Which languages do you offer for homeschooled students?

For the 2022-2023 school year, we plan to offer the following languages: Spanish, French, German, and Chinese. As always, our in-person class offerings are contingent upon a minimum enrollment of 8 students per class. We are unable to offer online classes for the 2022-23 school year.

On which day of the week will each class be held?

For the 2022-2023 school year, our class offerings are as follows:

Mondays: Beginning Spanish

Tuesdays: Beginning/Intermediate Spanish, French

Thursdays: German

How many children are in each homeschool language class?

We keep our homeschool classes small in order to ensure plenty of individual attention and positive learning outcomes. Each in-person class will have a minimum of 8 students and a maximum of 15 students.

Who is eligible to attend your program?

To be eligible for our state-funded homeschool program, students must be homeschoolers who are not enrolled in any other publicly-funded program.

We accept children in Kindergarten through 6^th grade in our enrichment program. Per Colorado law, kindergarten-aged children are those children who turn five on or before October 1 of the year they wish to start school. Our sixth graders may be no older than twelve years of age by the time school starts in September.

Do you accept children with special needs or IEPs in the Homeschool Enrichment Program?

While we are not required by law to accept or accommodate children with special needs or IEPs into our enrichment program, we aim to make our program as inclusive as possible. We review each student and his or her needs on a case-by-case basis to determine acceptance into our program. Please email our Director of Homeschool Enrichment at aarredondo@cilaschool.org to discuss your child’s needs. Together, we will determine if your child will be a good fit for our program.

Are your classes broken down by grade or are they mixed ages?

The majority of our homeschool classes are mixed ages, K-6. If we have enough students interested in a particular language, we will separate into two classes, divided by age or ability level. This past year, our French and Spanish classes were broken into beginner and intermediate levels, the beginner class for younger children (K-3^rd) and one for older/more advanced children (3^rd-6^th).

Are there any minimum academic requirements for your enrichment program?

We do not have any minimum academic requirements for our the enrichment program, though it is extremely helpful if students know the English alphabet and how to spell their own names.

Can my homeschooled child enroll part-time in the traditional program for Chinese, German, or Spanish?

Yes, if they wish to attend the language immersion portion of the day five days per week. Students in our traditional program receive mathematics instruction in the target language, as would the homeschooled student. The homeschooled student must be at or above grade level in mathematics to be eligible for this type of part-time enrollment. We accept students for this type of enrollment on a case-by-case basis only. Furthermore, please note that confirmation of acceptance into this program for Spanish (our most popular language offering) may be delayed until the first week in August, as our priority is to place full-time students in this program. To discuss this option further, please email our Director of Homeschool Enrichment at aarredondo@cilaschool.org.

My child is currently enrolled in the traditional program. Can I move my child into the homeschool program?

Yes, provided that we have availability in your child’s chosen language. If you decide to move your child from the traditional program into the homeschool program, please let us know so that we assist you with this process. If this will be your first time homeschooling your child, please make an appointment to speak to our Director of Homeschool Enrichment and Director of Enrollment about what this move will mean for your family.

What does a typical day look like for the Homeschool Enrichment Program?

Our program begins at 8:30 AM and runs until 3:15 PM. The majority of the day is spent on language instruction. Our students are offered two 15-minute recesses, during which they will have the opportunity to eat a snack. They also have a lunch period and an hour-long science class. Language instruction is provided in a fun and engaging way. In addition to traditional education methods, children learn their new language through a variety of arts and crafts, music, games, and movement. We want your child to enjoy language learning.

Will my child be able to learn a language if they are only in the classroom one day per week?

Your child will be learning a lot of language during their time in the classroom. However, all of our teachers report that the children who retain the most language are those who spend time practicing the language at home on their own. We also recommend that your child spend some time each day practicing their chosen language. Our homeschool teachers will often send home vocabulary lists, games, or other activities for their students to complete during the week.

Does your program have required homework?

No. While our homeschool teachers may send home homework, it is not strictly required. As a homeschooling parent, you are ultimately responsible for your child’s education and you may choose whether or not our homework fits into your child’s schedule. However, the children who show the most growth in class and who retain the most language are those who take advantage of this opportunity to practice their language skills. Those children who do not practice language learning at home have a much more difficult time retaining what they learned in class and growing their language abilities.

Can I enroll my child in two different languages?

Students enrolled in our homeschool program may have the opportunity to participate in a second day of language instruction if there is availability in their second choice language. Placement into a second day of language enrichment will occur after all enrolling students have received at least one class assignment. Please speak with the Director of Homeschool Enrichment if this is an option you would like to pursue for your child.

Is my child required to attend your program for a certain number of days each school year?

Yes, all students enrolled in our Homeschool Enrichment Program are required to spend 90+ hours at CILA throughout the 2021-2022 academic year. It is important for you to plan on your child attending class on a weekly basis. However, we understand that homeschooling families often value flexibility in scheduling. If you find that your family will be taking an extended trip, please contact your child’s teacher to make arrangements for work to be sent so that your child can keep up with the class. If your child is sick, it is important to the call the main office to excuse them from class. Our number is (719) 645-8063. In the event that your child’s class session is unexpectedly canceled, we will schedule a make-up class in a timely manner.

Can my homeschooled child participate in after-school activities, cultural days, and International Days at CILA?

Yes! As a homeschooling family with children enrolled in our Homeschool Enrichment Program, you are part of our CILA family. Your child is welcome to attend any and all events, even if they are offered on days when he or she is not in class. If you would like your child to attend an International Day, please let our Director of Homeschool Enrichment know two days in advance. We will make sure that they are assigned to a class and that they receive any materials needed to participate.