A Special Partnership
Why it might be the right choice for your child
What is Options School?
The Options School is part of the Aurora Public Schools, open to students in grades K12, and is designed to support parents who choose to school their children at home. Parents remain the primary instructional provider, with the school supplementing and complementing their efforts. Families participating in Options School get instruction and most educational materials at no cost. This is possible because, as a public school, Options receives a portion of the Per Pupil Operating Revenue (PPOR) distributed at the state level for each enrolled student. This money is used to pay salaries, to purchase textbooks and curriculum, pay site rental and other costs associated with running the program.
What are the expectations FOR students?
Students who enroll in Options attend six hours of classes, one day per week and are considered part-time students. Parents choosing Options still consider home schooling as their primary means of educating their children. In order for Options to receive funding, each registered student must spend a minimum of 90 hours per semester with a licensed teacher hired by Options, for a minimum of 180 hours per school year. These are regularly scheduled hours for classes held at Options School sites.
Students who are 16 years old or juniors in high school may be eligible for up to two, pre-approved classes per semester at a community college or university. The Options School reimburses tuition but parents are responsible for fees and textbooks.
Why would parents choose Options?
Parents choose to place their children in Options because their children can be a part of a classroom experience. They value the opportunity for students to share academic time with their peers. Also, science labs, art, music and other types of classes may be difficult to offer at home. Students are able to participate in-group activities such as field trips. Parents may feel less competent in teaching some academic subjects. Parents encourage the opportunity for their students to experience the rigor of a regular classroom setting and the accountability that comes from deadlines and the need to demonstrate organizational skills.
The teachers, administrators and support staff for Options are competent, well trained and dedicated to educational excellence. All teachers for Options School are fully accredited and must hold a valid Colorado teacher's license appropriate for his/her assignment. In addition, teachers are highly qualified as defined in No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Pupil-teacher ratios are far below those in most public schools and teachers are able to give students the personal