Hello! I am a mom to three and step mom to two. I work full time and my school-agers are in K and 1st.
I kind of accidentally discovered the concept of afterschooling! Last year my now 1st grader was identified as gifted. The letter that was sent home was very to the point--our district is required to identify gifted students but they are not provided with enough funding to accommodate the needs of all the gifted students in the district. I mean really...I could almost hear the frustration in their message! Congrats! You have a gifted child--we will most likely be able to do nothing about it.
At that time we were attending a school outside our home district through open enrollment. I came to learn after a little research, that when it came to any special programs (title 1, TAG) open enrollment kids can only access the programs after all the in-district kids have spots. So it was basically a foregone conclusion that we would not have access to the TAG program.
I have moved my kiddos into our home district--which is rated lower than the former one we were in, but where, when the time comes, she will have access to the TAG program.
Of course TAG doesn't start until 3rd or 4th grade--to allow sufficient time to hammer my bright child into a mediocre mold (whoops, did I let my chagrin show? :)).
I have been less than impressed with both of my kids teachers this year. I have been feeling more and more that if I don't supplement, build on and give my kids a way to work ahead of their classroom work that they will be destine to never excel...the school system seems set on squashing any student who does not fit neatly into the middle.
I started googling "supplementing public education at home" and came across the concept of afterschooling. Wow!! It seems I'm not the only mama not in a position to homeschool full time, but who feels the need to offer more to my kids.
I'm so excited to learn more about how to make this work from some seasoned parents!!