Transcript Homeschooling Through High School

Homeschooling
Through High School:
You Can Do It!
Janice Campbell
Why Homeschool Through
High School?
All the reasons you’ve homeschooled
this far!
Maintain strong family relationships
Positive atmosphere for spiritual growth
Time to pursue personal interests
Limited peer pressure
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More Reasons!
Opportunities for acceleration, including
early college
Time for travel or missions
Opportunities for apprenticeships or
entrepreneurship
Opportunity to learn important home,
family, and life skills
Time to learn self-direction & motivation
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Increased time for
important things,
expanded opportunities–
What more could you want?
The real question is–
Why Wouldn’t You
Homeschool Through High
School?
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Basic High School
Requirements
State standards for college-bound students– 24 units.
Use college catalogs or websites to verify
requirements for colleges you are considering. You
are responsible for learning and fulfilling
requirements for each school to which you apply!
4 units each: English, Math, Science, History/ Social
Science.
3 units: Foreign Language.
2 units: Health/P.E. / Electives
1 unit: Fine or Practical Arts
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Some Common Fears
Teaching advanced courses
College Admissions
Extracurricular activity opportunities
Military enlistment
Issuing a diploma
Recordkeeping and transcripts
Let’s talk about these things!
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Teaching Advanced Courses
There’s an option for everyone!
Homeschool co-ops
Online classes
Video classes
Church-based co-ops
Community college classes
Private tutoring
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College Admissions
Most colleges have had experience with
homeschool graduates, so it’s nothing new.
Scores on SAT, ACT, and AP tests offer
homeschoolers an opportunity to show what
they can do.
A strong transcript with a college-prep course
of study, backed up by standardized test
scores, levels the playing field.
There’s a college for virtually any student!
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Extracurricular Activities
Opportunities are everywhere!
Homeschool, church, or community
sports leagues
Community or church-based drama,
dance, orchestra, band
Robotics, debate, Math Olympiad teams
Contest and “bee” participation
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What About Doing Sports in
the Public Schools?
Few schools permit this, and those that
do tend to have many requirements.
Beware the entanglement– it begins
with playing a sport, but can soon
involve mandatory curriculum choices,
immunizations, considerable
socialization, and a lot of time away
from home.
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Military Enlistment
Military recruiters now accept a parentissued diploma and transcript as proof
of completion of high school.
All other requirements that must be met
for military enlistment can be found on
the websites of each branch of the
armed services.
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Paperwork!
We’ll talk about the paperwork in the
next segment of the seminar.
There are only two kinds of paperwork:
Records for You
Summary Documentation for Others
Transcript
Diploma
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High School is Prep Time!
Think academics…PLUS!
Home, family, and life skills
Apprenticeships
Entrepreneurship
Travel
Missions
Community involvement--arts, etc.
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Summary
The high school years can be just four
more years of boring routine, or they
can be an exciting time of personal
development, independent learning,
and positive relationship-building. You
can choose!
Home provides a solid foundation for
academics, business, and life!
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The High School Transcript:
It’s Easier Than You Think!
High School Paperwork:
The “Big Two”
Diploma: A piece of paper stating that
the student has completed a highschool level course of study. Basically,
just a certificate.
Has anyone ever asked to see your high
school diploma? Do you even know where
it is? J
Transcript: A one-page summary of a
student’s course of high school study.
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Diploma FAQ
Who issues the diploma?
The person or institution that supervised the
student’s education, usually the parent(s).
Where do I get a diploma?
You can order a blank diploma from HSLDA or
create one on your computer (instructions and a
sample in my book).
Do I need an accredited diploma?
Absolutely not. You may, if you wish, but it’s not
necessary. Not even all public schools are
accredited! Standardized tests provide veracity.
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Transcript Facts
The first, and often the only, homeschoolissued document a college admissions officer
will want to see is the transcript.
The transcript is a record of courses taken,
grades earned, and credits awarded. Think of
it as a resumé for students!
The records you keep during high school are
for your own use in preparing the transcript.
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Transcripts Made Easy– Really!
My goal is to make the transcript
process easy. We’ll cover:
The kind of records to keep (especially
if record-keeping isn’t your favorite
hobby!)
How to create a professional-looking
document– painlessly.
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The Purpose of Paperwork
Who are the logs and records for?
Parent and student.
Who will see/use the transcript?
Primarily college admission officers.
Form is almost as important as
substance. It makes academic
information accessible and comparable.
