School Choices

For those who completed the parent survey in early June regarding distance learning feedback and input for school opening, thank you. Forty-six percent of our families responded. Based on that response, I want to make sure parents are aware of all the options available for your child’s education. 

While I certainly don’t want to lose any of our Lake Panthers, I also have to be realistic that the school closure experience may have you thinking of other schooling options. Some comments from the survey indicated that if we were to go into distance learning next year, you would choose to homeschool. First, we will do everything we can to NOT go that route. We are planning a full return to school at this time. Modified schedules and distance learning are not suitable substitutes for in-person teaching and learning at Lake Elementary. I do realize, however, that some parents enjoyed the homeschool environment and now may be considering other options. That is a trend we are seeing across the state, and it is not surprising. 

With that, I want to make sure that parents have all the information to make a well-informed decision. Although Glenn County is small, there are several options that parents can choose from for the education of their child: homeschool, private school, public charter schools, and public schools like us. I’ve outlined the local options below, all of which are located in northern Glenn County. 

Homeschool: Parents who opt to privately educate or “home school” their children must first properly file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the CDE (Education Code (EC) Section

33190). By filing an affidavit, the owner/head (parent) of the school acknowledges, under penalty of perjury, that the (home) school meets all statutory requirements for a full-time private school, such as keeping a record of attendance, which includes noting all absences of a half day or more, grade reporting, and providing instructional materials. Parents who file the private school affidavit to privately educate their children must select and provide all curricular, instructional, and other materials. For more information, check out CDE’s “Schooling at Home” web page located at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/homeschool.asp, which includes information about filing the PSA as well as educational resources.

Private School: Located right on Highway 32, Providence Christian School provides a faith-based education for students ages 4-18 (through high school). Over the years, a handful of our Lake graduates have gone on to attend Providence High School. For more information regarding Providence, you can check out their website. 

Public Charter School: As I shared earlier in a blog post, we authorized a charter school last year, Lake View Charter School. Lake View enrolls students TK-12 grades. This environment would be similar to the distance learning you may have experienced this past year. Unlike homeschool in which the parent is responsible for curriculum, attendance and grade reporting, families work with credentialed teachers to design a learning plan that best supports the child’s learning style. Additionally, the credentialed teacher tracks attendance and grading, taking some of that responsibility off the plate of the parent. Another public charter school in our area is William Finch Charter School. I consider this charter school a “blended learning environment” or “hybrid model” some of you mentioned in your comments. William Finch is a viable option for those looking for a hybrid of classroom instruction and independent learning at home. They serve students in grades K-12. 

Public School: A review of the area schools would not be complete without including Orland Unified School District. Most of our families live in the Orland District and choose to come to Lake. Likewise, over the past few years, a handful of our families have returned to their home district, looking for a larger school setting than what we can offer. I understand that our small school environment is not for everyone. And that is okay. But for those who thrive and excel as a Lake Panther, find comfort in knowing that we will continue to provide a rigorous and well-rounded education in a safe and supportive environment. 

I have shared a lot of information. Should you find yourself considering other options, please feel free to email me any questions you may have regarding school choice. At the end of the day, I want you and your child to be happy in the educational environment that best fits him/her.