Every year parents inquire with Turlock Unified School District about homeschooling options, and the interest has only increased over time, prompting the district to offer a TK-6 homeschooling program.
“TUSD focuses on meeting the academic and social emotional needs of each student in a variety of settings,” said TUSD Communications Director Marie Russell. “Families who engage in the TK-6 Home School will receive support from the classroom teacher, school administration and support staff to ensure student success.”
Students who choose this option will be schooled at home by a parent or guardian and receive district adopted curriculum and supplementary materials, including hard copy and digital. Parents will also receive guidance from an assigned certified teacher.
“Home school students will use TUSD’s adopted curriculum with access to all supplemental hard copy and digital intervention and enrichment programs to provide home school students the same standards-aligned, engaging instructional materials as those attending school on campus,” said Russell.
The assigned certified teacher will provide: curriculum, materials, instructions on how to best teach the curriculum, digital support and office hours.
Students who choose to homeschool will still be able to participate in extracurricular activities in most cases.
“TUSD will work with parents to provide extracurricular opportunities in district programs although these are somewhat limited at the elementary level,” said Russell.
Students will also have access to social and emotional learning.
Homeschooling has been on the rise since the pandemic as more families have explored alternative forms of education. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, from 2012 to the beginning of 2020 national homeschooling rates had remained steady at around five percent. By the fall of 2020 over 11 percent of students reported to be homeschooling, which amounted to rates doubling in less than a year.
For more information families can contact Principal Tim Norton at tnorton@turlock.k12.ca.us
