Pauline's Guide to Homeschooling in PA	Homeschooling High School
ON THIS PAGE: Diploma Options -- No Diploma or Parent-Issued “Home Brew” Diploma -- GED -- College -- PA Diploma Programs -- Non-PA Diploma Programs -- Correspondence School -- PA Cyber-Charter School -- Public or Private High School -- OTHER INFO: College Admission Testing (SATs, etc.) -- Creating a Do-It-Yourself Diploma, Helpful Books and e-Groups, PA Required Subjects & Graduation Requirements , PA Compulsory Attendance Law
RELATED PAGES: PA Diploma Programs PA Public Cyber-Charter Schools PHEAA Requirements for Homeschoolers How homeschoolers can qualify for PHEAA funding for college. PA Homeschool Groups Includes high school co-ops. Homeschooling Main Page. Homeschoolers have a lot of choices available to them. Please take the information you find useful from these pages and ignore the rest. *I might be wrong! I am not a lawyer! Please double-check legal information with appropriate sources!* This Web Page by Pauline Harding for Art Nurk, askpauline@comcast.net. Please do not copy the information on this page without permission.	There are many decisions to make when planning for the high school years. There are many options available to homeschooling families. This page is designed to give an overview of the pathways most often used, and a few links to get you started in your research. I could not possibly research the details on every option and still have time to homeschool my own children! Please use this page as inspiration to get you started, but understand that you will have to do some legwork to figure out which option is best for you. There is no “best path” – which route you choose will depend on your own goals/values/abilities/beliefs. What is the right choice for one student may not be the right choice for another. Please also understand that, while I do work towards accuracy on my site, I am far from perfect. I have not homeschooled a high schooler, so most of my understanding of these options and issues comes through listening closely to those who have walked this path. Obviously, you will need to carefully research the options for yourself before deciding which path is right for you. I have written this page from the perspective of Pennsylvania, but much of the information is applicable to homeschoolers in other states. Diploma Options When planning for the high school years, homeschoolers have many options available. Looking into diploma/transcript options at the beginning of the high school years can help you plan ahead, and may affect the records you decide to keep as you go along. There are many obvious things to consider when choosing your path -- your style of homeschooling, your student's future goals, and so on. School districts in PA generally do not issue diplomas/transcripts for homeschooled students (though there may be exceptions). However, there are a number of other options. Some families create their own diplomas and transcripts; these are sometimes referred to as "home-brewed" documents. Others prefer to have documentation from outside the family ("third party" diplomas and transcripts, a GED, a correspondence school diploma, etc.). Depending on your situation, some options are likely to be a better fit than others. What's right for one student may not be right for another. Here are a few things to take into account as you consider your options: Documentation: In general, it's not so much the diploma that's the important part, it's the transcript of your high school studies that most people (employers, colleges, etc.) will be interested in. Depending on how you have homeschooled and where you are headed, you may want a school-style transcript which lists courses (and maybe even grades) along with course descriptions, or you may want to create a portfolio of your work. You may want to keep copies of your evaluations and/or affidavits. You may want to create a document that explains how you have met the graduation requirements in the PA home education law. If do not plan further schooling, it may be particularly important to document your high school studies with an eye towards the long term. The more you look into your chosen path (college, military service, technical school, the arts, etc.), the more of a sense you will get of the kinds of things people may ask you to show in the future. Once you have researched the likely requirements for your chosen path, you will be in a better position to choose how you will document your high school years, and what (if any) kind of third-party documentation (GED, diploma program, college credits, etc.) you may need. College Financial Aid: If you live in Pennsylvania, before you decide on what, if any, kind of diploma your child will get, you may want to consider the issue of PHEAA funding for college. Even if you have been accepted to college without a third-party high school diploma, PHEAA requires proof that you have completed high school in order to qualify for financial aid. There are several ways to meet this requirement (including the GED, a PA home education diploma program, or the superintendent's signature that you have complied with the home education law) but “home-brewed” diplomas/transcripts are not sufficient. See my PHEAA Issues page for more info. Entering the Military: If you plan to join the military, the kind of documentation you have can affect rank, salary, and other important things. You will want to research this carefully, as early in the high school years as possible, as it may affect your homeschool record-keeping and your approach to the diploma/transcripts. Different branches of the service have different rules, and they have changed often in the past few years. Check and re-check. College Athletics: If you plan to play sports in college, you may need to meet NCAA eligibility requirements. It is best to research these as early in the high school years as possible, as it will affect your homeschool record-keeping and your approach to a diploma/transcripts. Some diploma options, such as a PA diploma program, can make this process quite a bit easier than others by helping you to bypass the