Area parents starting up the Richmond Southside Co-op School
One of the biggest complaints of parents living in the city is the schools. This year the cries are even louder as the city and school board have to make tough decisions about a major budget shortfall and rezoning. One group of parents are attempting to create an option for those not satisfied with public schools and can’t afford or are equally unsatisfied with private school. The Co-op school would hire a teacher for 3-4 hours a day 5 days a week to teach core learning concepts (math, English, social studies, etc) and the other subjects would be handled by parents or volunteers. The Co-op would fall Virginia Homeschooling Regulations but is a bit of hybrid since a teacher would be hiring the core subjects. The mission of the Co-op is straight forward in theory but getting to the destination will take some motivated parents and some hard work.
To provide our children with a stellar education while still allowing plenty of play and creative time. We see this as the intersection allowing the best of homeschooling (individualized instruction, no SOL’s) with the advantages that a rich school environment can offer (co-learning, built in peers and peer interaction).
The school is only in the planning stages but you can see what’s going on by “liking” their Facebook Page or sending an email directly to vlmccauley@verizon.net be sure and check out the “About” section as it has a nice FAQ in the description.
With a baby on the way, my wife and I are excited about the possiblity of another positive option. The school board and the city goverment desperately need to do something to turn the situation around. They cannot continue to starve the children of a positive environment for learning, pushing SOL scores at the cost of real learning, and not confronting the issues that come out of poverty. The Richmond City schools are failing our children.
This is intriguing from a high level conceptual discussion.
You don’t seem to be able to accomplish what we need. We think we can get it done better without you. We’re going to use an existing legal mechanism that removes you from the process.
If they can do this – and that is a big if – a model will be established, and RPS will have to improve. No way to sustain a $224 million budget for 22,000 students if you only have 19,000. Guess we’ll have to improve now – for real – or we’ll soon have *NO* students.
thanks Hills and Heights!! We have a ton of work a head for sure! Right now the biggest challange is finding the right “home.” We have looked at some of the church space and have some options. If anyone knows of a place let me know!
So excited for a co-op school!
There is a daycare center on forest hill ave that is closed down, that could be a good location. I believe it still has a playground on site.
@ Jonathan, Virginia had over 24K registered homeschool students (almost 200 in Richmond City including my 7th grader) for the ’10-’11 school year. A lot of folks have that ‘if’ part well behind them. Good luck to the co-op; we’ll be keeping an eye out.
It sounds interesting. I would like to hear more information about it.
Beth, contact me I would love to tell you about it!
Vanessa
That goes for everyone! :)
I am not sure if my e-mail comes through, but you can contact me at vlmccauley@verizon.net
This program sounds like one we are working on for this fall as well. Although I no longer live in Westover Hills, I do belong to Westover Baptist Church. This is where we hope to establish our small group. Our focus is on children with Autism. No school programs are working as well as anyone, including the teachers, would like. I would venture to say that Richmond City has some serious issues with special education/Autism. In 2010-2011 RPS had 166 students with a primary diagnosis of Autism. Third-Fifth grade and Ninth-Eleventh Grade had NO Autistic students. RPS also had 288 Developmentally Delayed in Pk-1st grade. However in Chesterfield there were 515 children diagnosed with a primary diagnosis of Autism and there were Autistic students in EVERY grade. There were 262 with a developmental delay in Chesterfield County in grades PK-1. My question is, where did all of the Autistic RPS students go? Are they being placed incorrectly? Are they unable to meet the needs so the families are moving into Chesterfield and Henrico? Although my son has Autism and his educational needs are a little different I believe all children deserve a good education and I seriously believe that we, as parents, need to ensure this by getting involved as your co-op plan suggests! I absolutley support your idea and if I can be of any help, please let me know! We have a wonderful Pastor and congregation that have a strong sense of community and want to help as well. It truly does take a village…I used to live on Sylvan and LOVED the neighborhood. I moved just over the line so my son could go to Chesterfield County Schools.
[...] is a reason that Learning Tree Academy might not sound familiar. It was originally called the Richmond Southside Co-op School but had to change their name. What it is, is an attempt by some local parents in “bringing [...]
This sounds great, how is progress coming along?