Methow Valley Home School Program

Parent Partnership Program
Lauralee Northcott, Instructor

The Methow Valley School District Alternative Learning Experience parent partnership program is a collaboration of home school families with the Methow Valley School District. The program was started in the spring of the 1997-98 school year to offer support and services to home school families. The program is supported with state basic education funds that are generated through the student's participation in the program's services.

The Alternative Learning Experience is provided for the children of parents who choose to teach their children at home. In the program, parents have the responsibility of directly providing instruction and supervising learning activities with professional guidance from a credentialed teacher/consultant. The program creates a bridge between the traditional school and the community, provides assistance in education, challenges each student to excel in areas of special interest, and provides alternatives for students to achieve competency in basic skills.

The Alternative Learning Experience has been developed for Grades K-8. The program offers enrichment activities to enhance the home school curriculum. Tutoring, access to computers and learning materials, health and evaluative testing, and library services are also available. A yearly stipend will be granted for use toward learning materials on a loan basis. Students in the program can also take advantage of services offered in the District such as electives at the alternative school, drivers education, sports or specific classes. A program that works for the child will be designed in consultation with parents. This full-time enrollment will enable students to participate in all activities and entitlements of the program and be assigned an instructor to oversee their progress.

The success of home education is dependent upon the active participation and supervision of at least one parent in the home. Parents are responsible for monitoring and recording the daily progress of the student in all academic subjects and extracurricular activities. The District will provide special forms for record keeping.

A Student Learning Plan will be written to guide the student in academic learning. Weekly contact and a monthly evaluation of progress will help in ensuring a successful education experience.

Please contact Lauralee Northcott or Jeff Monahan for more information.