Well, your amanuensis is feeling a little overwhelmed with the size of the operation staring at his balding pate, but here goes ....

A bridge of sorts seems to have been crossed. In eight quick months, we have gone from discussing something necessary and possible to envisioning how it's going to work. In a word, our efforts have met success, at least in principle. FTE funding of alternative or choice programs K-12 now looks like a certainty because of the inherent democracy and dynamic of electronics itself and because word of our conceptualizing has been percolating in divers water coolers and coffee urns.

Discussion focused on the mission of this group in view of the above. Consensus was that our mission is to encourage the concept of FTE funding for alternative/choice programs K-12 through distribution of the data sheet (to include an executive summary and follow within two weeks) and through such personal and professional contacts as are available to us as individuals. Consensus was that our mission is not to mass mail or mass contact legislators. However, our mission is to personally speak with our local legislators as and how we feel we should. Grass roots politics rather than mass movement (impersonal) politics.

In addition, our mission is (1) to continue sharing experiences and procedures which work the way of alternative/choice programs K-12 forward -- expand the envelope -- and (2) to brainstorm such problems and possibilities as we see those programs eliciting. Both to ourselves and to others, we comprise a body of experts whose experience is indispensable for developments.

During brainstorming attention focused on the following:

1. Grades 7 and 8 need cohort groups for accelerated learning, to keep the children interested and satisfy statutes.
2. .5 FTE funding is more than adequate for all shared school (alternative/choice) programs operated by our districts; in other words, these programs produce palpable economies.
3. Using electronics, we can get children through 12 years of curriculum in 10 years of funding, or less.
4. For attendance of P/T students (e.g., shared schoolers), use scan cards to satisfy audits; the systems are $2k or less.
5. Alternative/choice programs must be itemized in the Basic Education Report districts send to the state each year.

The Executive Summary and data sheet itemizing the shared schooling programs we run will emerge for review and rework within two weeks.

The next meeting is Thursday, November 3, at 9:30 am at the Maywood Center. Thanks again to Bill Guise for his gracious hosting. Excepting for extraordinary circumstances, that will be the last time I foregather with you. A novel idea has swung into view -- not about schooling -- and I want to develop it.

Prepared by
David R. Graham
Maywood Homeschool Leadership Team