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How do colleges feel about
homeschoolers?
Generally positive!
Policies not always in place– they play it
by ear for the first few students.
Private colleges are almost always more
flexible and friendly than state colleges.
Search for “homeschool” on college
websites to see if they have a policy.
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What do admissions officers
look for in the transcript?
Information in a format comparable to
other students.
Standardized test scores, particularly
SAT/ACT.
A college-prep course of study.
Extracurricular activity (selective
colleges pay a lot of attention to this).
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Do admissions officers believe
you can be objective?
To be perfectly honest… Consider:
Credibility/conflict of interest issues– recused
judges, politicians, etc.—don’t take it
personally.
What is an ‘A’ student? Mastery is not the
issue—aptitude is. This is IMPORTANT!
Objective confirmation = Increased credibility.
We can be thankful there are many ways to
verify knowledge.
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Resources for objective
confirmation of knowledge
Exams: GED, AP, SAT I & II, CLEP
Class grade from Westminster Academy,
online class, or learning co-op
Distance-learning school grades (American,
Cambridge, ICS, or similar)
Community college class grades
Occasionally– detailed course descriptions are
acceptable, though rarely used
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General HS Requirements
State standards for college-bound students– 24 units.
Use college catalogs or websites to verify
requirements for colleges you are considering. You
are responsible for learning and fulfilling
requirements for each school to which you apply.
4 units each: English, Math, Science, History/ Social
Science.
3 units: Foreign Language.
2 units: Health/P.E. / Electives
1 unit: Fine or Practical Arts
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What goes on a transcript?
3 Sections: Identifying Information, Basic
Info, including an explanation of grading
scale, and Course Listings.
Short, sweet, and to the point—think resume
or summary, not complete history.
Translate course list into “educationese” to
aid the college admissions officer in
comparison with other students.
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Records To Keep
Course list: A simple list categorized by
subject. Include non-school activities. See
TME workbook for sample.
Book list: Have the student keep a list of the
books he reads throughout the high school
years.
Course descriptions: These can be brief– just
a book list and a summary of major
assignments.
Test results from standardized tests.
Copies of awards or certificates.
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Easy Options for
Recordkeeping
Datebook: Daily log or weekly summary of
activities– not detailed, just “Algebra Ch. 3,”
Journal: A brief, daily narrative of what is
being learned– best maintained by student.
File folders/pocket: One per high school
year—Toss in test results, course list,
keepsakes.
Transcripts Made Easy or similar notebook
system. Consolidate info for all four years,
ready to create a transcript.
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Three Transcript Sections
Identity section: This part of the transcript identifies
the document, the student, the school, and the dates
covered by the transcript.
Basic Information section: This section contains a
grading scale definition or non-grading philosophy,
the number of hours which equals a unit, and the
abbreviations used for credit by exam or dual-credit
classes, as well as a line for the signature of the
certifying parent(s).
Course Record section: This is the body of the
transcript—a final listing of all the courses the
student has completed during high school.
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Basic Info Section:
Define a Grading Scale
If you provide grades, your transcript must indicate
what each letter grade represents. For example, an
‘A’ may stand for a scaled score of 95-100%, or it
may be interpreted as “Superior.” Either way, the
student receives 4 grade points for an ‘A,’ 3 for a ‘B,’
2 for a ‘C,’ and 1 for a ‘D.’
If you issue only Pass/Fail or Complete/Incomplete
grades, you will not provide grade points. AP or other
college-level courses receive “weighted” grades—
which is one extra grade point for each grade granted
(A=5, etc.).
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Basic Info Section:
Define a Unit
1 Carnegie unit = 1 full-year course
or
1 unit = 120-180 hours of study
or
50-60 minutes/day x 5 days/week x 36 weeks
or
1 unit/credit = one completed textbook
or
1 unit/credit = 1 year unit study (grant one
unit for each subject covered)
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How to Calculate a GPA
1. Assign grade points (a numerical value) to each
grade you have given for each class. The traditional
numbers are:
1.
A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0
2. For AP or honors level classes, assign weighted
grade points—that is, add one extra grade point for
each grade. This would make the value of ‘A’ equal to
5, etc.
3. Add together all the grade points for each class
(except physical education, which is not usually
included in the calculation of the GPA).
4. Divide the total grade points by the total number of
classes taken.
