School district reaches out

MAT-SU -- Valley parents who teach their children at home may not be getting their own charter school this fall, but the Mat-Su Correspondence Study School is making room for them.

This summer, a group of teachers and homeschool families petitioned the Mat-Su School Board to open a charter school designed for them. The board recently rejected the proposal, saying more preparation time was needed to get the school up and

running.

Last week, however, the district announced it had added a new kindergarten-through-12th-grade program designed for homeschoolers to its

existing correspondence study school.

"I believe it's going to be very popular," said Steve Levine, principal for the Mat-Su Correspondence Study School. He told the school board he is anticipating 430 students in his school next year, but that the new addition will most likely mean even more students.

"As positive as we expect the response to be, we will most likely go well beyond the initial targeted number of students," Levine said.

The district anticipates it is losing as many as 1,700 Mat-Su children to private schools and to programs offered by other Alaska districts. This new "Track 2" at the correspondence school is designed to attract some of those students back to Mat-Su.

Some of the families have been opting for distance-learning programs of other districts that include curriculum allowances and educational approaches designed for the individual student. Mat-Su's new program adopts some of these elements.

Each student will receive an $1,800 curriculum allowance for the school year that can be used to purchase books and supplies and even to pay for outside courses such as karate to meet physical education requirements.

Certified teachers at the correspondence study school will provide professional support to the families, including lessons and a music program led by a music teacher. Extracurricular and physical education components can also be coordinated through local schools.

The program will also include all required state exams.

But perhaps what may be most important to incoming families is the flexibility. While Levine said his school's existing programs offer a degree of flexibility in setting a child's educational plan, the new "Track 2" goes even further.

"It's parent driven and teacher supported," Levine said. "It offers parents maximum flexibility."

The principal said it has required a "fundamental rethinking" of their program, but that the correspondence school staff is talented and up to the task.

"We are gung-ho and excited about this new venture," Levine said.

Levine said he and his staff have already been in contact with many families, including some of those who headed up the earlier Horizon Charter School efforts, and he said the interest has been strong.

During last week's meeting, school board members wanted to know the bottom line. Interim Superintendent Bob Doyle informed them that the homeschool program will not cost the district anything but instead will be funded entirely by state dollars.

"We'll pay for ourselves," Levine explained.

Board member Linda Menard also wanted to know if the program would be hiring any additional staff and, if so, if Horizon Charter teacher Yolanda Paez would be considered. Menard said it was apparent from the public testimony during the summer that Paez is highly valued as a teacher.

Levine said it is not uncommon for parents and students to be fond of their teachers and that he is confident the families will develop the same sort of relationship with his staff if given the opportunity.

"That does take a little time to develop," he explained.

However, he added that if the program grows as much as he anticipates, he will need to hire more teachers and that all applicants would be considered.

Enrollment for the homeschool support program is open until Nov. 1. All Mat-Su students, including those currently enrolled in the district and not, are eligible for the program.

An informational meeting to discuss the program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20, in the banquet room of Evangelo's in Wasilla. For more information, people may call 373-3570

The district is also in the process of forming a homeschool advisory council.