Started for the 2001-2 school year, Family Ed came into existence as a result of collaboration between the Estacada School District and local homeschooling families. It seeks to provide assistance to families in a format that includes parents as important resources for their children’s education.
Students of Family Ed are enrolled as students of the Estacada School District. Classes consist of 3-5 students per adult, and are held for a minimum of 15 hours per week.
Parents are required to volunteer for several hours per week, whether teaching classes, tutoring, assisting as aides, lunch monitors, janitors, or volunteer drivers. Parents or family members of new students are required to volunteer 8 hours per week.
In addition to volunteer time, parents donate $15.00 per student per month to Estacada Home Educators for building maintenance and some school supplies. While the District has offered to fund these expenses, homeschool families prefer to maintain a degree of independence by providing their own space and some financial control. Preschoolers and other students taking 6-10 hours of class per week pay only $10.00 per month. Students taking less than 6 hours per week are charged $5.00 per term for each hour/week of classes for which they register.
Classes are held four days per week, usually 9:00 to 1:30. A tutoring time is offered for all students until 2:30 p.m.. Tutoring may include homework help, reading therapy, private music lessons, or educational games and videos. This schedule permits students to participate in grade- and high-school band classes, high school music classes, and all after-school activities in the district, including sports and drama. Families are responsible for transportation, but arrangements can be made to use existing district bus routes, as well as carpooling. Some elective classes may be offered outside of regular school times, for those who wish to take advantage of them.
Classes are formed according to the needs of students. Each class may consist of students in one grade, or several, but the goal of each class is for individual students to gain skills and confidence academically, socially, and physically. Students are placed in classes according to their ability level, generally divided into primary, 4th through 6th grade, and Junior High/High School classes.
Where material is specific to a grade level (as in math instruction), classes are formed for groups of students at the same level, while other students work at their own pace as established by parents and teachers. Classroom helpers allow instruction to be personalized in all subject areas. All class curriculum and lesson planning is overseen by a licensed teacher with the Estacada School District.Part time students are welcome. Homeschoolers who wish to sign up for a few hours per week may do so, however it is important to the class that they be consistent in attendance.
Family Ed Frequently Asked Questions
