home schooling my 12 year old?

Actually, it isn't true that you can't be independently homeschooled AND take courses over the internet. Students who go through curriculum providers like BYU, University of Nebraska etc for a few courses ARE *legally* independently homeschooled. They aren't students of those schools they're only taking a couple of courses. It's just that instead of choosing a curriculum to buy, you choose a course that's on line. If you take Trig through BYU, you are just as "truly" a homeschooler as any independent homeschooler. I'm not sure why that option is so frequently ignored. I suppose it just doesn't fit the talking points. Besides in some states, like Tennessee, students of private correspondence schools fall under homeschooling statutes. Anyway, until high school level, I'm not sure that it's possible to find a provider of individual courses like that. You'd have to do some research.

Yes you may homeschool your child over the internet, but if you go with a school like K12 or Connections Academy, your child won't be a homeschooler; your child will be doing public school from home. Your child won't have the freedom that homeschoolers have. Your child will have attendance requirements.

If you want to homeschool with an online school, free from all the typical public school BS, then I suggest you take a look at some of these private school options:

NorthStar Academy http://www.northstar-academy.org/

Indiana University http://iuhighschool.iu.edu/diplomas/index.shtml

University of Missouri http://muhigh.missouri.edu/coursedisplay.aspx?l=h

Keystone http://keystoneschoolonline.com/

Laurel Springs http://www.laurelsprings.com/

Oak Meadow http://www.oakmeadow.com/

Texas Tech University https://www.depts.ttu.edu/uc/k-12/

You could also homeschool your child the traditional way, by picking out your own curriculum and teaching your child yourself. This is true homeschooling and provides maximum flexibility.

Not independent homeschooling. Different set of laws where parent accepts legal responsibility and provides all materials and teaching.

But there are plenty of online public schools such as K12 inc, Insight or Connections if you live in one of the 30 (+or-) states that permit taxpayer funds to go to a for-profit education company it would be free for your son.

You need to figure out how you want to educate him and which option would be most appropriate for his particular needs and your family. short answer - yes.

There are many online correspondence programs. The free ones like K12 and Connections Academy are run by public schools but not available in all states. The ones you pay for are run by private schools. In either case, you follow the program's rules, schedule, curriculum, and assignments. Parents have very little control in their education other than picking the program and classes when using these programs. Sadly, the outcomes of many of these programs aren't good: low graduation rates and high turnover (meaning students are signing up then leaving the program).

Well, clearly. But an online setup is usually run by your public school and they tend to have a raft of inane rules to follow which are stupid...like what times you are to be logged on to the system, etc. Silliness.

Getting friends is such a non-issue. Assuming you're willing to leave the house like a normal human being and seek interaction in a populated area with other people who have a common interest with you, you're good. If you expect to go hide (terrified) in your basement (heavily armed) in your village of one person on the outskirts of Iceland and wait for the world to line up at your door for the honor and privilege of meeting you, then yeah. You might have some social issues. But really, is that caused by homeschool or your basic isolation from humanity?

We've been homeschooling for six years and belong to two different secular groups out here, with around 30 kids in each group. Then you've got kids in the neighborhood, kids on the sports teams, and kids in the hobby groups to choose from.

Yes, kind of. I don't know if you're looking to be the one teaching or if you want somebody else to do the teaching.

There is a website called k12.com and it is basically an "Online Public School". But basically it is just an online home school. They have live class sessions called "Class Connects" and there your child will go and they will have a 30 minute to an hour class. The child would have at least one live class to attend everyday. (This may differ by state) Your child is also responsible to complete his/her class work everyday. You, assuming you are the guardian, would be considered the "Learning Coach". You would be the one that helps your child with "homework" that he/she may have. You would also be the one that would most likely schedule appointments with the teacher that would either be over the phone or through a session just like the child's "Class Connects". If you want more information I would suggest going to the k12.com website and calling the number they provide and finding out more information about the schooling for your state.

It is free tuition as well.

YES!!! I love and friends of mine LOVE using K12.org! :D and I have friends! lol im not weird, although yes there are some socially awkward homeschoolers but thats VERY common in public school as well....ive done both and the only difference is homeschooling offers a cleaner and NICER environment for your child. i HATED public school because boys are perverts and rude and teachers dont care AND you only have friends if your qualified as cool or pretty....seriously save your child from public school bull ****....i love my homeschool friends because they are so nice and no talk of penis' and sex...or drugs and alchohal!!!

I think home schooling is good @ times but also stops your child from gaining friends they need that to grow and become the people who they should be ! But its is possible !