ARKANSAS, USA — As more and more schools across the state release what class will look like this fall, many parents don't agree with the plans so some are choosing to homeschool.
"A lot of the early decisions that they are making, that was a huge waiver for us,” said Sarah Weidman, a Saline County mother.
Weidman’s daughter will start Kindergarten come this fall, but she never imagined becoming her child's teacher.
"Having to decide between our child's health and her education really solidified our decision to home school her,” said Weidman.
Weidman said COVID-19 has public school plans up in the air, with the unknowns and many restrictions, she's pulled her child from public school altogether.
She’s transformed her own living room into a classroom, hoping to give her child some sense of normalcy.
“We have desks, we have a white board, we’ll have a reading circle just like she would at school,” said Weidman. "I just didn't want my daughter's first experience exposed to the world to be intimidating and terrifying and isolated from friends."
Central Arkansas mom Leah Mitchell has also chosen home schooling for her 8-year-old little boy because the virus has caused fear in his life.
Mitchell believes her child can learn more calmly from home.
"He was really nervous, he's had some anxiety, you know I've been trying to get him to calm down about it,” said Mitchell. “We gave him the choice.”
The choice for these parents didn't come easy.
Like virtual and in-school learning, it has cons, too.
Weidman said picking the right curriculum for her child was difficult, but believes parents who have to make these tough decisions won't pick the wrong one.
"The fact is, if everyone would just lean on each other and work together, our kids will still strive no matter what we choose," she said.
Parents have until August 15 to choose home schooling for their children.
By law, you must file a notice of intent through the Department of Education on its website.