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I am neutral on Homeschooling and Charter Schools. However, many people on both sides of this issue do not think through all of the consequences that these schools have on public education.
The homeschool option can be very dangerous to the culture of community. Homeschooling does not provide the cultural diversity of a classroom. Independent exposure to other cultures is lost for homeschooled children. There are no spontaneous conversations between students regarding their differences. Inappropriate stereotypes or prejudices in a home continue because of the lack of exposure to other cultures.
You wrote "home school families make sacrifices in time and finances." - isn't that a choice these families make? People need to be responsible for their choices! Choices should not be made at the expense of others!
Roddy said these schools will not impact funding as they will serve “families who are already homeschooling.” This is a naive statement. If this type of program is chosen by MORE folks than currently choosing homeschooling (and programs are designed to GROW and INCREASE in size), attendance in local schools will decrease and so will the funding.
Non-traditional education choices are necessary and possibly appropriate (hence my reasoning for being neutral) for one reason
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FAILING
It is correct some “kids don't work well” in traditional schools.
The response to that should be TO FIX public school. Make that the number one priority in society

"Homeschooling does not provide the cultural diversity of a classroom."

This is patently untrue. I attended a traditional public school growing up and could count the number of "diverse" students on a single hand (two African-Americans, 2 Mormons, and 1 Jew, all of whom were upper-middle class like the rest of the students). By contrast, our homeschooling support group includes families of a variety of different races, ethnicities, religions, and income levels. My kids have a significantly more diverse set of friends in the homeschool community than I had growing up attending a traditional public school.

You most certainly should never feel that you have a duty to sacrifice the well-being and education of your children. I also believe you should should have the option of educating your children at home - just not at the expense of public schools losing public funds or with the use of any public funds. It is a choice you make that you feel is in the best interests of your children. Choices have consequences.
I am not sure how old you are but I am 46 and while I was growing up (in NY) CA had the reputaiton of being the best schools in the world. Where CA went wrong is an argument for another day.
While Berkeley provides a greater opportunity for exposure there really is no way that studying in a closed environment in one's own home(even in Berkeley)provides the same independent opportunities to experience diverse cultures that a public school has. While you have the time, energy, and inclination to provide that diversity of experiences, there are far more parents that do not.
If "Absolutely NO parents of students enrolled in the district schools in Pleasanton have expressed an interest in Mount Parnassus" why have the facility here? Why should the money be spent (public or private funds) for something that is not of interest to the P-Town residents.

Crimson Wife - obviously you do not want to be known, which is what an open forum discussion such as this one is built for, but....
Where did you grow up? It seems to me that your exposure was limited by whee you lived and what you experienced as a child-possibly white bread Pleasanton even.
And while I appreciate the diversity that your children are getting, through your efforts, your example is the minority. There are far more parents home schooling in a manner that does not provide the diversity. And an even greater number that even where their is diversity, it is facilitated by the parents and not the independent experience of the children.
As you can see in my Christmas is a Religious Holiday Article on this Patch site, my family makes every effort to have our children experience the different religious cultures that have different traditions at this time of year (as I am sure you and Kim C do with your children) and yet even some of the people I have known for a long time don't get that my family does not celebrate Christmas in our house and that we do not miss celebrating Christmas.
As I wrote before, I am all for home schooling but there are pluses and minuses to it. It is a choice YOU make and you should not get public money for choosing something readily available in public schools. If everyone chooses to run away instead of fixing a problem the problem gets worse.

Her is a link to a relatively balanced commentary on the pluses and minuses of home schooling. It clearly indicates a special kind of person - and from your comments you appear to be the correct type of people - but do not believe for a second that everyone is of your ability, means or sense of need for diversity.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5699698/pluses_and_minuses_of_home_schooling.html?cat=25

Hello, everyone and thank you for this conversation. Let me clarify a few things for readers.

First, it is important to know that, by law, children affiliated with accredited charter or private schools are entitled to the same resources as those in public schools. Some parents choose to take on a financial expense for homeschooling their children, even if they belong to a charter organization receiving public funds.

I understood in my conversation with MPCA founders that if a child is not affiliated with a charter or a public school (or any that receives its share of per-pupil funding), the homeschooling parent absorbs all costs of child's education.

Some may be tempted to make the analogy that "if you chose to live near an airport, you must deal with the noise." Related to homeschooling, this could translate to, "if you homeschool, you must pay all costs."

As logical as this line of thinking may be, however, a sound argument to the contrary may be that every child's education is worthy of some degree of public funding. We will add new information we find regarding the laws of per-student funding.

Food for thought: A recent ranking published by the California Teachers Association, showed that California ranks at #47 of all states in per-pupil funding: Source: http://www.cta.org/~/media/5901122617694AA6927F78F79AF1054E.ashx.