normal process for homeschoolers. See the NCAA's eligibility information and their FAQs on Homeschooling. College Admissions: Colleges vary widely in their admissions procedures and requirements. For example, highly selective colleges have quite rigorous requirements in terms of both the documentation you provide and the high school course of study. At the other end of the spectrum, community colleges have significantly fewer requirements. There are several good books which cover the homeschooling-to-college transition, and about a zillion on college admissions in general. If you are aiming at the more selective tier of colleges, I suggest you read up on college admissions in general as early in the high school years as possible because it will help you to plan your course of study and how you will document it. For more selective colleges, in most cases, you will need to document your high school work, often in the form of a transcript, sometimes with supporting documentation. In general, it seems that the diploma itself is not anywhere near as important as the high school course of study and the documentation/transcript thereof. No Diploma or Parent-Issued Diploma (aka “Home-Brewed” Diploma): Some homeschooling parents issue their own diploma to their child. The actual diploma/certificate can be simply printed out on a computer (see DIY diplomas below). Keep in mind, though, that the diploma itself is often less important than the documentation that backs it up. Many folks who choose this option also make up their own transcripts, resumes, portfolios, and/or summaries of work to further document what they have done during the high school years. (See sample transcripts below.) Many also include letters of recommendation from adults who have worked with their children (scout leaders, athletic coaches, tutors, employers, mentors, etc.), or from their evaluator, especially if they are applying to college. Lacking a more traditional diploma or GED, documentation of other kinds becomes more important. Consider carefully how you will document your high school work. If you are going this route and hope to get PHEAA funding for the freshman year of college, you will want to plan how to meet PHEAA's requirements. If you have been complying with the home education law, one option is to ask your district's superintendent to sign the appropriate PHEAA form saying so. The information at http://www.homeschooldiploma.com/newfiles/canyouissue.htm is worth reading if you’re thinking of going this route. (You’ll need to scroll down to see the whole page at this link.) If you do not need or want a high school diploma, or if you are philosophically opposed to them, you may choose to go without one entirely. Consider carefully what kinds of alternate documentation you will keep of your high school work. PA Diploma Programs: A Pennsylvania student may fulfill the requirements of a home school organization to receive a home school diploma. A rough estimate is that almost half of home ed students in PA use one of these diploma programs, making them arguably the most popular third-party diploma option in PA. There are several of these non-profit programs available. Many are run by homeschoolers, for homeschoolers. Many of them cost under $100. Each program has its own guidelines for meeting the graduation requirements in the home education law. PHAA is the oldest and has been the most widely used in the past; the newer programs are becoming more well-known. Unlike most correspondence schools, most diploma programs allow students to earn credits in many different ways, making them a good way to combine credits from several sources into one diploma/transcript. PA diploma programs also meet the high school diploma requirements for PHEAA funding for college. See my PA Diploma Programs page for lots more info about the programs, links, addresses, etc. Non-PA Diploma Programs: There are several diploma programs based in other states. They function very much like the PA diploma programs. However, in general they cost about ten times as much ($1000 and up), so they are rarely used by homeschoolers in PA, though they are used by homeschoolers in other states. It is unclear to me whether a diploma from one of these programs will meet the requirement for PHEAA funding. Here are a few programs – there are probably many more: · NARS (North Atlantic Regional Schools), in Maine · Clonlara School, in Michigan · West River Academy, in Colorado · Cafi Cohen's list of diploma programs and correspondence schools Correspondence School: You may use a correspondence school to earn a diploma. Here are several to consider. There are probably many more. A disadvantage to correspondence programs is that you may have to do most or all of your high school courses through the program in order to get their diploma. (Another option would be to take just a few classes from a correspondence school, and use a diploma program to get a diploma/transcript.) You may want to check to see whether a diploma from the particular school you are interested in will qualify you for PHEAA funding. · American School of Correspondence · Keystone National High School · Seton Home Study School (Catholic) · Distance and Independent Study courses from the University of Missouri · Cafi Cohen's list of diploma programs and correspondence schools GED: You may pass the GED test and receive the Commonwealth Secondary Diploma. While some are concerned that the GED bestows a “dropout” stigma, others find that it is useful to have a widely-accepted credential which can be produced if needed. Generally speaking, you must be 18 to take the GED, though there are exceptions. (See 022 Pa. Code § 4.72. Credentials other than the high school diploma for details on the exceptions.) · Find general GED test information at http://www.gedtest.org/ · PA-specific GED information is at http://www.able.state.pa.us/able/cwp/view.asp?a=5&Q=39791 · In Pennsylvania, students who have completed one year (30 semester hours) of college work can get a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (equivalent to a GED) from the state, without taking the GED test (see below). · If you plan a career in the military, please research their requirements carefully - a GED may or may not be a good thing, depending on your situation. College: If you have taken some college courses, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma, which is equivalent to a GED. "A Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma may be issued to any Pennsylvania resident who does not possess a secondary school diploma and who is at least 18 years of age upon presentation of evidence of full matriculation and the satisfactory completion of a minimum of one full year or 30 semester hours of study at an accredited institution of postsecondary education located in the United States." See 022 Pa. Code § 4.72. Credentials other than the high school diploma. · Some homeschoolers take college classes (often at a community college) during the high school years. This would make it easy to qualify for this option. Note that if the student is under 18, they will have to have the superintendent’s approval to get this diploma. · If you won’t have enough credits for this diploma at the end of high school, please note that you may want to think ahead about how/if you will qualify for PHEAA funding for the freshman year of college. · You will of course need to get into college in the first place. For this, you may need transcripts or other records of your high school work. · To use this option, you will need to contact the appropriate person at the PDE (see below), who will send you information about the procedure and the appropriate form. You will need to have your college send an official transcript. You will also need to submit proof that you are a Pennsylvania resident. If you are under 18, you will need a letter from your school district's superintend ant recommending issuance of the diploma. Pennsylvania Department of Education Commonwealth Diploma Program, Attn: Mary Cain 333 Market Street, 12th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 Tele (717) 783-6871 / TDD (717) 783-8445 Cyber Charter School: You may wish to consider one of the new cyber charter public schools. In this case, you will be enrolled in a public school, and will not legally be considered a homeschooler, but the student can work at home. Obviously, this has pros and cons to consider. See my Public Cyber-Charter Schools page for more info and a list of public cyber-charters. Public or Private High School Some homeschoolers put their children into public or private bricks-and-mortar schools for high school. Reasons include one-stop-shopping for classes, access to experienced teachers and facilities (such as labs), freeing mom up to focus on younger children, getting some experience in traditional schooling before college, or just that it seems to be the right fit for a particular child. If you are considering private school, you should start looking in the spring of 7^th grade, narrow down choices in the fall of 8^th grade, and take entrance exams around December of 8^th grade. Having experience homeschooling can help you look beyond the hype and pick the school that is the best fit for your child. Other: There may be other options. Here is a list of links that may also be useful: Distance Education Sample transcripts Check out these links to de-mystify transcripts if you plan to prepare your own. · One Homeschooler’s Home-Brewed Transcript (Personal info has been removed. This is in .doc format for Microsoft Word.) This transcript includes the following supporting documents: Course Description: Math , Course Description: Science , Course Description: Social Studies , Course Description: English , Course Description: Foreign Languages , Course Description: Arts , Course Description: Other · Mary Baldwin Homeschool Transcript Form The homeschool transcript form from Mary Baldwin college. Requires Adobe Acrobat. · Preparing a Homeschool Curricular Template A sample transcript, with tips on creating yours. · Transcripts - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling - More links about transcripts and diplomas. · Report Cards and Transcripts for you to fill in. - Requires Adobe Acrobat. Do It Yourself Diplomas v For you to personalize: http--eho.org-pdf-diploma2.pdf and http--eho.org-pdf-hsdiploma1.pdf v More at Certificates & Memories Free Custom PDFs Save and Print v A template for a diploma using PhotoShop at http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/articles/060303.htm v You can buy a beautiful diploma for your homeschooled child at http://www.homeschooldiploma.com/newfiles/diplomas/summaryofdiplomastyles.htm Tips: Think Ahead! Gather Letters of Recommendation: If your child is college-bound, you may want to start gathering letters of recommendation as early as 7th or 8th grade. If your child participates in a special activity, takes an outside class, does volunteer work, etc, you can have their teacher or supervisor write one. Just ask them to write about what your child did, what they learned, how they handled it, etc. You can use "To Whom It May Concern", or just leave that part off entirely. Document Academic Work: It may make sense to document some of what your child does in 7th or 8th grade, especially if you plan to use a diploma program. The Pennsylvania law requires certain courses sometime between 7th and 12th grade -- it may be wise to get some of these out of the way early. Also, if it is special, unique, or would otherwise be of interest to colleges or employers, you can add it to your transcript or college application materials, even though it was done in middle school. College Admissions Testing If you are applying to college, you will probably (but not always) be expected to take the SAT or ACT, and perhaps some of the SAT II subject tests (now called "SAT subject tests"). Sign-up for these tests is several months in advance, though you can sometimes register late if you pay extra. The SAT "school code" for homeschoolers is 970000. If you are using a PA diploma program, they may have their own code, which you should use instead. Make sure your child knows this code on test day, because the person running the testing