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home school

home school questions and answers

More information about home school at Education News.

Q: How do I become home schooled midterm in the state of Alabama as a junior in high school?
Hello. I am a sixteen year old junior in high school. I have made the decision, with approval from my parents, to become home schooled. I've been researching hours and hours for the past few days and have found some interesting facts. But can someone tell me what the first step is? Do I order the curriculum first? Or arrange a conference with my high school principal? Help.

A: If you are going to homeschool privately-look up your state laws at http://www.hslda.org If you are going through an online free homeschool program, contact them and get the admissions process started. Try kaplan, K12 and Connections Academy. http://takecontrolofyoureducation.blogspot.com/ Best of Luck! Jana http://www.purehomeschooling.com/

Q: What type of diploma do home schooled high school students earn?
I am considering homeschooling my high school aged son. What type of diploma will he earn (in Tennessee) if he is homeschooled - or will it just be a GED? I will be an independent home schooler, not affiliated with a church or other organization. I'm aware of the requirements, but have been unable to find out what type of diploma he will earn, or if it is simply a GED.

A: High School Diploma A high school diploma is a document that bears record of the completion of a course of study. If you're wondering whether your homeschooled student can receive a diploma, the answer is yes! As the parent, you've prescribed your child's course of study and you can present a diploma that indicates he has successfully completed it. Some correspondence schools also provide diplomas for completion of their course of study. If for some reason the college your child wants to attend looks skeptically at homeschool diplomas, the quickest way to demonstrate academic competence is to have your child take several courses at the local community college. By dual enrolling, your child can take classes that help complete her high school course work while earning college credit at the same time (subject to state and individual college policies). Those college credits will allow your child to transfer to the school of her choice. (If you select this route, be sure that your child's destination college will accept the specific college courses she plans to take.) Frequently Asked Questions What does a diploma mean? Where do I get a diploma? Can I make my own diploma? Who must sign the diploma? Can a parent sign a diploma even if he did not personally teach all the classes? Can more than one person sign the diploma? What if I homeschooled in close association with a private school? Do I need an "accredited" diploma? If so, how do I get one? Some colleges and employers look down on a homeschool diploma (they want it to be state-certified). Even so, how do I get an "accredited" diploma? Can I obtain a high school diploma without involving the local school district? Will the local public school issue a diploma for my student? Must the student comply with state or school district requirements in order to receive a diploma? Do I need to get the local public school's approval before issuing a diploma? How do I get a diploma that is recognized by the armed forces? Should I skip the diploma and have my student take the GED test instead? List of schools (i.e., correspondence and online) that offer a diploma for homeschools. Diploma services/programs-can I homeschool without them? How effective are they? Should I also prepare a transcript?

Q: Can I start getting home schooled in the middle of the school year?
I have to attend a school which is very far away from my house and I've already missed a lot of days of school to make up for the work I've missed so it all seems a bit tedious. Can I just drop out of that school and start getting home schooled or online homeschooling?

A: Each state has different laws. It all depends on where you live. You can click the link below for information that will help. I wish you the best.

Q: Which home-school curriculums are based on a young earth view of history and science?
I'm looking into home-school curriculum and have noticed that many say they are Biblical in basis, but are not being specific about their view of history. I want to choose textbooks/ curriculum that are not going to be filled with "millions of years ago". Can anyone offer assistance? Thanks

A: I use Sonlight curriculum. It does a VERY good job at presenting a young earth based science as truth and also making the other views known without endorsing them. It is a history/liturature based curriculum that was originally designed for missionaries. I can't say enough great things about it. Check it out if you havn't already! www.sonlight.com

Q: How do i get the book to home school for a 6th grader.?
I live in a Albuquerque N.M. I have to home school my child becouse he was beatup at school. How he is a afraid to go to that school. His grades are D and F becuse he did not thinking about his school work. So I diecided to home school.

A: Good for you. Go to the website for the laws for your state. If your state is liberal in the laws, you can create your own curriculum by using the library and online reading and resources.

