It’s no secret that schools are not a one-size-fits-all means to education. Children of all ages have widely different skills, interests, and capabilities, which is why many may struggle with education ill-fitted to their needs. As a parent, however, it’s normal to have concerns about transferring your child to a new school or transitioning them from in-person education to an online program.
If your child is having a hard time in school, whether it be educationally or socially, transferring schools can result in their happiness and success. If you’re looking into different schooling options, consider how cyber school may more effectively meet your child’s needs through personalized education and support.
5 Signs It’s Time to Change to an Online School
When deciding to change schools — especially to a cyber school — the mere thought of it may seem daunting. As a parent, you always want to make the best and most well-informed choice for your child. Keep the following factors in mind to help guide your decision about whether to move schools.
1. Your Child Is Unhappy
Your child’s happiness is a top priority. If they seem unhappy or withdrawn from school activities, it’s important to find out why. For example, your child may struggle to make friends due to social anxiety or a learning disability.
On the other hand, a lack of accessibility at a traditional, in-person school can make it difficult for children with chronic illnesses or physical disabilities. Inaccessibility may also negatively impact your child’s well-being.
If your child’s mood has dramatically shifted regarding school, it may be an indication that the curriculum is not engaging them and matching their skills.
2. You Want to Be More Involved
As a parent, you play an important role in your child’s education. If you want to be more involved — whether that means showing an interest in their school work or being present at the school when possible — parental involvement in education can be highly beneficial.
However, with traditional schooling, there may be barriers to being more involved. For instance, there may be time and financial constraints, geographical challenges, or communication gaps between the school and parents.
With online schools, you can benefit from real time communication with teachers, flexible scheduling, and 24/7 access to educational resources, making parental involvement easier.
3. Your Child’s Educational Needs Are Not Being Met
Every school is different, which means curriculum and educational quality will also vary. If your child seems disinterested or uncomfortable at school, it may be due to a lack of social and extracurricular activities, different developmental needs, or a learning disability that requires them to switch to a more personalized education.
There may also be a chance that your child’s learning style or pacing doesn’t fit with the traditional classroom environment. Most cyber schools offer personalized and flexible learning options. Also, a cyber school can give your child access to supported learning activities while encouraging them to engage in creative outlets. For instance, CCA offers a special education program personalized to meet your child’s needs.
4. You’re Concerned for Your Child’s Safety
You may want to look into a cyber school if you feel your child’s physical and emotional well-being is in danger. Whether they’re being bullied, receiving threats, or getting into fights with others at school, changing to a new school can give them a fresh start and prevent them from being distracted by unkind peers. At CCA, we have zero tolerance for bullying of any kind. Every child learns to give and receive respect while prioritizing the joy of learning.
5. Your Family Circumstances Have Changed
If you’ve recently moved or experienced a job loss or financial hardship, then changing to an online school could benefit you and your child. Online programs offer flexibility as students attend class sessions and do their schoolwork based on their schedules, helping families find a balance between academic success and extracurricular activities.
Is It Too Late to Switch to Online School?
Depending on the time of year, you might be wondering — “Is it too late to switch schools?” Luckily, whether it’s the beginning of the school year or near the end, you can transition to a cyber charter school. Online learning programs make it easier for parents and students to create a more flexible schedule based on their educational and developmental needs. Here are some reasons that make it easy to transition to online school at any time.
- Rolling admission makes transferring easy: Cyber schools like CCA have convenient rolling admissions, meaning families can transfer their children to an online program at any time.
- Cyber school offers a flexible learning environment: Some online schools, like CCA, offer a flexible learning environment tailored to each student and supported by trained teachers.
- Parents and students receive unlimited support: Once you decide to make the switch, the staff and faculty at your online school will help prepare your child for success and welcome your family into the school community.
- Parents play an integral role in education: Being part of an online school community means you can be an active participant in your child’s education, even through virtual learning. With the help of teachers, school counselors, and family mentors, you can ensure your child stays on track even if they transition late in the school year.
- Transferring at any time is worth the benefits: While you may wish to transfer your child to an online school at the start of the new year, waiting too long to make the switch can lead to more struggles, such as educational regression and disinterest in school activities. Transferring to a school that focuses on your child’s individual and developmental needs can help them engage more with their schoolwork and grow their potential.
- The positives outweigh the negatives: Some children may find switching to an online school a challenge at first. Becoming a transfer student to an online school involves learning a whole new way to receive an education, and some children may need time to adjust. However, the personalized approach to education, opportunities, and one-on-one assistance to your child can make this transition much smoother.
How to Switch to Cyber School
Before your child can begin learning in an online environment, there are a few steps you must take to complete your transfer.
- Choose a high-quality online school: Take your time when deciding on a cyber school. This will help you learn more about the school, ask plenty of questions, and determine if it’s right for your child. For example, tuition, fees, teacher qualifications, school success, special education opportunities, and community reputation can impact your decision.
- Gather necessary documents: Next, you’ll need to compile all the required documents for your child, including their birth certificate, proof of residence, transcripts, immunization records, school applications and forms, and other paperwork needed in your specific state.
- Keep communication open: Once you create an account with the cyber school and submit an enrollment application, a member of the enrollment team will contact you to collect any additional requirements and guide you through the process. Be sure to provide the school with your correct contact information so they can get in touch with you easily.
- Complete the enrollment process: When the school has informed you of your child’s acceptance, you may need to attend an in-person or virtual orientation or information session. These sessions help parents and students learn more about the school. This part of the online enrollment process also allows parents to get acquainted with the staff.
Transfer to Commonwealth Charter Academy Today!
At CCA, it’s our goal to make your child feel truly welcome and supported throughout their entire educational journey. If you’re looking for an alternative to a traditional, brick-and-mortar public school, consider our personalized learning programs that allow your child to match their courses based on their skills and interests.
At CCA, it’s never too late to switch to online school. We accept new students year-round and look forward to helping you and your child engage in flexible learning options and hundreds of extracurricular and social activities. To learn about how individualized education can benefit your child, reach out to us for more information or enroll your child at CCA today.
