COIL was fine for the first few years of school for my oldest daughter. Now that she is entering the 3rd grade, she seems ready for more hands-on work and structure. A common complaint I heard from her last year, was that she didn't do enough schooling. I wish I had the gusto to plan an exciting and challenging curriculum for her, but honestly, I just don't have the discipline. Instead, we've decided to use another Charter school that is available in our area called California Virtual Academy (CAVA). They have a very specific curriculum and consider themselves a school of 'mastery'. I've heard many good things about both the school and the curriculum, so we're eager to give it a try.
My younger daughter, just entering 1st grade, is still at an age where I think too much structure would do more harm than good, so for her, we've decided to keep going to COIL. Since I'm already used to the process at COIL, this seems an easy way to handle her schooling. We will have access to free curriculum, extra activities, and keep contact with all the friends we've made at COIL in the past 3 years. Also, CAVA is still really an unknown to us, so keeping a foot in the door makes going back a little less awkward, if that needs to happen.
What I'm noticing is a pretty unique side-by-side, which wasn't anticipated. There is no telling what the future holds with either school, but comparing and contrasting has been a fascinating experience.
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charter school
Function: noun : a tax-supported school established by a charter between a granting body (as a school board) and an outside group (as of teachers and parents) which operates the school without most local and state educational regulations so as to achieve set goals
