It’s true that Nebraska still doesn’t have online public charter schools, which would provide parents with a tuition-free, accredited online option for their kids, regardless of where they live. Nonetheless, students have more options than they used to, thanks to free, worldwide digital resources like MOOCs.

Some Nebraska homeschool parents have opted out of district schooling because their children want to dive deeply into certain subjects. Others are looking for a more classical education. Some don’t want to be constrained by the traditional school schedule for a variety of reasons, from health issues to athletic training schedules.

Whatever the reason for seeking alternative education, parents should know about MOOCs. They’re an affordable (free!) way to tap into some of the world’s greatest educational material.

What’s a MOOC?
MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Course. A MOOC is an interactive, step-by-step course aimed at reaching as many learners as possible worldwide.

How much do MOOCs cost?
They’re absolutely free! In most cases, all required course material is also provided free of charge online.

Who creates and hosts MOOCs?
In most cases, universities create and host MOOCs. They provide their expertise for free because there’s a growing need to make learning open and accessible to all. MOOCs are also good marketing tools to showcase a university’s offerings and give their professors platforms for their areas of research. The digital revolution is changing the way universities interact with students, just as it’s affecting K-12 education.

What kinds of subjects are covered in MOOCs?
Everything! Here’s a sample homeschool schedule entirely using tuition-free MOOCs:

•    Science:  Human Anatomy (University of Michigan)
•    Math:  College Algebra (Arizona State University)
•    Civics:  American Government (Harvard)
•    Technology:  Introduction to Computer Science (MIT)
•    Fine Arts Elective:  History of Art (University of Pennsylvania)
•    Language Arts:  AP English Literature and Composition (UC Berkeley)
•    Language Arts Elective:  Journalism for Social Change (UC Berkeley)

Who can study using MOOCs?
Anyone around the world with internet access can study using MOOCs.

How long does a MOOC take to complete?
MOOCs are typically designed to take 2 to 10 weeks to complete. Of course, since you’re going at your own speed, you can speed up or slow down as necessary. Since the material is available day and night, you can schedule it whenever it fits best with your other studies.

Are MOOCs accredited?
No. At this time, MOOCs will not provide you with transcript-ready credits. Some educators and organizations are working on finding ways to provide accreditation, and some MOOCs provide a printable certificate upon completion. Arizona State University is working on a way for freshmen to complete their first year of general education requirements via MOOCs. Expect to see more options like this in the future.

Where can I find MOOCs?
The following sites provide listings of current MOOCs:

MOOC List
Class Central
TechnoDuet
Knowledge Lover
Thought Co.

While you won’t be able to transfer MOOC credits to a public high school transcript like you can with accredited online high school courses, professionals and students are showcasing their completed MOOCs on resumes and college applications. Employers and admissions counselors love to see the initiative taken by people who want to learn, even if they can’t afford costly programs.

In the mood to learn something new? Sign up for a MOOC today, and expand your horizons.

It’s no secret that teachers unions despise school choice. When people have the freedom to make their own decisions, you can’t force them to do what you want.

In states that have enacted school choice options, teachers unions lose their abilities do the following:

• They can’t force children to go to certain schools.
• They can't get away with limited transparency regarding how education dollars are spent.
  
• They can’t coerce young teachers into forking over part of their paychecks to the union’s political slush fund.
• They can’t use schools to conscript young people for their political causes.

All of this makes them very angry. In fact, it seems to make them so angry that their true colors shine through.

The National Education Association recently held a contest: “We invited NEA members to show their creative side by helping us design our official campaign poster.”​

Here’s the winning entry, submitted by Utah art teacher, Dallyn Zundel.

The NEA remarked: “His contest entry references the Soviet propaganda posters he uses in class to teach basic design principles.” Ah, yes. Nothing like whitewashing the dogma that led to 100 million deaths last century in order to recruit a new generation of comrades to the idea of totalitarianism.​

Nebraska is one of the last school choice holdouts, and the teachers union knows it. National union leaders like Diane Ravitch hold Nebraska up as a beacon of totalitarianism.

Hadn’t you heard that educational totalitarianism has been under assault? All across the country, parents and freedom-loving citizens have been rallying around kids, parents and educators, enacting legislation that makes it possible for everyone (not just the wealthy) to be able to choose their kids’ schools.

In Washington, D.C., poor parents can use vouchers to send their kids to private school if that’s what they think is best. In Minnesota, parents can choose to enroll their kids in public charter schools that focus on their kids’ interests or meet specific academic needs. In Arizona, parents of special needs children can use Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to pay for special therapies that aren’t offered at neighborhood district schools.

Freedom is in the air, and it’s producing pretty incredible results, as you can see here, here, here, and here. But do the teachers unions care about those good results?

Clearly not. And in clinging so tightly to their power, the teachers' union throws Nebraska's most vulnerable children under the bus. In many parts of the country, low-income and minority children have been thriving in public charter schools. Black economist Thomas Sowell wrote, “Only 39 percent of all students in New York state schools who were tested recently scored at the “proficient” level in math, but 100 percent of the students at the Crown Heights Success Academy school scored at that level in math. Blacks and Hispanics are 90 percent of the students in the Crown Heights Success Academy.”​

But in Nebraska, when charter schools are discussed in the legislature, the teachers union cheers on people like this.​

This teacher, Tim Royers, who works at one of the most privileged school districts in the state (Millard), slammed public charter schools and suggested a 1950s failed experiment as the answer: busing students to faraway schools. It’s no wonder our state has a reputation for being backward and racist. Our teachers unions reject solutions that are proven to work while championing archaic systems that reinforce privilege. Mr. Royers is currently running for the state legislature, much to the teachers union's delight.

Totalitarianism has always been about money and control. It was true for the Soviets (and clearly, the NEA has a soft spot for the Soviets). It was true for the Nazis. It was true for Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution. It was true for the leaders of Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, and every other totalitarian regime resulting in catastrophic human loss and suffering. 

Don’t buy the hype. When teachers unions say something is “for the kids,” shake your head and laugh. They don’t know your kids, but they think they know what’s best for them. 

If you're like most parents, you want you children to go to school to be educated, to learn to read and write and appreciate the scientific discoveries all around them. You want them to learn how to teach themselves, develop good study habits, and think critically. It's interesting to note that the higher people rise in the Nebraska education monopoly system, the less they seem to be interested in education. Watch their social media posts. They seem to be obsessed with politics. What's going on here?

You know what’s best for your kids, and you need the freedom to go out and get it for them. Nebraska parents and kids won’t be held hostage by the unions much longer. Bring educational freedom to Nebraska faster by getting in touch with us to learn more about what you can do to help.