Could it be that this statistic is the crux of the problem? We would love to hear more from people well-informed on the subject.

Again, thank you.

I'm Debbie Schwarzer, and I've homeschooled my boys in Santa Clara County for 10 years.
One of the commenters has a few misconceptions:
A. Homeschoolers are isolated in their homes. In the Bay Area, with its fabulous resources (classes and museums) and its vibrant homeschool coummunity, kids are out in the world, interacting with people of other ages and cultures. My boys are comfortable with people of all backgrounds and ages, without the tribal myopia imposed by same-age classrooms.
B. By homeschooling, I deprive the schools of money. By this logic, I am depriving the schools by failing to have as many children as possible. For 10 years, I have paid taxes and received absolutely nothing in return for my kids' education. I haven't deprived the schools of anything other than the challenge of educating my kids.
C. MPCA is less entitled to public money than classroom-based programs. Many different types of public schools already receive tax money, such as magnet and charter programs. They have educational philosophies in which they strongly believe. The founders of MPCA and their supporters are no different, and their use of public money is not suspect. Homeschooling works. Go read http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1317439 to understand more.
D. Pleasanton families would not use MPCA. She didn't say that. Many Pleasanton families who homeschool would. MPCA's target is not people currently in public schools. And families change schools all the time.

Again, as with the unknown commented and Kim C - you are the exception and not the rule. Overwhelmingly the people who home school do NOT make the efforts you do.
Home schooling is a choice you are making-if you are not affiliated with a district you should not receive public funding.
As to use of your tax money - again a debate for another day. But just remember, we are 47th in funding per student for a number of reasons, not the least of which is property tax rates. I am not in favor of giving anyone (especially bureaucrats) who is unable to use my money efficiently anything more than I have to, but houses of similar cost basis in the NY metropolitan area (NY and NJ) pay 4 or 5 times the taxes we pay in property taxes. Those states also allow greater local control over the use of property tax funds.
NJ schools are among the best in the country and the NY suburbs are also outstanding schools.

Michael: "Overwhelmingly the people who home school do NOT make the efforts you do." Where do you get this fact from? I am willing to bet that I know many, many more homeschoolers than you do. I happen to know that your statement is not true. Can you show me proof of your statement? Karen Roddy

I'm not too convinced that the article on pluses and minuses of homeschooling by Todd Hicks is balanced or even well-researched. I don't say this to debate the issue, only to state some facts. Of course, there are always exceptions!

The first disadvantage he states is such a cliched, blanket statement! Too many people assume that homeschooling = school-at-home. This isn't the case at all...at least where I live (outskirts of the SF Bay Area). I have friends homeschooling in the East Coast, Canada, UK, Singapore...it doesn't seem to be the case for them either. I think also that I'd rather have an unsocialized child than a badly socialized one.

Second disadvantage: What is a complete education? Is the writer trying to suggest that school provides a complete education?

Fifth disadvantage: Yes, some employers may not accept homeschool transcripts...my reading and research into top universities that are welcoming homeschoolers, however, convinces me that my child will not have an issue with this...unless he decides not to work hard...and in that case, that will be a lesson he will need to learn for himself, no matter where he's schooled.

Homeschooling is not a decision easily made. But those of us who do (at least those of us who do it for the right reasons) recognize that RIGHT NOW, this is what our children need. I hope with charters like MPCA on the horizon, and more people making the decision to homeschool, public schools will finally buck up and see the light.

On the discussion of location: According to notes from the interview with Roddy and Cameron-Smith, the initial Pleasanton and Berkeley "learning centers" are intended to allow for widespread access to the charter school for homeschooling parents from across the county and all contiguous counties. A third location (Fremont) would serve Central Alameda County. The charter was submitted for county approval and, if approved, must provide equal enrollment opportunities to homeschooled students from across Alameda County and all contiguous counties.

Karen and Kim: Do you have statistics on the number of students in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties who are currently homeschooled?

As I have been writing, I am not against homeschooling.
It is the use of public funds and the fact that MOST people do not have the resources or value systems in place to provide a diverse social experience for their home schooled children.
Home schooling is a great option if the circumstances are correct. To blindly follow and believe only one way is the right way is ignorant. I am sorry if you feel I am slighting home schooling but being a minority in this area I have seen and heard things from people (home schooled and public school) that have no place in our society.
However, based upon the level of ignorant comments I hear almost every day - and the high TV ratings for Jerry Springer and Maury "paternity test" Povich - allowing certain people to home school without oversight is dangerous. Oversight and protections are needed to ensure that home schooled children are receiving the education needed (which those commenting here appear to be providing) without the passing on of prejudicial belief systems (again people here do not appear to be bigots).
As with any issue - and I have cited a few articles previously - there are two sides to every story and neither side is 100% correct or 100% wrong. The truth lies in the middle. Options are good so long as not extreme.

