Niles Community Schools announced Monday yet another new educational offering targeting students who may not be familiar with the school’s halls: home-schooled children.
The Niles Extended School Community Program is a new offering to home-school families that will give those students a chance to take part in selected classes they may not have access to through a traditional home-school experience.
“There is a provision with the Michigan state law whereas home-schoolers can participate in non-core classes … if they so desire,” said Gail Bliss, the home-school liaison for the program. “What this is doing is just organizing it for them.”
Through the program, home-schooled students in grades 1-12 will be able to take part in a variety of classes, including Rosetta Stone languages, industrial arts, equine science, art, swim and gym, robotics, FAB Lab, dance, music, video production, photography and theater.
Seated, virtual and independent study classes are being offered. Bliss said students are required to take at least one seated class at the school “in order to take any virtual classes or any independent study classes.”
Seated classes are a little more home-school friendly,” Bliss said, “in that they meet once a week.”
And those home-schooled children would be considered students of Niles Community Schools — which could make them eligible to be counted for some state funding for the district.
Developing this type of program is something families who teach their kids at home have been wanting for some time.
“When you’re a home-schooler, you’re always looking for ways to make your home schooling program even better,” Bliss said.
Bliss, who has home-schooled for 14 years, said as far back as seven or eight years ago, home-school families were looking to get a similar program started. At the time, she said, the only interest shown was by Battle Creek. Later, Galien and Berrien Springs school districts showed interest and developed their own programs.
A “small pilot program” was started with the Niles district in the second semester of last year.
Having the program in Niles is a proximal advantage for interested families.
“There’s a lot of similarities and there’s some differences (between the Niles, Galien and Berrien Springs programs) as well so it’s giving home-schoolers a lot more choice,” Bliss said.
“There’s a big desire for it,” she added, estimating 127 students signing up for Battle Creek’s program already.
Registration is open for the Niles Extended School Community Program this week from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Westside Administration Building, 111 Spruce St., Niles and online at www.nilesschools.org.