, would my son still be able to have speech therapy at the school? We have an IEP, he gets speech therapy once a week, I do not want to lose that benefit, but like the idea of CVA, just wondering...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-13315014874293063452010-09-22T00:54:21.604-07:002010-09-22T00:54:21.604-07:00We paid for the Calvert Kindergarten curriculum ou...We paid for the Calvert Kindergarten curriculum ourselves for our oldest daughter, not knowing about this program ... this is something to think about for next year though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-2645882116115813892010-05-23T12:53:25.484-07:002010-05-23T12:53:25.484-07:00WOW! I was refered to CVA by a friend of mine who ...WOW! I was refered to CVA by a friend of mine who is a homeschooler but she uses her district Co-Op. I have 2 special needs kids. I like many people who homeschool have very little faith in the public school system but when they flat out told me that they would not make the accomidations my son needed as perscribed by his docotrs I was done. They also flat out refused access to his service dog. Now before people go to far with this I am lodging formal complaints with all departments I need to AND pulling him from the school. <br />I happend upon your blog looking to reconfirm that CVA is what I thought it was and what they at CVA told me they were. Now I am even more comfortable with my choice to homeschool and so secited to see my son be able to surpass my expectations with his education as I know he now will have the chance to do! <br /><br />Sarah Jensen <br />Seattle WA <br />SMJ1080@hotmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-598136848237978752009-10-08T08:12:57.245-07:002009-10-08T08:12:57.245-07:00I was wondering if you could answer a few question...I was wondering if you could answer a few questions that I have about this?<br />I am on the waiting list for next year. I am curious about how you can get by without having to take the WASL. I don't want to have to take that test. I am also curious about how much extra work CVA will require of me.<br />Any help would be fantastic.<br />Thanks a millionThe Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07998647567931504875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-16632667174241606442009-05-15T08:39:00.000-07:002009-05-15T08:39:00.000-07:00We are currently on the waiting list. I want to fi...We are currently on the waiting list. I want to find out what curriculum they have approved so I can start planning next year. When do you find out if you make it in the program and do you get a catalog then? <br />Jill<br />wajacobs@msn.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-91555343041263033882008-08-06T18:01:00.000-07:002008-08-06T18:01:00.000-07:00Thankyou for that description. I am currently loo...Thankyou for that description. I am currently looking into it myself, but feeling a little bit nervous as I have homeschooled independently for many years now. I wasn't sure if I wanted to give up any personal control over my kids education, so it is nice to hear good things about cva. I have sent them our basic info and have yet to hear from them. I am looking forward to hearing form them now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-52116147422486776502008-07-03T10:31:00.000-07:002008-07-03T10:31:00.000-07:00Thanks for explaining CVA so eloquently - I'll be ...Thanks for explaining CVA so eloquently - I'll be sending the folks who ask me to explain CVA to this post from now on!Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17378878328151595738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-73428110249294413602008-07-02T17:27:00.000-07:002008-07-02T17:27:00.000-07:00This all sounds very similar to the program I just...This all sounds very similar to the program I just enrolled my children into. We're going it full time as that was the only option in our state... all or nothing. We're officially enrolled in the K-12 virtual school, but I'm still calling us homeschoolers, since I'm teaching my kids from home! lol It's too challenging to explain it any other way when people ask anyway!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03840772283713848191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-48066878106567870112008-07-02T10:17:00.000-07:002008-07-02T10:17:00.000-07:00I believe this is the same program my SIL uses. Sh...I believe this is the same program my SIL uses. She lives in Ephrata. She too loves it! I wish they did something like that here. I can see how it would benefit homeschoolers and the public schools.Montserrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13056974831892116493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004296142783931577.post-52312893087516225862008-07-02T09:32:00.000-07:002008-07-02T09:32:00.000-07:00Hi, I've been reading your blog for awhile now. We...Hi, I've been reading your blog for awhile now. We are also a CVA family (we live on Vashon) and love it! I think I've spread the word here enough that 3 other families also joined ;) So far it's been a complete blessing without any downside. You described it well!<BR/><BR/>-Laura<BR/>Mom to 7Duckygirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08506011428037256664noreply@blogger.com