Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Virtual Homeschool International

You probably have lots of questions about how Virtual Homeschool International can help you and your child. We will attempt to answer your questions, if however, you don't find the answers you need, contact us and we will be glad to answer all of your questions.

1. Is Virtual Homeschool International really $15.00 a year?

a. Yes, and we have no fees other than the yearly $15.00 per family. Although some links in the school go to "pay for use sites," we do not ask you to use the fee portion of these sites. Only the "Graduation Option" is an extra charge, and that is optional for graduating seniors.

2. Are all the materials, books, and paper, and courses in the Virtual Homeschool International free?

a. Yes, direct links have been provided to the resources you will need to teach your student. All books in the courses suggestions are provided free, paper, and reference material are also provided free. These can be accessed from within the classrooms, the tool bar on the top of each course room page connects the student to the resources he or she may need.

3. How can VHI offer such low Enrollment fees?

a. VHI was conceived by the Dr.'s Klein, who have nine homeschooled children. They wanted to make homeschooling affordable to all families, large and small, with internet access.

4. How can VHI benefit my family?

a. VHI provides access to age appropriate materials for each grade level. We use several methods in developing our curriculum 1. Charlotte Mason, 2. Classical, 3. Eclectic, and the U.S. Standard Course of studies, an average of scopes and sequences across the U.S.A.

5. Do We have to follow the program exactly?

a. No. You can modify the program to fit your learner's needs. Use all, some, and just a little of what VHI has to offer, you can even use course work from varying levels of ability.

6. How do I get around VHI?

a. You can navigate through VHI through the grade table, then you can go to any grade level from any other grade level simply by clicking the arrows at the top left of the page. You can even do this within each subject.

7. Do I have to pay a fee for each child in the family?

a. No, just $15.00 a year, for everything.

8. I can't get in after I logged in before, what happened?

a. If you use AOL, then this is a browser issue. You'll need to use a different browser to access VHI in the future. Optional browsers are available. If you do not use AOL, you probably need to have your password reset. Contact us to have this done.

9. I told my friend about VHI, can he or she use the site too?

a. Yes, after he or she has paid his or her enrollment fee. We support the school through the enrollment fees and need each family using the site to contribute to its upkeep. However, giving out your user name and password to non-family members is against the terms of use agreement and can result in enrollment termination without a refund.

10. How do I pay the enrollment fee?

a. You can pay by credit card or with your bank account through Paypal here. You can also use this form and send a check to:

Dr. E. Klein

Virtual Homeschool International

1466 Walker Way

Coralville, Iowa 52241

11. Is Virtual Homeschool International a licensed or accredited school?

The long answer:
The Virtual Homeschool International is a homeschooling resource center and curriculum provider. As a Homeschool Learning resource, Virtual Homeschool International believes it is in the best interest of its students and parents to remain separated from the negatives associated with government licensing. We are a non-profit organization, and maintain the status of a homeschooling resource center and curriculum provider. Those who subscribe to Virtual Homeschool International look to their local home education laws for oversight. We believe this gives parents the highest level of freedom to educate their children properly.

The short answer:

No, homeschools do not need to be accredited. Your decision to homeschool, and your choice of curriculum are protected by law in all 50 U.S. states. Accreditation would obligate Virtual Homeschool International to provide an environment and curriculum that are similar in many ways to situations you are hoping to avoid by leaving the public or private school environment and making the decision to homeschool.

12. Will my child receive an education that is equivalent to the education received by children in public schools?

The short answer:

No, it will be a better and more complete education.

The Long Answer:

No, in most cases it will be much better than the education received by children attending public schools. Although we do not require or endorse standardized testing, research has shown that the majority of children who are home schooled score above grade level on standardized tests. It is not uncommon for a child to proceed through the curriculum faster once he or she has left the traditional school setting for home education. Because the responsibility for the child's learning is shifting from the "teacher" to the student, the student tends to "own," his or her knowledge and comes to respect the learning environment homeschool facilitates.

13. What about graduating and getting a diploma?

There are two options in graduating and diploma granting.

The parent grants the diploma and graduates the child once the parent determines that the child has completed enough high school curriculum to be able too succeed in college.
The parent and child enter into a “graduation contract” with VHI, the child completes the contracted senior year curriculum or project, and VHI grants the child a Virtual Homeschool International “diploma.”

14. Do colleges and universities take homeschool diplomas seriously?

Yes, they do. Along with other evidence of achievement such as SAT or ACT scores, a portfolio of accomplishments, projects, and curriculum studied, and in most cases an interview with the student. This is much the same as it is for any graduating senior in any educational setting.

15. What about if I decide to put my child back in public school? How will they know what grade to place him or her in without testing or grades?

The Principal and teachers of the public school your child will attend will make this decision. They will make this decision regardless of what testing or evidence of achievement you provide for them. It is their decision and other than making suggestions you get little say in what they do. They will most likely place your child in the grade or program your child was in when your child left the public school setting. He or she will take subject area placement tests if other children of that grade level are also taking them. It really is out of your hands. Look at it this way, you and your child will not have lost anything if you homeschool, or if you continue to homeschool. And you both have much to gain.