VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The aisles here at this book store are packed with parents.
“This is the teacher manual, and this is for the student,” Virginia Beach parent Kim Canaway said.
The phone is also off the hook at Moore Expressions. The owner Cherri Moore says business is the busiest it’s ever been in several years.
“Yes, I have two copies ,they are in fair condition for $30,” Moore tells a customer over the phone.
“There's been a big increase of homeschooling in Tidewater,” she adds.
Canaway is giving home-school a try after she says virtual learning was a setback.
“My daughter that is a senior this year, she even told me that they weren’t teaching her much,” she adds.
She says home schooling is safe and doesn’t have to worry about her kids catching the coronavirus when students are eventually allowed back in school.
“Cause my 6-year-old will not wear a mask all day,” Canaway adds.
Home school parents say, it’s not easy.
“You as the parent you choose the curriculum, you choose the schedule and tailor the schedule to meet your child’s learning needs,” says Andrea Cody. She’s been homeschooling her children off and on for decades.
She says if you’re not passionate leave it to the professionals. “In school teachers provide curriculum, they provide schedule.”
Interest in homeschooling remains high ahead of the school year. As of August 10, the number of families homeschooling was 1,300, and as of August 19 it’s almost 2,000.
There was also a jump in homeschooling between last school year and now. Virginia Beach Public Schools says for the 2019-2020 school year, 1,532 families filed a letter of intent to homeschool. For the 2020-2021 school year, so far 1,974 families have filed letters of intent.
Moore has some advice for parents who are considering the switch. “Do their research to really know what they are getting in to.”
