Can You Switch from In-Person School to At-Home Learning Mid-Year?

January 10, 2023 byConnections Academy

5 min to read

A high school student taking an online class in a lime green sweatshirt.

Not every school works out for every student. If your child is experiencing academic or social difficulties in their current brick-and-mortar public school, you may be considering switching them to at-home learning. But, should you wait for next school year or can you switch to at-home school mid-year?

While it’s true that you can start at-home schooling at any time, many parents don’t have the necessary resources to start teaching their children at a moment’s notice. Fortunately, there is an at-home schooling option that makes a mid-year transition much more possible for families: public online school.

Public online school is not homeschool. Instead of parents serving as teachers and learning support, online public school functions similarly to brick-and-mortar schools but it’s conducted at home and online, giving parents the best of both worlds! A lot of parents find that a high-quality online public school like Connections Academy® is just as good—if not better—at helping their child thrive both in and out of school. Plus, when it comes to the question of “can you start homeschool in the middle of the year,” online school provides a definitive yes.

The Benefits of At-Home Learning Through Online School

Before you make the decision to switch out of traditional school, you probably want to know the benefits that public online school can provide. At a school like Connections Academy, your child will find numerous advantages, including:

1. A More Engaging Learning Environment

Learning from home can free students from the inflexibility and social pressures of in-person school. In fact, studies have shown that certain students are much more engaged in school when they are learning online at home.

This is because there are several key differences between traditional and online school. For one, online learning is more flexible. At a school like Connections Academy, students can typically arrange their daily schedule in a way that fits how they learn best. If they are a morning person, they can focus on their schoolwork early in the day. If they are struggling with a subject, they can devote more time to it before moving on to the next subject.

Online school also provides students with an environment that they can better control. They can set up their learning space however they want and won’t have to deal with distractions like disruptive students or lunch halls. This allows students to focus more on learning and spend less time worrying about and dealing with other issues that come along with in-person learning.

2. A Customizable Curriculum

Some public schools embrace a one-size-fits-all curriculum. But at a high-quality online school like Connections Academy, students work with their parents and teachers to create a personalized learning plan that nurtures their strengths and helps them overcome their challenges.

No matter what your child’s learning preference, Connections Academy can help them reach their potential. From engaging coursework that ignites learning to caring teachers who provide guidance and support, Connections Academy puts students first.

3. Family Support

When your child learns at home, they’ll have you or another dedicated adult right there for help and support as their Learning Coach. That can make a significant difference.

This higher level of academic success is likely due to the positive effect parents have on their children when they spend time together. For example, eating family meals together helps improve adolescents’ health and well-being. Being involved in your child’s learning can be just as impactful

An image of a girl sitting on the sofa with her mother and father and looking up smiling at her father.

How to Make the Most Out of Learning from Home

Moving from in-person school to online public school is a serious transition—particularly when you start at-home school in the middle of the year. Nevertheless, you can make this transition work well by following a few tips. These include:

Make it personal: Embrace the personalization options that an online school like Connections Academy offers so that your child is taking the courses that fit them—and excite them—the most.
Stay social: Learning from home doesn’t mean your student can’t still be social. For example, Connections Academy offers online student clubs for a wide variety of interests. Your child can easily meet peers from all over the nation. And thanks to the flexible scheduling of online school, your child will still have plenty of time for local friends.
Take advantage of support systems: If your child happens to have difficulty with transitioning to online school, you can find plenty of support. Connections Academy’s teachers are always there to help with learning, while counselors and staff are available to assist with other issues.

Why You Should Feel Confident Making the Switch

When asking “can you homeschool halfway through the year,” there is the second, unspoken question of “can I, as a parent, handle this switch?” The good news is, Connections Academy has a robust support system for parents.

As your child’s Learning Coach, you’ll be by their side as they learn—and Connections Academy will be by your side. Before your child even begins at the school, you will partake in an online orientation program. Then, while your child is learning, you’ll have 24/7 access to a huge number of resources along with a parent network where you can trade tips and advice with other Learning Coaches.

Our teachers are also here to help. They’ll be your child’s guide and your partner as your child learns and grows. Being there for your child is an experience like none other. And Connections Academy makes sure you’re prepared to be the Learning Coach they need.

An image of a boy sitting at his desk working on his online class assignments.

How to Switch from Public School to At-Home School Mid-Year

As mentioned, you can start at-home schooling at any time, and that includes switching to an online school halfway through the year. Each state and/or locality has specific requirements for withdrawal from one school and entry into another, but students make the switch all the time—and your family can too.

Connections Academy is here to help you make the transition and ensure that your child’s entry into at-home learning is everything you want it to be. See our article on why parents choose online school and then take a moment to download our free eGuide where you’ll learn even more about our school and how it can help your child thrive now and in the years ahead.