may not. (Note that, when you sign up for the test, the 970000 number comes up as "homeschooled - NY", however I've called the College Board and they said it was for homeschoolers nationwide. I also urged them to make this clearer, but they were not particularly responsive to my suggestion!) The PSAT test is taken in the fall of the junior year of high school, and can be taken in the sophomore year for practice. It is most useful for students who expect to score highly and thus qualify for the National Merit scholarship program. Others may wish to take it as practice for the SATs; otherwise it can probably be skipped. Look into this early in the year as you may have to call around to find a school who will allow your homeschooler to take the test with their students. You will need a photo ID for the SATs. There are many options, including: --Passport - expensive, but you may already have one. --Drivers' license --State-issued photo ID - this is a "driver's license" for non-drivers. It is available for students age 16 and up, and costs only $12. --U.S. Passport Card. - At $35, it is less expensive than a regular passport and more versatils than a state-issued photo ID. It is available at any age and good for five years. --There are other options, see here. More Information · Cafi Cohen's Homeschool Teens and College has tons of information to consider. In addition, two of Cafi Cohen’s books are well worth reading: · Homeschoolers’ College Admissions Handbook: Preparing Your 12- to 18-Year-Old for a Smooth Transition, by Cafi Cohen · And What About College?: How Homeschooling Can Lead to Admissions to the Best Colleges & Universities, by Cafi Cohen · Here are several national email groups that discuss homeschoolers and college. All are very informative, and worth subscribing to early in your child’s high school years. · hs2coll Yahoo Group "A group for parents of teenaged homeschoolers who are aiming toward college. We discuss preparing to apply for college; what colleges might want; what courses, materials and curricula work for us and our kids; filling out college applications; how our older kids who are already in college are faring; particular colleges; SATs, SAT IIs, ACTs and AP tests; and other topics related to homeschooling teenagers." An inclusive list. · Homeschool2college Yahoo Group Another one for parent-to-parent discussion of homeschool-to-college issues and information. · Transition of home schooled students into post-secondary education [HSC-L@LIST.PACE.EDU] This one is more for asking questions of the college admissions folks on the list. There is less “chat” on this list. To subscribe, put "SUBSCRIBE HSC-L YOUR NAME" in the message area of an email (no subject is needed), and send it to LISTSERV@LIST.PACE.EDU (Obviously you would write in your own name where it says YOUR NAME.) · For more information about homeschooling high school in PA, see my pages on Local Homeschool Groups and Co-Ops (there are several co-ops and homeschool "schools" listed, mainly in SE PA). · For more information on the PA Homeschooling Law, and links to lots of resources to help you comply with it, see my Complying with PA Law page. Pennsylvania Required Subjects & Graduation Requirements – Secondary School "At the secondary school level, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry; art; music; physical education; health; and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires. Such courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor of the home education program, economics; biology; chemistry; foreign languages; trigonometry; or other age-appropriate courses as contained in Chapter 5 (Curriculum Requirements) of the State Board of Education." The above courses must be taught some time between 7^th and 12^th grade. The requirements for graduation below must be met between 9^th and 12^th grade. If you are using a diploma program, you will want to ask about their standards for meeting these requirements. “(d) The following minimum courses in grades nine through twelve are established as a requirement for graduation in a home education program: (1) Four years of English (2) Three years of mathematics. (3) Three years of science. (4) Three years of social studies (5) Two years of arts and humanities.” If you don't feel capable of teaching a particular secondary school subject, you may wish to use an on-line or correspondence class, enroll your child in a homeschool co-op or class, hire a tutor, take a class at a community college, or see if a local high school will let you take the class. For resources in SE PA , check out my homeschool groups and co-ops page. PA Compulsory Attendance Law *24 PS 13-1327 Compulsory school attendance* (a) Except as hereinafter provided, every child of compulsory school age having a legal residence in this Commonwealth, as provided in this article, and every migratory child of compulsory school age, is required to attend a day school in which the subjects and activities prescribed by the standards of the State Board of Education are taught in the English language… (d) Instruction to children of compulsory school age provided in a home education program, as provided for in section 1327.1 of this act [the home education program part of the law], shall be considered as complying with the provisions of this section… *24 PS 13-1326 Definitions* The term "compulsory school age," as hereinafter used, shall mean the period of a child's life from the time the child's parents elect to have the child enter school, which shall be not later than at the age of eight (8) years, until the age of seventeen (17) years. The term shall not include any child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited senior high school. [This phrase, according to the PDE, does not include graduating from a home education program.] For more information, see my compulsory school age page. (The above info is based on excerpts of the law – you may want to read the whole thing, as it is complex and there are several exceptions. Go to The Pennsylvania Homeschooling Law (at the DOE's site) and scroll up to find the CSA section of the law. )

