🔎 Seven ways to evaluate homeschool programs

While there are many phenomenal homeschool programs available, especially in major cities, it's always prudent to do due diligence to see if a program is the right fit for your family and your individual child. At Modulo, we follow a comprehensive process that helps us find programs that kids and families love 99% of the time. Here’s the process we use to evaluate homeschool programs:

1. Don’t Just Look at the Stars, Really Read the Reviews

It’s not enough that a homeschool program has five stars on Yelp or that one person recommends it in your local group. What’s important is that it’s a good fit for your child. Look for comments from families that seem similar to you, with children who have common learning patterns, strengths, and challenges. Pay attention to teacher names mentioned positively and try to get a class with that teacher. Reviews provide a wealth of information about the program's strengths and weaknesses, and understanding the context of these reviews can help you make a more informed decision.

2. Ask for Private Feedback in Parent Groups

If you’ve found a homeschool program you like, ask for feedback from local parenting groups. Some people might not be comfortable giving negative feedback publicly, so encourage people to message you privately and check your “other messages” on Facebook to ensure you receive all responses. People are generally more willing to give authentic feedback privately than publicly. You can also search the group for the program's name (using the search feature in Facebook groups) and see what people have to say. This private feedback can provide candid insights that might not be available in public reviews.

3. Pay Attention to Responsiveness

Contact the homeschool program and see how quickly they reply. If you don’t get a response within 1-2 business days, it may be a bad sign. A well-organized program should communicate well with parents about their children’s learning. Responsiveness indicates the level of support you can expect and reflects the program's commitment to its students and families. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and frustration down the line.

4. Visit the Space (If Possible)

Look at photos or visit the space. In the Reggio Emilia philosophy, we call the environment the child’s “third teacher.” It's essential children have a learning space that’s clean, beautiful, and well-lit, where they can move about freely without safety concerns. A well-maintained environment indicates the program’s attention to detail and commitment to providing a nurturing space for learning. If visiting in person is not an option, virtual tours or detailed photos can give you a good sense of the environment.

5. Look for a Well-Designed Website

Families will want to find a program that’s entered the 21st century. With platforms like Webflow, it’s easier than ever to build a beautiful website with a seamless user experience. If the website looks confusing or ancient, it might be a sign that the program is not bringing a lot of intentionality into the way they do things—or that they’re stuck in the past. While it’s not always the case, we can usually learn a lot about a program from a sharp, beautiful, easy-to-use landing page. This also reveals if the program coordinators are keyed into how people are experiencing every aspect of their program.

A caveat here: There are absolutely lovely homeschool programs that have no website at all and are hidden gems people find out via word of mouth. Don’t overlook great programs without an online presence. Also, just because a program has a gorgeous website doesn’t mean that the program is good. Don’t use the website as your sole criterion for choosing the program.

6. Consider the Background of Teachers

Most websites have a team page. Take the time to look at the page and review the teachers' bios. Do they seem to have childcare or teaching experience? Do they have interesting, eclectic backgrounds? Even if there’s not a team page, the website may have information about how they vet and select teachers. Teachers with diverse and rich backgrounds can bring unique perspectives and methods to their teaching, enhancing the learning experience for your child. It's important to ensure that the educators are not only qualified but also passionate and experienced in working with children.

7. Ask About Cognitive Diversity

Whenever we’re evaluating a program, we ask if they cater to children with special needs. If your child has a specific, diagnosed condition, it’s a good idea to ask specifically about that issue. If the program leader seems to bristle or gives a generic answer, that’s not a good sign that they’re able to cater to different types of learners or have a nuanced background in childhood education, for that matter.

You’ll want to find program directors who are transparent about their experience or lack of experience with your child’s diagnosis. For example, if they share that they don’t have formal training in that diagnosis but are eager to learn and accommodate your child’s needs, that’s a good sign. They may also express that they’ve worked with children with your child’s diagnosis and give specific details about how that worked out for the other child.

Programs that are inflexible in their approach, don’t seem to understand your child’s diagnosis, or care to learn about it will not be a good fit for any family.

In general, we recommend families enroll in inclusive programs that cater to many different intellectual capacities. Children learn by modeling others. For example, children with autism will benefit from being around neurotypical peers to learn social and emotional cues. Gifted kids will benefit from being around intellectual peers, older children, but also mastering their skills by taking the role of teacher and building social skills by collaborating with those who think differently than them. In all cases, it’s good to have a healthy balance of one-on-one mastery learning time and group learning time.

Even if your child does not have a documented learning difference, it’s useful to understand if this is a program that is inclusive and sensitive to intellectual differences. There is such a vast spectrum of how children learn. It’s invaluable to work with a program that celebrates these differences and is sensitive to curating education to meet children’s needs. If a program director honestly shares that they can’t accommodate your child, then take them at face value. Perhaps they’ll be kind enough to recommend other programs that are a better fit.

Other Factors to Consider in Choosing Homeschool Programs

Extracurricular programs are not formally vetted in the way schools are, so families need to be aware of the following factors when selecting a program:

Secular vs. Religious: Many homeschool programs are developed for religious homeschoolers. While this may not be a dealbreaker for you, it’s a good idea to ask what kind of content will be taught. Understanding the program’s philosophical or religious orientation can help ensure it aligns with your family’s values and educational goals.

Vaccination Requirements: Homeschooling attracts a wide variety of families. Many choose to homeschool because they’re opposed to vaccinations. If being around other vaccinated children is important to your family or if anyone in your family is immunocompromised, this might be a question you want to ask when evaluating a program. It's important to consider the health and safety of your child and others, particularly in group settings.

Safety Protocols: There are no official safety standards for homeschool or afterschool programs. In many segments of the unschooling community, more risky kinds of play are encouraged in children because it’s thought to build self-efficacy. Parents should decide what level of risk they’re comfortable with and ask programs about safety protocols they have in place and if there’s been any history of accidents in the program. Ensuring that the program follows appropriate safety measures can provide peace of mind and protect your child’s well-being.

Finding the right homeschool program for your child involves careful consideration and thorough evaluation. By following these seven steps, you can ensure that you choose a program that aligns with your child’s needs and your family’s educational goals. Remember to read reviews in depth, seek private feedback, evaluate the program’s responsiveness, visit the learning space, assess the website's quality, consider the teachers' backgrounds, and inquire about cognitive diversity. Additionally, keep in mind other important factors like the program’s philosophical orientation, vaccination requirements, and safety protocols.

With thoughtful research and evaluation, you can find a homeschool program that provides a supportive, engaging, and enriching educational experience for your child.