Q: How can i drop out of high school and get on home school?
In school there is this school psychologist that is really strict & hard on kids being absent & dropping out of high school. I want to get on an home schooling program because i have severe medical problems and i can't attend school a lot. How can i get my parents to agree with this? How can i drop out and get on home school and get a high school? Please help me!

A: You wouldn't be "dropping out", you would simply switch from public school to homeschooling. First, check out your state laws at www.hslda.com . I suggest an online school. You could check to see if www.k12.com or www.connectionsacademy.com is available for you. Those two are free, it's just public school online. To get your parents to agree you need to do research and present it to them in a mature way. Show them that you are serious about your education and that you think homeschooling is what's best. Maybe show them pros AND cons about it. You can't entirely convince them to homeschool you, after all, they ARE the parents, but you can steer them into choosing it. I wish you luck!

Q: How can I home school my son in english?
We just moved to Costa Rica.My son is suppose to go to 1st grade next year but I want to put him in french school.He speaks only english so far and I want to keep that up.Any good websites that can give me ready lessons for home schooling?

A: Calvert School has a great homeschooling program. Morning Star Academy

Q: I want to home school my kids. What do I need and is there anything legal that I have to do for me to do so?
I've been trying to get my son in school and its too many requirements and this that and the next, but I know and others know he's too intelligent to be in day care. So I thought maybe I could home school him. Where do I start? Do I need to be certified to do so?

A: I have a friend who did this. She didn't want her son to be in school. She wanted him with her. Sounded like a great idea, only she didn't do a good job. Now, he's in public school in remedial classes. If you decide to do this, make sure you are teaching him everything he needs to know.

Q: How do I find information on home schooling for a high school student that isn't gonna break the bank?
My sister-in-law is having trouble with her 16 yr. old daughter and the school she is attending. She wants to finish her schooling from home but does not have alot of money to spend on curriculm and supplies. She is a single mom and just wants to help her daughter to finish school without the interference from the cruelty of her peers at the school.

A: She should check first with the school and school district to find out about any alternative programs available. There may be something free that she can do, like online or independent study. Except perhaps for a small registration fee, everything is provided because it runs out of the public schools. They may even have http://www.k12.com where she lives.

Q: If your home schooled child wanted to go to public school, would you let them?
I'm just curious :) I have a lot of friends that are home schooled, and a few of them desperately want to go to public school, but their parents won't let them (for various reasons). Some of the reasons I don't really understand very well. So-- would you let them go to public school? Why or why not? But why not? Just so he could graduate a year early?

A: Yes, definitely. My kids never wanted to go to public school, but if they had, it would have been their choice. It is their life, and while I have had more experiences and have my own opinions, it is not my place to choose for them against their will. I suspect these friends of yours are wanting to go to public school have difficult family relationships. :D

Q: How do I start a successful home school?
I would like to home school my own children, and invite others to attend as well. What are the requirements for doing this (any special licenses, etc.), and what steps should I take to get the ball rolling? Where do I get the supplies to begin? Any information would be greatly appreciated!

A: Ok well you didn't say if you have a degree in teaching or not so that may be an issue if you are going to have a formal school. If you don't have a degree or teaching experience, and it sounds like you have not yet tried homeschooling your own kids, my advice would be start with your kids and see how that goes first. It isn't easy and it takes a lot of time to keep on top of more than one child and maintain a household. Are you well informed about the different curriculums, do you have a room in your home where you can accomodate a number of children? How are you going to teach different children at different levels with different abilities? What age are you going to start at? How high will your school teach to? How will you handle behavioral problems or children who refuse to do the work? How will you handle it if a child gets sick? How will you handle it if YOU or YOUR child get sick? There is a lot to consider. And the cost outlay might be very expensive. To me homeschooling is not easily turned into a business. Then it is just your private school that your kids attend. Homeschool is sometimes about having a day off in the middle of the week to go to the Dr or taking an odd couple of days off because Grandma is in town. Or going on field trips. How would you transport everyone? I wish you luck.