My two sense...
After reading all the posts I thought I would add a little something. I taught in the K-12 system for many years and enrolled my child in the same K-12 system for her education. The local school district spent over $140,000.00 on her alone each year until age nine, and was still illiterate, so state dollars is not a fix all. Against my better judgement, I disenrolled her from the public system and said to myself, I cannot do much worse she is illiterate. Within two years time educating her at home without any state funds she was tested at the fourth grade level. This makes one wonder about the public school system in general. I am now a strong supporter of home schoolers. And if this new charter is being formed by two parents who have successfully educated their chidlren at home maybe this charter has what it takes.
I have found that home educated families enrich the lives of others bringing more revenue to businesses around the world that would have been dark during the 8-4 hours. When a home schooled family studies any subject it is through experiencial knowledge and not just books through field trips of all sorts because of the option of teaching without walls. The biggest difference I have discoverd being a K-12 educator was home schooled children include children of all ages when they play, and design projects. Their leadership skills are quite developed because they have the time to spend developing themselves with hundreds of other familes.

Michael: I understand that you are not trying to insult home educator's but you are making contradictory comments such as "It is correct some “kids don't work well” in traditional schools. The response to that should be TO FIX public school." against "To blindly follow and believe only one way is the right way is ignorant". There have to be choices in education, not just public school.

Secondly, you state that no public funds should be made available to those that choose home education as an option and then state, "Oversight and protections are needed to ensure that home schooled children are receiving the education needed (which those commenting here appear to be providing) without the passing on of prejudicial belief systems (again people here do not appear to be bigots)". Clearly, you do not understand how a home education charter functions. When a family chooses to home educate by creating a private school in their home - they receive no State funds. HOWEVER, when a family choose to use a charter school, they agree to meet with a licensed CA teacher once a month to discuss their educational goals (oversight). In exchange, the home educating families receive funds from the State to be used by an approved list of vendors to enhance their educational goals. The Charter also creates a social community for the families.

Home education is so rife with myths that most of us are quick to help the community better understand what home educating is really about.

As a Pleasanton resident and home educating mother, I believe a community is stronger when we offer choices such as those offered by MPCA. We previously lived in another CA community that had a lot more educational choices - public Montessori, public Waldorf, public IB programs, hybrid schools, and multiple home educating charters. Pleasanton, due to its small school district, does not offer any of these programs. Having a new charter in the county will expand our choices and improve the education of our residents.

For a more realistic look at home education in the Bay Area, please see the recent article in The Los Altos Town Crier: http://www.losaltosonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22667&Itemid=109

This article presents a more rounded view of a “typical” home school family in the area and debunks many of the myths that surround home education. Especially, note the acceptance by universities of home education as a valid choice.

Why would anyone be opposed to a method of education that results in well educated, thinking citizens? Isn’t that the goal of communities to invest in their youth?

One reason families make the choice to home school is because the traditional schools are failing. It does not make sense to suggest that since the traditional schools are failing, a child must stay in them so the failing school doesn't fail more because of a loss of funding from a family making a different choice because the school is failing at educating their child.

I have been a homeschooling parent for 9 years. As a homeschool parent/teacher I am NOT against public schools. Michael Miller: However I think you could look at Public schools the same as your looking at Homeschooling/Charter schools. Many administrators/teachers/parents are not thinking through many of the consequences that public education has on children. Bullying and violence is on the rise, education excellence is declining in our country, resources and academic opportunities are often unavailable, and it is actually an artifical environment. At no other time in life will people be collected in a group so closely related to age. Not college and not in a career. Your right in saying not every HS parent has the ability to navigate cultural differences, there is not "correct type of person" for homeschooling OR for being a parent at all. Plenty of public school parents aren't accomplishing this either. Public schools are not handling diversity well at all, thus the reason bullying is on the rise. Your also right saying "I made the choice to homeschool", I didn't however get a choice as to where or how my tax dollars are being spent. The charter school is not a detriment to the public but a Service. I would be able to use educational funds to educate my child. Isn't that the point? Educating children? I sacrificed when I paid all educational expenses on my own as well as paying my taxes. I'm not going to sacrifice my childs education for "others".

