. . . "Homeschooling is not for everyone, but as homeschooling continues to develop, it becomes easier for parents to choose as an educational option. A savvy Islamic school can benefit from this by developing texts, materials, and programs that reach into the community and expand it's enrollment."
"One of the best examples of this is Abeka, the publishing arm of Pensecola Christian College. This group video-taped their classroom lessons as the lessons were happening, bundled them with texts and teacher support, and offered them to the homeschooling public across the U.S. (and abroad). It is quite popular, and their private day school expanded its enrollment to many hundreds of children throughout the country."
"Another more recent example is distance learning on the internet. MHSNR asked Laurel Springs School in California, to create one of the first distance learning programs designed for Muslim children. Later, ArabesQ entered the market; it is run and staffed by professional Muslim educators and Muslim homeschoolers. As more parents seek to remove their children from non-Muslim institutions here in the United States, Canada, Europe, etc., the need to develop these programs only increases.". . .
. . . "Far from being the determent to Islamic schools, Muslim homeschooling can actually expand enrollment and the role of Islamic schools in the community. Regardless of the reasons, there will always be Muslim homeschoolers. In time, insha’Allah, Islamic schools will not view Muslim homeschoolers as a detriment and with derision but as an asset. We can and often have assisted one another for the very best of our children, and isn’t that, after all, what this is about?"
This is but a sample of the secular and religious traditional coorespondence schools and distance learning programs offered throughout the United States. You will notice that there are many schools that offer their own programs. These reflect the difference each school places on varying aspects of their curriculum. An Islamic school wishing to enter this market should not worry about duplicating another Islamic school's offerings. Insha'Allah you will provide a different structure or emphasis.
There is a great need for 9th -12th grade Islamic traditional coorespondence schools and other distance learning programs.
Whatever route your school chooses to go please inform MHSNR when your distance learning/coorespondence program is ready so that we may list it on this web site. And please register on the Muslim Homeschooling Webring.
When reviewing these models you may first wish to contact them for a catalog, and review their curriculum, teacher support and how they "work". Then, if possbile, make and appointment to tour their school or operation. Finally, you may wish to explore a mentoring relationship with the organization you wish to model. Some schools are fine with this, others are rather hostile, so proceed carefully is this regard.
These models are not listed in alphabetical order.
Computer Based
High School
Traditional Coorespondence Schools
Unit/Class or Topic Specific Programs
Video
Virtual, Web or Internet Based