Where we live near Jaco, we have several large grocery stores, including a good Walmart-owned one that offers a lot of variety. We didn`t like Walmart when we lived in the United States, but it`s a good option for grocery shopping in Costa Rica. There is also an Automercado nearby, an upscale grocery store with many North American/European products. It`s harder to find better grocery stores like this in more rural cities. One of the challenges faced by many homeschooling families in Costa Rica is the lack of access to educational resources in English (e.g., books in English and educational resources). When you join JLC, you have access to our library, curriculum advice and digital text library. Costa Rica offers a vibrant ecology with so much for visitors to explore, and homeschooling your children gives you as a family the time and space to make the most of it. Formal learning can be done during a part of the day that depends entirely on you. The rest of the time can be spent soaking up the culture, fauna and flora of a new country. Some Costa Ricans do not agree with this reality and want homeschooling to be an option. A member of the last Congress, Ivonne Acuña, proposed a bill to make homeschooling a reality. This bill argues that homeschooling allows students to form a stronger emotional bond with their parents and to focus more on their own interests. However, others disagree, thinking that homeschooling will discredit teachers as professionals, strengthen utilitarian knowledge, and that children will miss all the learning moments outside of academia that are experienced at school.
At the end of the day, the reality is that this bill is very far from being a reality and homeschooling in Costa Rica is not an option at this time. Families who choose homeschooling are on a unique journey of discovery and personal growth. There are endless possibilities for a rich homeschooling experience in Costa Rica, but there are also unique challenges. Parents at all levels of homeschooling experience benefit from support, resources and problem-solving opportunities with other homeschooling parents and educators. Research shows that children need social opportunities; However, it can look like many different ways. Not all children enjoy or benefit from socialization in large peer groups, but all children benefit in some way from regular socialization with other children. JLC can support homeschooling parents and their children by providing children with a place to connect with others in a fun, play- and research-based environment. Legal status and resources for homeschooling in Costa Rica We have an open-door policy for families who can spend any day we are open. We also offer regular registration in the Flex program for families looking for scaffolding support. For example, if you want two days a week for your own homeschooling planning, you can take your kids to school two days a week while you organize. You`ll get social benefits from a community of peers and quasi-peers, as well as academic research and hands-on learning, while organizing for your homeschooling plan. There are no laws governing homeschooling in Costa Rica, but it is not recognized as a legal entity and therefore cannot count.
For more serious emergencies, public hospitals are located throughout the country. Here you will find mostly Spanish-speaking doctors and nurses, although some speak English. Public hospitals in Costa Rica are very basic with many common areas between patients, which can be a shock for North Americans. Care is generally good, although it varies greatly between hospitals. Wherever you choose to stay in Costa Rica, you can find homeschooling families and become part of this larger community. This approach also has the advantage of encouraging children to stay social and make new friends, which is often a concern of homeschooling parents. Extracurricular activities and classes can be taken at will; There is no shortage of experiences. In Costa Rica`s Political Constitution, article 78 stipulates that pre-school, basic and diversified education are compulsory, and in the public system they will be free and financed by the estate.
The estate must also supervise all private and public educational centers, home schooling is not even provided as an option. However, the good news is that it`s much more affordable if people help you. Home cleaning and babysitting are a fraction of the price compared to North America and most European countries, so enjoy the benefits! Schools differ depending on whether they teach primarily in Spanish or English. The teachers of the private schools are a mix of local Ticos and North Americans or Europeans, so sometimes a class is taught mainly in English, but there is a Spanish teacher. The reverse may also be the case. If it`s not legal, how can expats teach at home without any problems? My family is new to RC and we are trying to understand that. Thank you! If you`re homeschooling your kids, they`re unlikely to learn Spanish quickly. If they continue to live in a predominantly Spanish-speaking country, they may find that this presents its own obstacles. Fiction and non-fiction can be hard to find in English, which can hinder children`s development and negatively affect their free time if they enjoy reading. Legally, homeschooling is not recognized in Costa Rica, but that doesn`t mean it`s illegal. There are homeschooling communities across the country, as well as families who run a “school of the world” and immerse themselves in and out of different countries on a continuous educational journey.
Homeschooling is technically illegal in Costa Rica, but many expats homeschool their children. Secondary school (high school) is optional but is offered free of charge to any Costa Rican child/legal resident through the public system. Facebook: www.facebook.com/homeschoolingcostarica/?fref=ts These are not officially recognized by Costa Rican law. However, there are families who homeschool here and are registered with homeschooling associations in the United States. There are several homeschooling Facebook groups in Costa Rica with over 3,000 members who gather informally in parts of the country to share resources, plan events, and participate in educational activities. There are also families who opt for a “world school” where they travel with their children to different countries to offer hands-on, experiential learning outside the classroom. Joining already established online communities that do this work would be a smart first step. Some parents who move to Costa Rica with children do not have enough money for a private school, but realize that public school is not difficult enough for their child.
In this case, many parents choose homeschooling either as a primary educational tool or as a complement to the public school option. In this way, the child can continue to learn in his mother tongue. Parents who choose this method often work with other parents to rotate. As a result, the group of children is supported in different areas and parents can share the workload. According to Circular DM-036-09-2017, in which the Ministry of Public Education establishes guidelines and procedures for the recognition of primary and secondary school diplomas, if the diploma was obtained in the United States of America, the interested party must, in addition to the previous requirements, obtain certification from the Asesoria Educacional del Centro Cultural Costarricense-Norteamericano (Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center for Educational Council). present. indicating the accreditation by the U.S. authorities of the educational center where the student completed his studies.
It is not possible to obtain a diploma equivalent to a secondary school diploma if the diploma issued by foreign sources was obtained by the student who completes it in Costa Rica using online, correspondence or home teaching methods or under similar conditions offered by educational institutions abroad that are not accredited by the Costa Rican Department of Education.