HOMESCHOOLING
HIGH SCHOOL
Sponsored by PBC Homeschoolers, Inc.
pbchomeschoolers.com
Questions? Contact us at pbchomeschoolers.com
or better yet, come to one of our meetings for
support in your homeschooling journey or
exploration
This material was presented at the PBC Homeschoolers’
Homeschool Fair, July 31, 2019
Cheryl Trzasko
Former classroom teacher
Public, Private, Dept. of Defense Dependents Schools
Taught from 6th to 12th grades
Current FL certification in Math, grades 5-9 and grades 6-12
Previous DoD certified to teach
Science—general middle & high school, biology, chemistry, physics
Math—middle & high school
Computer science
Recruited to teach at FAU
Homeschooled own children from start to college
Was homeschooled herself for some elementary years
PBC Homeschoolers support group leader since 2009
Homeschool evaluator since 2003
Homeschool consultant
Helped homeschoolers get into colleges including Stanford
University of Chicago college admissions committee alumnae interviewer 7.5 years
SAT prep instructor
Previously for Sylvan and Club Z!
privately
BIG QUESTIONS? Do homeschoolers get into college?
What documentation should be kept?
Will a homeschooled student get a
diploma?
What are the graduation requirements?
What materials must be used?
How are credits calculated?
What should be in a transcript?
And more….
A FEW QUICK ANSWERS
Do homeschoolers get into college? Yes!
Will a homeschooled student get a diploma? If you give one!
What materials must be used? You choose
And more answers to come….
Meet basic requirements
Want successful graduates
Self-starters
Set out to do something and do it
Want diverse campus
Not just racially and ethnically
Also in terms of interests, passions, ideas
Homeschoolers can excel in showing passion, success, diversity
College Admissions
HOMESCHOOLING
HIGH SCHOOL VERSUS OTHER GRADE LEVELS
No Change
Laws
Required Home Education Documentation
Letter of Intent (if starting out)
Portfolios
Evaluations
Letter of Termination (when done)
Teach what works for your child
Use materials of your choice
Different
Will likely want to keep extra documentation
Course Descriptions
Transcripts
Time spent on various subjects
Volunteering documentation
And eventually…
Diploma
Affidavit of Completion
HOMESCHOOLING OPTIONS
HIGH SCHOOL
Home Education
Public school participation options
Interscholastic extracurricular
Sports
Marching Band
Clubs: e.g., Robotics Team, etc.
Right to take tests
Dual Enrollment
Public colleges—free
“Umbrella School”
Legally private school students
Tiny private schools—more options
Rules vary
Might keep or help with records
Dual enrollment
Private colleges—fees
Public colleges
May not allow umbrella school students
Articulation agreement needed
“Diploma mills” concern
Recommendation:
Stick with same
option for final 2
years of high
school
Fldoe.org/academics/graduation-requirements
1. Follow Public school requirements 4. Compulsory attendance to age 16
See link below Can graduate earlier if going
18- or 24-credit tracks and others on to educational program
2. College entrance requirements
3. Career or Other requirements Justifiable? Reasonable? Good!
High school Graduation Requirements
TRANSCRIPTS
Summary of high school
May be needed
Colleges
Scholarships
Job applications
Eligibility for
extracurriculars
TRANSCRIPTS
Summary of high school
Identifying information
Classes
• Name
• Simple
• Consider public school titles
• Credit earned
• Grade earned
Test scores
• ACT
• SAT
• PERT
• AP
• CLEP and so on
GPA
Awards
TRANSCRIPTS: BEST FORMAT?
Samples online
Schools use various formats
• NO best option
TRANSCRIPTS: MAKE IT OFFICIAL
Official transcripts
• Say “Official
Transcript”
• Might require
notarized certification
statement
• Might need to be in
sealed envelope with
parent signature across
flap
TRANSCRIPTS: MAKE IT ACCEPTED
Make it seem acceptable
• Proofread
• No spelling errors
• Consistent spacing
and formatting
• Organized
• One to two pages
Fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7746/urlt/1920CCD-Basic9-12.pdf
Florida Department of Education’s list of course titles and course numbers
Not required to use this list
Can be useful
See options
Get ideas
Make documents readily understood by FL schools and colleges
High School Course TitlesH
FL DOE 9-12 COURSE LIST
CLEP Exam Options
Test to earn credit
High school credit
Perhaps college credit later
Must enroll in college
Must be accepted by that college
Must score high enough
Required score varies by college
60 page list!
ADVANCED
PLACEMENT AP• AP is trademarked
• Cannot use without
approval
• See their website for
approval process if
interested
• Can take AP exams
• With OR without AP
course
• List on transcript
Fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/AcademicList1920.pdf
One credit=one year-long high school class
2/3-3/4 textbook for a yearlong high school class
Hours: 120-150 hrs. = One credit; 60-90 hrs = ½ credit
Scope and Sequence of a high school class
Testing such as CLEP
Dual enrollment courses: One semester college course may equal one high school credit
See official list on site below
High School Credits
Homeschoolingagain.wordpress.com/2018/12/20/dual-
enrollment-starting-college-in-high-school
High schoolers (or even middle schoolers) can take college classes
Could be FREE
Rules vary by college for admissions and policies
Can take in-person or online classes
Many homeschoolers use dual enrollment to get free college credits, even AA degree
Dual Enrollment
Unschooling?
Create your own class without a high school textbook?
Unit studies?
These and more are possible in high school.
Document it!
Out of the Box Credits
Hint: Consider some activities extracurricular. Just for fun.
Colleges want to see those.
Weighted vs. Not weighted
Percents versus Letter grades
Pluses and minuses? Or simple letter grades?
Holistically—based on overall performance, learning and/or effort
Don’t overthink it. Admissions Officers like
grades to put in boxes. Make them happy.
Grades & GPA
Grades won’t be taken too seriously unless bad.
Test scores, recommendation letters, will be considered more.
Florida law requires state colleges to accept a parent’s signed
Affidavit of Completion as proof of high school graduation.
Proof of high school graduation
On transcript or separate document
Florida colleges have forms or make your own
Example:“I, <parent’s name>, parent of <student’s name> do hereby certify that <student name> has graduated from high school through a home education program in accordance with Florida law (FL s. 1002.41)”
with parent’s signature and date and
a notary public’s signature and seal.
Affidavit of Completion
COURSE
DESCRIPTIONS
Copy titles, numbers, credits as on transcript
Books or Resources used
Description of topics covered
Any notable projects, activities, awards, etc.
Mention if taken elsewhere: FLVS, college, co-op, etc.
May not need
Send to colleges only if asked
Helps show quality of courses
Florida law requires state colleges to accept a parent’s signed
Affidavit of Completion as proof of high school graduation.
Pretty certificate
Parent who is directing a child’s homeschooling has the right to issue a diploma
1. Make your own—adapt a certificate on word processing program, or
2. Purchase one, or
3. Attend a support group graduation ceremony, such as PBC Homeschoolers, or the huge one by FPEA in Orlando in May at Homeschool Convention
Diploma
VOLUNTEER HOURS
End of 8th grade onward
Scholarships—including bright futures
College admissions/employment
Can submit to district for verification After financial aid application account has been set up
Floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/BFHandbookChapter1.pdf
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Keep record of
• nonprofit organization name,
• date(s) served with hours,
• type of service performed
• Organization’s representative must sign
Bright Futures gives a list of acceptable types of service for their scholarship.
Worked for free for a profit business? Doesn’t count as community service. But could be an internship if enough time put in.
Floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/BFHandbookChapter1.pdf
Q & A
Sponsored by PBC Homeschoolers, Inc.
pbchomeschoolers.com