If the public schools were doing a superb job there would not be such a move to charter schools and home schooling. Where a local "society" REALLY wants the schools to do a great job (which in my eyes is to nurture creative, intelligent, hard-working, kind and encouraging young people...) then such a society can do so-we have examples of schools like that which have been written and talked about. What made the difference in most cases??? Three things. First, a strong leader with a vision of excellence. Second, parental choice-the parents chose to put the children in a particular school (thus active support for school programs and philosophies). Third, communication with, training and buy-in from all involved parties (janitors, teachers, parents, school boards...) So, this is not just a money question , in my opinion. No amount of money can fix the fact that schools (or society) have taught many parents that the teachers are the experts and the parents are the less qualified ones. No amount of money, in the school budget anyway, can fix the fact that most schools have little authority. They can only expel after really big incidents, and those expelled children legally have to go to another public school. Children who disrupt class, use loud profanity , bully, don't do homework for weeks on end--these kids are all still in school, day after day. Homeschooling and charter schools allow parents to tackle the 3 elements that create an effective 'School".

I also want to respectfully touch on the diversity comment. I went to a large high school in IL, almost 3000 students, and I could count on one hand the obviously diverse students (1 black, 1 Indian)-it was white suburban land. So, the only time I got the kind of diversity that the writer is probably talking about was when I went to college with a big mix of people (and ages) from around the country and the world. My husband had a similar experience from his tiny hs in WA, his first glimpse of "diversity" was in the military. My kids got way more diversity through homeschooling than they would have in our neighborhood in Livermore-they were in academic clubs with Christian, Atheist, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu students, played with students of all colors, and were friends with kids of widely different financial means. But none of that was the goal. Appreciating people because of their intrinsic worth is the goal, and celebrating what we have in common is a goal. Only through that sort of friendship and respect can we grow kids who then also value the differences between people, first in their own families, and then in the wider world.

I am obviously not communicating effectively here. Many of you seem to think I am against choice, or against home schooling. I am not. I just believe that where there is a public option that someone chooses not to use the public should not pay for the choice that was made.
Choice is essential to success of our community. Diversity = choice. Those of you that believe that ALL home schooled kids are receiving an appropriate education are just as wrong as those that believe public or other options are the only way to get an education.
Values are not intended to mean religious or political values and that is where I failed in my communication. Values are those items most of you espouse in your comments. Values, for me, mean respect for the beliefs of others and challenging the belief that any person or entity is above others or any person or entity that chooses to put others down to prop themselves up.
I am done commenting here as I am unable to successfully communicate that I am NOT against home schooling. Home schooling without oversight to ensure that the prejudices and religious and cultural biases that exist in society are not given a forum to spread without a check in place is a bad path.
Most of you commenting do not seem to be the type to spread these hateful belief systems but to think others are not using homeschooling in such a manner is naive, just as it is naive to believe that there are no public school teachers using their bully pulpit to spread their biases.

Cameron: To respond to your question about the number of homeschoolers in Alameda and the surrounding counties -- as far as I know that number is not available. Many homeschoolers utilize existing non-classroom based charters (BASIS/FAME, Visions, Hickman, and Connecting Waters), and many also file a PSA (private school affidavit). If a combination of students enrolled in these options was available, it would provide a reasonable answer to your question.

Not to be confusing, but technically a child enrolled in a public charter (even a non classroom based charter catering to homeschooling families) is a public school student. So you see, the statistics become fuzzy quickly.

I homeschooled my daughter during her 8th grade year through Connecting Waters Charter School. I took her out of HART Middle School after her 7th grade year because it was not a positive experience. She had attended Redwood Christian Elementary School until the 6th grade. She was accepted to private high schools and the homeschooling experience was positive for both of us. The charter school provided excellent resources, several field trips, a competitive curriculum and textbooks, a graduation, standardized testing, a teacher to review her work every 20 days, many electives, life applicable projects and she started her own business. I know several families in the Tri-Valley area and nationwide who are homeschooling or have children in college that were homeschooled. I was skeptical at first, but the learning experience and exposure to a variety of options was fantastic.

I know several families that home school and had workshops, groups, classes at Valley Bible Church at the Crossing. There are so many different types and styles of home school curriculum. I do think it can be beneficial to students that are exceptionally bright or have learning differences because it gives them an opportunity to focus on their academic strengths and/or weaknesses. They can excel at a faster or slower pace. They have the opportunity to use their imagination and create projects. We all have different learning styles some people are visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile etc. It also helps stimulate discipline and independence.

I attended some of the best learning and teaching workshops through the charter school, which has helped me with my younger children.

I was also forced to try independent study for my youngest child through Pleasanton Unified School District. It was an awful experience and I would never do it again. The workload is heavier than in the classroom. You could not finish the work in a 7 hour day with 2 ten minute breaks and a 20 minute lunch. We would work all day, evening and weekend. It was not conducive for a 9/10 year old.