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For example…
If a student has two A’s (worth 4 grade points each),
two B’s (worth 3 grade points each), and two C’s
(worth 2 grade points each) in a semester, and wants
to calculate a grade point average (GPA), this is how
it’s done:
1) Add
2 A’s = 4 + 4 = 8
2 B’s = 3 + 3 = 6
2 C’s = 2 + 2 = 4
8 + 6 + 4 = 18
2) Divide the number of grade points (18) by the
number of classes taken (6).
18 / 6 = 3.0 GPA
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What makes it “official”?
Printed on “official” paper
Signed by person (parent) who certifies that
it is an official copy.
Sealed in an envelope.
Sometimes, but not usually, signed across the
envelope flap.
Mailed from “school,” not from student.
It’s not hard to create an “official
transcript”—you can do it!
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In Summary…
Have students maintain simple Activity and Reading
Logs
Transfer the information to Subject Worksheets once
per week, month, or semester.
Translate what you have done into “Educationese.”
Think simple– reading literature and writing essays in
9th grade = English I.
Create a transcript on your computer (complete
directions in TME) or recruit someone else to do it.
You can do it!
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Getting a Jump Start
on College:
Making the Most of the
High School Years
Did You Know….
Students traditionally entered university at
14-16 years of age
Most teens are intellectually capable of higher
level work than is usually presented in high
school
The home setting is a perfect place to
become accustomed to college-level learning.
There is time and love to spare, and help for
the rough spots. It makes the eventual
transfer to college or work much easier.
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Advantages: Financial
Save thousands of dollars!
JSRCC tuition, fees, & books for 1 year (15
credits per semester)
$2231
Mary Baldwin College tuition, fees, & books
(12 credits per semester) $8068
24 credits earned by 8 college-level exams
such as CLEP, Dantes, etc. $480
Minimal transportation / lodging expense!
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Advantages: Social
Intellectually-ready teens may still need the
social and emotional support of family.
Access to parental input on controversial
subjects.
Little or no negative peer pressure.
Head start permits a more relaxed pace once
enrolled in traditional full-time college.
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Advantages: Intellectual
Avoids stagnation and boredom.
College-level exam scores are undeniable
evidence of academic achievement.
Learn basic subjects well enough so they
don’t have to be repeated in college.
College credits look wonderful on a high
school diploma if your child hopes to attend a
selective school.
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Method 1: Credit by Exam
No minimum age requirement
No pre-requisites
CLEP- $50 + $15 each (3-6 credits)
DANTES
AP or SAT II (primarily advanced placement)
GRE
Excelsior College Exams
TECEP (Thomas Edison)
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Method 2: Distance Learning
Traditional: Books/Paper/Snail Mail
Internet-Based Courses
Audio or Video Classes
Many sources: Academic/Business/Etc.
If you plan to transfer credits, take
classes only from accredited sources.
Costs vary widely.
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Method 3: Community College
It’s usually easy to enroll teens as dual-credit
students. Minimum age: usually 16.
A good place to take care of lab science and
higher math requirements!
Placement tests required for math and
language arts classes.
Financial aid is available once a student is
full-time & degree-seeking.
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Method 4: Portfolio Credit
Some schools grant credit for college-level
learning acquired outside the classroom.
There is a charge for portfolio evaluations, so
be sure to follow format, tie your request for
credit to a class description in the current
college catalog, and be realistic.
Keep good records of volunteer and work
experience, reading, travel, etc.
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Paperwork: Maximize Credits
Keep good records of what you learn (TME).
Record credits required for each subject.
Track credits you have earned, and plan for
those you’ll need.
Use a chart to compare costs and
requirements of the schools you’re
considering.
Keep track of financial aid applied for and
won.
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Study for Maximum Credit
You can deepen almost any high-school course
to college level by:
Using a college text (you will be able to
balance secular viewpoint with other material
if necessary).
Using a timeline to record what you learn.
Adding other resources as needed: audio or
video tapes, historical or scientific biographies
and fiction, internet research, magazines, etc.
TIP: Begin with core classes!
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Explore the Options!
Start online– links from my website.
College-level exam information at
www.CollegeBoard.com
Financial aid applications at
www.fafsa.gov
College information through
www.petersons.com;
www.princetonreview.com
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Summary
There is historical precedent and tremendous
advantage to starting college early.
Credit can be earned without taking classes
away from home.
Good record-keeping starts now!
A timeline and used college texts will help
deepen high school study into college-level.
You can make the high school years exciting
and profitable for the whole family!
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