EDUCATION
OPTIONS
SCHOOLS
AT AFC WE WORK TO HELP FAMILIES DECIDE THE BEST EDUCATION MODEL FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL CHILD'S NEEDS.
We travel state wide to provide free, non-profit, non-partisan, advocacy and support.
ARIZONA CHARTER SCHOOLS
What is a Charter School?
Charter schools are tuition-free, public schools. Nearly 20% of Arizona students attend an Arizona charter school! Since 1995, the number of charter schools in Arizona has grown to over 500 and charter school student enrollment has grown well over 150,000 students!
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ARIZONA HOME-BASED SCHOOLS
What is a Home Based School?
Home education is a parent-directed educational option. It is where a child is educated outside the school system and learning is usually facilitated by a parent or tutors. Parents have the freedom to determine their child’s educational path and the plan for reaching their goals. In Arizona, home education can be self-funded or funded using the ESA program.
Note: Families who want to provide home-based education to their children but do not complete an affidavit of their intent to home school with the state are able to apply to an Empowerment Scholarship Account and purchase home-based education curriculum, books, therapies, tutoring, testing fees, uniforms and more!
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ARIZONA HYBRID SCHOOLS
What is a Hybrid School?
Hybrid learning is an educational model where some students attend class in-person, while others join the class virtually from home. Educators teach remote and in-person students simultaneously using tools like video conference hardware and software.
Hybrid classes may also include asynchronous learning elements, such as online exercises and pre-recorded video instruction, to support face-to-face classroom sessions. When planned well, hybrid courses combine the best aspects of in-person and online learning while making education more attainable for many students.
For hybrid learning to be successful, the elements of the hybrid course need to be tailored to the learning format, whether it be in-person or online.
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ARIZONA MAGNET SCHOOLS
What is a Magnet School?
Magnet schools are tailor-made to spark your child’s curiosity and fit your child’s specific interest, whether it be a fascination with music, science, art, medicine, or something else. The entire school is centered around one big theme that is focused on a specific subject for future occupation of the students. The goal is to take the student’s passion for a subject and use it to enrich all of their learning.
Thousands of these unique schools exist throughout the U.S., and they are not elite private schools. They are tuition-free public schools that focus on particular themes, like performing arts or medical science.
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ARIZONA MICRO SCHOOLS
What is a Micro School?
Micro-schools, pods, pandemic pods, and learning pods all refer to the same concept: students gathering together in a small group – with adult supervision – to learn, explore, and socialize. Pods themselves can take a variety of legal forms, but in general they can be separated into two categories: self-directed pod (homeschool, homeschool collaborative, or micro-school) and learning support pod. It’s important to understand what kind of pod you are signing up for and the requirements that go along with it. Learn more about learning pods.
Self Directed Pods:
Learning Support Pods:
If your child is going to be enrolled in remote learning through your local public school and supervised by an adult in your learning pod, you do not need to register as a homeschool or private school. Keep in mind that you have multiple online learning options, including two permanent, full-time online schools that are available to K-12 students statewide.
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ARIZONA ONLINE SCHOOLS
What is an Online School?
Whether your child wants to accelerate learning or needs a quieter environment, you may be interested in trying virtual school. Arizona students can attend Arizona Virtual Academy, Arizona Connections Academy, Primavera Online School, Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning, or ASU Prep Digital full-time at no cost. Students in grades 7-12 can also consider Insight Academy of Arizona or Hope High School Online, both of which specialize in helping struggling students succeed. Students in grades K-8 can also consider Leman Virtual Academy.
In order for funding to transfer to one of these schools, families switching to an online school may need to initiate withdrawal from their previous school. You can learn more about the online school community in your state at AZ Parents for Education.
There are also many districts in Arizona currently offering full-time online learning. The State Board of Education makes a list of district online programs and the grades they serve available to families.
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ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOLS
What is a Private School?
What is an Online Private School
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ARIZONA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
What is a Public School?
Public schools are tuition-free learning institutions that are funded by local, state and/or federal governments. They offer general education opportunities to children in kindergarten through grade 12, and extracurricular activities are also part of many public school programs.
Did you know that all Arizona public and charter schools receive a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F) from the Arizona Department of Education.
Federal and state law require it. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires states to measure school performance. State law mandates the A-F letter grade system, which is based on a range of quantitative measures including the AzMERIT test. Open enrollment allows families to attend any public school regardless of where they live.
What grade did your child’s school receive?
Review a public school letter grade by the Arizona Department of Education:
Find out if your child’s school has been rated underperforming or graded D or F (latest report card is from 2019)
Why does Arizona have an A-F System of grading schools?
It gives parents a yardstick to compare schools. It gives school leaders a snapshot of where they are doing well and where they need to improve. It creates an incentive for the constant improvement that parents, taxpayers and state leaders expect from our public schools.
