Switching schools midyear? More parents going virtual to ease transition

(ARA) - Every year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 2 million American families with children move - and their children switch schools. While many families move over the summer, so their kids can start new schools in the fall, others make the school switch midyear, often because of parent job changes or family economic challenges.

In addition, as more school options are becoming available to parents, a growing number of families who aren't moving their homes are nonetheless changing their children's schools midyear. Parents who do so are often seeking to give their child a "fresh start" for a variety of reasons: a student who's bored, or one who's not getting the individualized attention he needs. Student health or social issues can also be factors.

Educators say many families switching their kids' school midyear are turning to virtual schools like Connections Academy. The reason is two-fold. First, more families than ever have embraced virtual education in general - roughly 2 million American K-12 students now get some or all of their education virtually, according to research firm Ambient Insight. And second, the very format of virtual schools eases the student's adjustment period - and physical transitions for both student and family.

At these schools, learning takes place at home, with a parent or "learning coach" on site, with instruction directed by certified teachers, with whom student and parents communicate frequently by phone and e-mail. Connections Academy enrollment counselors - who oversee enrollments across a national network of 15 schools -- report that their midyear student enrollments have increased 200 percent over the past four years.

School counselors say that with a little advance planning, a smooth transition to a virtual public school can be easy, and the student can soon achieve both academic and emotional success in his new school.

Here are the Connections Academy counselors' tips for parents to ensure a seamless transition for their child to a virtual school in 2010.

1. Insist on quality: Not all virtual schools are created equal. Many states have virtual public schools; check www.ConnectionsAcademy.com to see if there's one in your state. Like all public schools, these schools are tuition-free to families. In states where virtual public schools are not available, there are many fee-based virtual private school options. Do your homework to be sure you're picking a high-quality virtual school. High-quality virtual schools employ professional and certified teachers. Make sure the school offers an accredited program with a wide range of courses, and a proven curriculum developed by professional educators. Talk to parents with students currently enrolled in the school.

2. Plan ahead: Think about the best time to make the school switch. For high school (and some middle school) students, it's ideal to finish out the quarter or semester, and then start the new period in the new school. The student gets a fresh start in his new courses, and will have completed coursework from his semester in his previous school. Parents should find out when finals and/or the next upcoming grading period ends in their current school, and when the new one starts, and use this as the target start date for the new school. Of course, sometimes life throws you a curve ball - unexpected job changes or other sudden family matters seldom come with advance warning. In that case, parents should reach out to the virtual school's guidance and enrollment officials as early as they can, and work with them to make the school switch as smooth as possible.

3. Get your paperwork in order: It can take a while to complete the enrollment process at a virtual school, so parents should start sooner rather than later gathering together all the necessary paperwork they'll need to enroll their child in the new virtual school - transcripts, birth certificates, immunization records, and the like. Check, of course, with enrollment officials at the new school to get a list of required documents, and what, if any, admission deadlines might apply.

4. Transfer credits: Many schools don't mail home fall semester or 2nd quarter report cards until well into the spring semester, making it tricky for some parents to show proof of course completion, and to get all the student's course credits transferred to the new school. Parents facing this situation should check with their new school's enrollment counselors to find out what other alternative paperwork they can supply, and then request it from the previous school.

5. Maintain an open dialogue: The parents' role in ensuring a smooth midyear transition doesn't end when their child is enrolled in his new virtual public school, has all his books and academic supplies and has started classes. "The key to a smooth transition - to any school, not just a virtual public school -- is for parents to maintain an open dialogue and communications with the school," observes Tisha Rinker, senior manager of school counseling for Connections Academy.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

 

You can still get scholarships - here's how
(ARA) - A slow economy and dwindling resources for financial aid may have you worrying more than ever about funding your child's college education. But there are still scholarships available for those who pursue them and take the all-important step of applying long before the school year starts.

Applying for scholarships should be one of the first steps in your search. However, scholarship myths continue to flourish and need to be dispelled.

Myth 1: Billions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed.
In reality, the number of unused scholarships is minuscule. You'll need to do your research and apply early to have a chance at getting your share of available funding.

Myth 2: Scholarships go only to the best students.
Many scholarships are awarded based on elements other than academic achievement. Some scholarships are based on the student's major field of study, involvement in extracurricular and community activities, ethnicity and geographic origin, or other factors.

Myth 3: Scholarship searches are worth paying for.
This myth eventually will die as people discover the many free resources available on the Internet or in the print media.

So how do students and their parents sort through the myths and get to the facts? Start the process early - January is perfect for the next school year - and utilize the resources around you. To find scholarship opportunities, start with your high school guidance counselor and local library for a list of possible resources. Next, check with your college financial aid office. Most states and many colleges offer scholarships, so students should also inquire about them. Finally, the Internet and organizational Web sites are excellent places to search. Remember, this information should always be free.

Don't count yourself out just because you are not the valedictorian, class president or star athlete. There are scholarships available for many interests, backgrounds and abilities. The bottom line is apply now, and the more scholarships for which you apply, especially local and regional opportunities, the better your odds are to be selected.

Though the scholarship application process can be time consuming, most scholarships require similar information. Once you complete your first application, you can easily re-use the same information for additional scholarships.

Scholarships come from many sources, but the student may have to do some detective work to uncover them. For example, at www.usbank.com/studentloans, you can apply to be one of 40 high school seniors or college undergraduates to receive a $1,000 U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship. Over the past 13 years, U.S. Bank has awarded more than $350,000 in scholarship funding for this program. Scholarship award recipients are selected through a random drawing process. There are no essays to complete or minimum grade point average requirements.  The U.S. Bank Web site also features a powerful scholarship search engine.

Scholarship search tips

* Start early - Experts recommend college-bound students and their parents start looking as early as their freshman year in high school. By identifying potential awards, students can choose classes and activities that will increase their chance at winning a specific award in the future.

* Use the Internet - But be wary of scams posing as scholarships. If a scholarship is reputable, you should be able to find information about it through multiple sources. Try to use two sources and make sure the profile submitted is accurate; paying fees does not increase your chances of winning.

* Think small - Competition can be tough for large awards. Smaller awards ($1,000 and less) typically have less competition and are easier to obtain.

Additional free scholarship Web sites you may want to visit include:

* www.collegeboard.com/scholarships
* www.collegeplan.org
* www.collegescholarships.com
* www.collegenet.com
* www.scholarships.com

Courtesy of ARAcontent