The Foreign Service Journal, December 2012

66 DECEMBER 2012 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT Other families also choose a very structured educational program, even if they do not intend to have their children enter a traditional school at some point. For these families, there is a wide variety of “school in a box” curricula, which offer a full educational program for a child’s grade in school. This can encompass everything from language arts and math to social studies and advanced sci- ences, depending on the grade. Families choosing such a structured educational approach often have regular daily hours set aside as school time, and the parent might take on the formal role of teacher. Some homeschoolers experience a similarly structured educational program by enrolling in an online school, complete with curriculum, interaction with teach- ers and other students, and coursework graded by the school, not the parent. However, online school programs often require a good Internet connection for the interaction components of the courses, so they may not work in every Foreign Service location. Differences in time zones with the online school’s headquarters can also be an issue for some posts. Families using online programs often appreciate the formal transcript that the child receives as evidence of his or her progress, and the fact that the parents don’t have to choose the curriculum or act as the teacher. At the other end of the spectrum are Foreign Service “unschoolers.” Unschool- ing has been defined in many different ways, but generally it is a practice that encourages learning through life experi- ences, in areas that the child chooses according to his or her own interests. The parent might step in and provide guid- ance when the child wants or needs it, Under the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Chapter 270), homeschooling parents may be reimbursed for educational expenses.