Online courses for child with relapsing illness

[Guest RoseMom]

Hi, all! I have a high-school aged son who had to drop out of 9th grade because of severe migraines. They continue, and are unpredictable; we never know from day to day whether he'll be functional or will be in his room in pain. He is now 18 years old.

 

We had him being taught by a tutor, but he missed so many classes that this became unaffordable. Now I'm investigating online classes; the important thing is that they have to be self-paced, because he's not going to be able to keep up with a time-based (one assignment per week) class.

 

Does anybody have high-school level online self-paced courses to recommend? He's a very bright kid who's been out of school for four years, and I'm at my wit's end. Apart from all the fears about his never being able to live independently, I need to make sure that he has the skills so that if the migraines let up, he can move on with his life.

 

PLEASE no migraine advice; trust me, we have seen specialist after specialist after specialist, and we've tried everything that is appropriate to his case.

Edited July 14, 2011 by RoseMom
tyop *g*

[JudoMom]

:grouphug: for you and your boy. My middle guy suffers from migraines, and it's such a helpless feeling.

 

Have you checked into k12? I don't know if that's the type of thing you're looking for, but that's the first thing that came to mind.

[newbie]

My dd has a friend who has Lyme disease and uses K12 International, I am guessing they work w/her.

[Guest RoseMom]

Thank you, guys. When I look at K12, it seems as if the courses are on a schedule -- for self-paced work, they refer you to Keystone (which I assume is a subsidiary). Have you heard anything good or bad about that?

 

And thanks for the sympathy. It's a hard row for him to hoe.

[suzziesnowflake]

Have you looked into Oak Meadow? There is also Connections Academy.

[Guest RoseMom]

I hadn't looked at either; thank you! Connections Academy looks very promising; we'd have to use the for-pay version since the free version isn't offered in our state at high school level. But I like the pages of the curriculum I clicked through.

[chiguirre]

Check out NARHS too. They're very flexible and accredited.

[Sandragood1]

My son is currently taking Keystone English 8. It is online only. For High School Courses you have your choice of on-line or correspondence for most classes. I believe that you automatically have 12 months to complete a full academic year course. If you need more time, they might work with you if you document the illness. OTOH if 3 months wiggle room is all you need this would definitely be a good fit.

 

Perhaps another option could be The Great Courses. You get the video and study guide and go through at your own pace.

 

We are also enjoying Thinkwell Microeconomics. Here too, we get 12 months to complete the course.

 

There are a number of other correspondence and on-line high schools out there - some quite challenging. I think you may need to speak with their admissions departments or with their guidance counselors.

 

Best of luck to you. I hope his headaches disappear.

 

 

Sandra

[gingersmom]

University of Missouri has a homeschool highschool program. I have used it for 5/6th grades and have been very pleased.

 

Indiana University also has a homeschool high school program.

[EKS]

Keystone, Oak Meadow, and Laurel Springs are the ones I can think of right now.

 

However, all of the schools that I know that are self paced, meaning no due dates, do have a set date that course needs to be finished by. If you explain your situation though, they would probably work with you on that.