What is Hybrid Homeschooling?

I have four kids, and when it comes to education, we’ve done it all—district, private, cyber charter, and homeschool. My favorite approach is hybrid homeschooling because it offers the best of all options. With hybrid homeschooling, kids learn in a traditional classroom and at home. The specifics can vary, but hybrid homeschooling allows families the flexibility of homeschooling plus the benefits of a classroom experience.

Hybrid homeschooling usually has the following characteristics:

• Teachers are paid and typically grade the students’ work.
  • This differs from a co-op, where parents support each other by leading on different subjects.
• Courses taught in the classroom tend toward the traditional academic subjects such as math, science, history, and English.
• Opportunities are frequently offered through part-time classes at private schools, but other independent options exist.
  • A church near me partnered with a local college to offer a hybrid homeschooling option for families. One of our local co-ops grew to offer more structured academic offerings in response to families’ needs.

Hybrid homeschooling has tremendous advantages:

• Students benefit from in-class time with teachers and peers. This gives them the opportunity for discussion, feedback, and pushback from various perspectives.
• Parents benefit by having help with teaching and grading.
• Communities benefit from having additional education opportunities available to families. 
• Schools benefit from an expanded student population with actively engaged parents.

If you—like many parents—are hesitant to send your kids back to their district school this year, hybrid homeschooling may be a great option to consider. You’ll have far greater flexibility than government-run schools alongside the benefits of the classroom experience. And, more importantly, you won’t feel like you’re shouldering the work of educating your children alone.

In or out of a global pandemic, hybrid homeschooling has been a fantastic educational model for families like mine throughout Pennsylvania and our country. If you’re interested in looking further into hybrid homeschooling, there is not one centralized source for options. A good place to start is by checking with local private schools to see if they offer a la carte classes for homeschoolers. Local homeschool groups are also an excellent resource. To find groups in your area, here are three places you can start:

• The Homeschool Mom
• Pennsylvania Homeschoolers.com
• Home School Legal Defense Assoc.

Please feel free to contact me using the form below if you need more information or help finding a hybrid option in your area.

Homeschool Questions