QUESTIONS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL AND
BEYOND
What do I need to do when withdrawing my high school student from public
school?
What courses need to be taught in high school?
How do I plan
the courses my student should take in high school?
How do I
teach upper level subjects?
What is a
high school credit/unit?
How do I
prepare a high school transcript?
Can homeschools be accredited?
Can
my student accrue college credit during high school?
What about
vocational-technical programs?
Should my student take the GED?
What if my child desires a career in the military?
What about a graduation ceremony?
Is a work permit required for my teenager to get a job?
Q. What do I need to do when withdrawing my high school student from public
school?
A.
Even though not required by Oklahoma law, we suggest you submit a letter of withdrawal to
the principal of your school. In addition ask for a copy of the course descriptions for
the courses he or she has taken during the period he or she attended the public school.
This will be helpful when preparing your student's high school transcript.
Q. What courses need to be taught in high school?
A.
There are no high school exit requirements for parents to issue a diploma to their
homeschooled student. Parents may choose coursework to satisfy the requirements of their
own homeschool high school. If your student is college-bound, it is advisable to tailor
your subject matter to the courses required by the college(s) of your choice. We recommend
that you contact several colleges for their entrance requirements. You may also find that
Oklahoma's State Board of Education Requirements for High School Graduation, which apply
to PUBLIC schools only, are a useful general guideline for a course of study. See the state board's website, www.sde.state.ok.us, for these requirements.
Q. How do I plan the courses my student should take in high school?
A.
During junior high, it is recommended that you and your student make a plan of study for
the high school years. A good track upon which to run can be found in the admission
requirements of colleges or trade schools your child may be interested in attending.
College and trade school catalogs are free for the asking. Keep these requirements in mind
as you plan your course of study, but do not feel that you are limited to just these
courses. Build your child's course work with his specific gifts and callings in mind. This
is the time to expand subjects you've already introduced and begin tailoring studies to
suit his/her specific career and/or ministry needs. Get your student involved in volunteer
positions that utilize his/her skills, talents, and interests. Consider apprenticeships.
Make the goal of his/her education the development of
Q. How do I teach upper level subjects?
A.
Don't be overly concerned about a possible inability to teach high school-level courses
that your student might need. If your student is an independent learner and
self-motivated, he or she may be able to teach himself/herself what is necessary to know
as long as you secure the necessary materials. However, if you find that additional help
is needed for these difficult subjects, check out other resources such as homeschool
co-ops, paid tutors, or video or correspondence courses. Other options may include
internet courses, community college courses, or bartering with another parent to share
teaching responsibilities.
Q.
What is a high school credit/unit?
A. A
[credit] is a measure that identifies one semester's course work. Two credits make a full
Carnegie [unit], or a year's course work of 120 hours. In homeschooling, the amount of
course work required for each credit or unit is determined by the parents. The number of
units required for graduation from high school is also determined by the parents. College
entrance requirements include certain numbers of units in each area of study (for example,
4 units in English, 3 units in math, etc.).
Q. How do I prepare a high school transcript?
A. A
well-prepared transcript, showing an overview of academic accomplishments during the high
school years, is an important part in the process of being accepted by a college or
university. There are different ways to design a transcript. You may wish to pay someone
to do it or you can organize it yourself. The entire transcript should be limited to
one page. A student information section should be at the top, including the student's
name, address, social security number, date of birth, parents' names, home phone number,
total years of home education, date of graduation, and GPA (grade point average). Courses
completed and the grade for those courses should be listed according to each year of high
school. Accomplishments, awards, and community service hours may also be listed. A place
for your signature as the primary instructor and a notary stamp is advisable.An embossed
seal is available in the OCHEC office. A sample transcript is available in the OCHEC
handbook or by visiting one of these websites.
www.donnayoung.org (Click on homeschool forms)
www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/index.htm
(Click on Older kids/Teens or do a search for transcripts.)
Q. Can homeschools be accredited?
A.
Accreditation refers to schools that have paid an accrediting organization to determine
specific rules for how and when to teach each course, the number of hours each course must
be taught, and the curriculum that must be used to teach the course. In return for
following these rules, the school can offer "accredited diplomas." Homeschools
and most private schools are unaccredited schools. Many Christian schools have their own
accreditation agency that regulates their coursework based on biblical standards. While
their diplomas are "accredited" by their accrediting agency, their diplomas are
not "accredited" in the eyes of the public school system. Other Christian
schools and private schools choose not to belong to any accrediting agency and therefore
do not offer "accredited" diplomas.
Q. Can my student accrue college credit during high school?
A.
Yes, many students take concurrent classes in basic college courses during high school.
Most colleges do require that the high school student take the ACT or SAT and meet the
minimum score required for their institution. Upon graduation the college may apply those
credits toward a degree program. In addition, credits are usually transferable. This is a
great way to get a head-start in college. Check with colleges in your area for details.
Another way to accrue college credit is by taking CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
tests. By showing proficiency on CLEP exams in specific subject areas, students
Q.
What about vocational-technical programs?
A.
Vocational-technical programs are a great resource. During the junior or senior year of
high school, a student may enroll in a two-year vo-tech program concurrently with high
school coursework. Other options also exist.
Q. Does my child need a diploma from an accredited school to be
admitted to college?
A.
Most colleges do not require a diploma. ACT or SAT test scores and a well-prepared
transcript are most often all that is necessary. There are some colleges that do require a
transcript from an accredited school. It is a good idea to contact the particular
institution your child is interested in to find out specific transcript requirements.
Q. Should my student take the GED?
A. By
successfully passing the GED (General Educational Development) test, a certificate of high
school equivalency is earned. Some colleges, trade schools, or job training programs may
require a GED in lieu of a public school transcript. Research your options to be sure that
having a GED will really help your student. We do not recommend taking the GED unless it
is completely necessary because a GED often indicates to prospective employers that the
student dropped out of school.
Q. What if my child desires a career in the military?
A. The
military classifies would-be recruits into one of three categories, which are known as
[tiers]. Tier I candidates are graduates of a traditional high school or students who have
completed at least 15 college hours. Tier II candidates are high school dropouts who have
successfully passed the GED (General Equivalency Diploma). Tier III includes individuals
who possess neither a high school diploma nor a GED.
Prior
to October 1998, the military classified homeschoolers as Tier II candidates, often
requiring them to pass the GED. However, in October 1998 Congress passed a five-year pilot
program in which homeschoolers would be considered high school graduates and placed in
Tier I. For more information concerning homeschoolers and military enlistment, see Home
School Legal Defense Association's website, www.hslda.org.
Q. What about a graduation ceremony?
A.
Many homeschool support groups and organizations sponsor a graduation ceremony with
parents presenting the diplomas. If this is not offered in your area, consider having your
own celebration at home.
Q. Is a work permit required for my teenager to get a job?
A. A
14- or 15-year-old teen must obtain a work permit before an employer will consider him or
her for a job. There are some restrictions
that apply to types of jobs and number of hours. Teens
who are 16 or older have no restrictions. To
get a copy of the child labor law for 14- and 15-year-olds, go to www.okdol.state.ok.us
and click on the child labor poster link.
To get
a work permit, call the State Department of Education at (405) 521-3369. Explain that your child is homeschooled and you
would like the work permit form to be sent to you. According
to Oklahoma law, the parent of a homeschooled child is authorized to administer the oath,
verifying the student's age and status as a student.
40
Oklahoma Statute, Sec. 79 states, in part:
"The age and schooling certificate shall be approved by ...one of the child's parents if the child is being schooled at home...."