“I thought we were friends…” is one of the most memorable lines from the 1975 cult classic, The Stepford Wives . The movie uses the interface between human and robotic AI technology to challenge and raise questions about the social norms of the 70’s. Here we are, 50 years later, and AI is being baked into…
Hello Home Schoolers! The above subject line is a partial quote by Seth Dillon, CEO of the Babylonian Bee. Read the full quote at the bottom of this post. Most home schoolers consider the teaching of morality, of character formation, to be a big deal. Academics, while important, comes in second. Unfortunately, the polarized political…
I’m a subscriber to Michael Easter’s substack . Most of his topics center around fitness and health, but in his latest post, he presents some new social media research that is relevant to educating our children. Last Friday he pointed out that social media use among children has been linked to mental health issues, depression in particular….
Years ago, after the administrative rules regulating home schooling were passed, I had a conversation with a senior leader at the Oregon Department of Education. He was tasked with over-seeing and communicating with home schoolers in our state. He was very approachable, so I asked him, “How did the rule committee arrive at the 15th percentile as…
Most of my Oregon readers know that a total score, at or above the 15th percentile, means your student has made satisfactory progress. If so, you may proceed teaching your child for another year without involvement by the state. The 15th percentile score represents a student’s ranking compared to students nationwide. The scale is 1 (low) to…
September 1st is an important date for home schoolers. It’s the date ESD’s use to initially assign the grade level of six year olds who will be home schoolers. The administrative rules are clear that this grade level is kindergarten.* In another place seven-year-olds are identified as first graders.** Still, there remains a lot of confusion…
Hello Home Schoolers! Did the testing deadline here in Oregon sneak up on you? Unable to find an examiner to test your student before August 15? You’re not alone, and we can help! Oregon’s administrative rule regulating testing states: (5) Children in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, being taught as provided in section (4)…
Is this your first year home schooling in Oregon? If so, state law requires that you notify your Educational Service District (ESD) of your intent to homeschool. This does not have to be done until your child is 6 on September 1. This written intention should be sent within 10 days of the start of…
Compared to what we had years ago, they are very reasonable. In the 1980’s, the rules regulating home schooling were simultaneously clear and fuzzy. The first rule was clear: parents had to ask and get permission from the superintendent to home school. If granted, students were placed on a list. Then, at the superintendent’s discretion,…
Does your student want to play sports, participate in band, choir, or speech class offered through the public school? If so, they need to be tested no later than August 15, even if their chosen activity will not take place until spring of 2026. An annual achievement test is required for each year a home…