Online Christian Education - an Alternative to Public Schools

As enrollment rates in Christian institutions and homeschools continue to rise, some educators are saying online Christian schools may be another positive alternative to public education.

As enrollment rates in Christian schools and homeschools continue to rise, some educators are saying online Christian education may be another positive alternative to public education.

Learning By Grace (LBG) is an internet-based group that provides Christian K-12 curriculum primarily to home-schooling families around the world, according to Agape Press (AP).

Online Christian education is the least expensive and most economical education option for families because of the ease of delivery over the Internet, says Ralph Augstroze, the vice president of solution development and ministry solutions for LBG.

This parent-led curriculum, noted Augstroze, typically involves tuition of less than $1,000 a year per student.

In addition to the low cost, educators say online learning provides "convenience and portability" for both parents and children.

"It's attractive to parents because it's a little less difficult to get their kids to sit down and study interactively on the computer than it is with books and papers and worksheets," he said.

The curriculum also offers an alternative to churches that desire to build a school but are unable to do so.

"The church can become a hub for a home-schooling co-op in their community," Augstroze says, "or they can actually take facilities in the church that are being under-utilized during the week, turn them into computer lab environments, and offer an online Christian curriculum similar to that offered by LearningByGrace.org."

LBG has no specific denominational affiliation. More than 130 (K-12) courses are available in science, language arts, history, and math, and electives including P.E., art, and music.

Further details about LBG are available at http://www.LearningByGrace.org