HOME SCHOOLING IN HIGH SCHOOL

1. Know your child
   1. By 7^th or 8^th grade, know their interests
   2. What are their abilities
2. Options
   1. College – match the college to their specialty
   2. Community college – if unknown major, take core subjects
   3. Technical college
   4. Work
   5. Military
   6. Early enrollment
   7. Accelerated enrollment (dual enrollment)
   8. GED
3. Credit requirements
   1. State of Alabama, Jefferson County – 28 hours
   2. Calvary at Home Christian School – 24 hours
   3. Investigate requirements for particular college
4. How to count credits
   1. Carnegie credit hour – Equivalent to 45 minutes per day for 180 days (135 hours) of instruction or work for 1 credit hour.  (3 ¾ hour per week) 68 hours are necessary for a ½ hour of credit.   Can carry over hours for next year.  Hours can be divided between different credits, but not counted twice.
   2. Credit inventory – completion of book for core subjects and where applicable for electives
5. Keeping records
   1. Official transcript will be kept by CHCS from information provided by parent.

Unofficial copies may be requested to verify accuracy.

1. Grading scale – recommended 100-90=A, 89-80=B, etc.
2. GPA – A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+= 3.3 figure on 2 point variation from grading scale.

Any AP courses will be on a 5 point scale.  Some accelerated enrollment classes will be considered as AP courses.

1. Outside activities – write them down now, don’t wait until their senior year to

remember them.  These will be placed on their transcript, if you provide them.

1. Help in discovering true interests
   1. Interning
   2. Work experience
   3. Become acquainted with professionals in the field
2. Testing
   1. Alabama Exit Exam – church schools are exempt
   2. CHCS Graduation Exam – Required for a diploma, taken during junior or senior year
   3. College entrance exams – list the CHCS high school code on the exam

ACT:  319-337-1429 (Need picture ID from licensing dept.)

SAT:  609-771-7600

CLEP:  212-713-8064

PSAT:  609-771-7070 (10^th or 11^th grade for National Merit scholar.)

1. Scholarships
   1. Research through library, local bookstores, and online.
   2. Federal aid for college – With the signing of The Higher Education Act of 1998, home educated students are eligible.  There is no longer a requirement to take a GED or “ability-to-benefit” test to qualify.  For an information booklet on federal aid, call U.S. Dept. of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid office at 800-433-3243.  Website – www.fafsa.ed.gov.

PREPARING EARLY/TIMELINE

(As a guideline)

9^TH GRADE

1. Have a general overview of courses for the next 4 years.
2. Explain to your child the importance of good grades on a high school transcript.
3. Be creative in your child’s education.  Textbooks only do not provide the best education.
4. Begin to look at career options of interest to your child.

10^th GRADE

1. Adjust course schedule if needed.
2. Begin to investigate colleges.  Have your child write to a variety of colleges that interests them.
3. If possible, take a career assessment test to further evaluate possible career paths.
4. Begin to study and prepare for college entrance exams.
5. If prepared, take the ACT/SAT as a practice without sending the scores to any colleges.
6. Begin looking at possible scholarships.  Are their any requirements you should work on now?

11^th GRADE

1. Readjust the course of study if necessary.
2. Sign up for the PSAT (if you feel there is a possibility for a scholarship).
3. Respond to college mail and get all the available information that may help you and your child to make a better college selection.
4. Intensify preparation for the ACT/SAT testing and sign up to take the tests in the spring.  Be sure to list the codes for the colleges that you want to receive the scores.
5. Begin visiting colleges and narrowing the options to 5-10.
6. Secure all scholarship and financial aid information.
7. Hold family sessions to make decisions regarding college plans.

12^th GRADE

1. Locate all possible scholarship and financial aid sources.  Begin to

apply for as many sources as you can that match your particular qualifications and aspirations.

1. Apply to colleges and send in all appropriate applications before set

deadlines.  (Get a calendar to log all deadlines on.)

1. Meet with college representatives and discuss all available options and advantages in attending the particular college.
2. Plan out deadlines for applications, housing, financial aid, etc. and meet these deadlines in a timely fashion.
3. Do further study and retake the ACT/SAT tests at scheduled times to meet the college requirements.
4. Pick up financial aid forms after January 1, complete, and send to the proper agencies as soon as possible.  File your taxes early as this information is necessary to complete these forms.  Financial aid monies are appropriated on a first-come basis.
5. Send your grades to CHCS as soon as possible, so that final transcripts may be sent to the college.

DO’S AND DON’TS FOR PARENTS

DO’s

1. Talk to your child about future college plans.
2. Be open to your child’s ideas about their future.
3. Try to assist your child in finding available information.
4. Stress the importance of timing and not waiting until the last minute to do things.
5. Provide family time to work together to achieve your child’s career goals.
6. Trust God for the training in the way He would have your child go.

DON’TS

1. Make career decisions and college selections on the basis of what you want for your child.
2. Close your mind to outside reputable advice and suggestions from professionals who know the student’s needs.
3. Assume that you have all the answers before you get the proper information.
4. Fall for quick solutions by businesses that know nothing about education or students’ needs.
5. Rule out the possibility of compromise within the family to meet college costs and needs.
6. Forget to breathe.
7. Lose sight that ultimately God is in control.