Homeschooling High School

ON THIS PAGE: Diploma Options
-- No Diploma or Parent-Issued “Home Brew” Diploma -- GED -- College -- PA Diploma Programs -- Non-PA Diploma Programs -- Correspondence School -- PA Cyber-Charter School -- Public or Private High School --
OTHER INFO: College Admission Testing (SATs, etc.) -- Creating a Do-It-Yourself Diploma, Helpful Books and e-Groups, PA Required Subjects & Graduation Requirements , PA Compulsory Attendance Law

PA Diploma Programs

PA Public Cyber-Charter Schools

PHEAA Requirements for Homeschoolers
How homeschoolers can qualify for PHEAA funding for college.

PA Homeschool Groups
Includes high school co-ops.

Homeschooling Main Page.

Homeschoolers have a lot of choices available to them.

Please take the information you find useful from these pages and ignore the rest.

I might be wrong! I am not a lawyer! Please double-check legal information with appropriate sources!

This Web Page by Pauline Harding for Art Nurk, askpauline@comcast.net.
Please do not copy the information on this page without permission.

There are many decisions to make when planning for the high school years. There are many options available to homeschooling families. This page is designed to give an overview of the pathways most often used, and a few links to get you started in your research. I could not possibly research the details on every option and still have time to homeschool my own children! Please use this page as inspiration to get you started, but understand that you will have to do some legwork to figure out which option is best for you. There is no “best path” – which route you choose will depend on your own goals/values/abilities/beliefs. What is the right choice for one student may not be the right choice for another. Please also understand that, while I do work towards accuracy on my site, I am far from perfect. I have not homeschooled a high schooler, so most of my understanding of these options and issues comes through listening closely to those who have walked this path. Obviously, you will need to carefully research the options for yourself before deciding which path is right for you. I have written this page from the perspective of Pennsylvania, but much of the information is applicable to homeschoolers in other states.

Diploma Options

When planning for the high school years, homeschoolers have many options available. Looking into diploma/transcript options at the beginning of the high school years can help you plan ahead, and may affect the records you decide to keep as you go along. There are many obvious things to consider when choosing your path -- your style of homeschooling, your student's future goals, and so on. School districts in PA generally do not issue diplomas/transcripts for homeschooled students (though there may be exceptions). However, there are a number of other options. Some families create their own diplomas and transcripts; these are sometimes referred to as "home-brewed" documents. Others prefer to have documentation from outside the family ("third party" diplomas and transcripts, a GED, a correspondence school diploma, etc.). Depending on your situation, some options are likely to be a better fit than others. What's right for one student may not be right for another. Here are a few things to take into account as you consider your options:

Documentation: In general, it's not so much the diploma that's the important part, it's the transcript of your high school studies that most people (employers, colleges, etc.) will be interested in. Depending on how you have homeschooled and where you are headed, you may want a school-style transcript which lists courses (and maybe even grades) along with course descriptions, or you may want to create a portfolio of your work. You may want to keep copies of your evaluations and/or affidavits. You may want to create a document that explains how you have met the graduation requirements in the PA home education law. If do not plan further schooling, it may be particularly important to document your high school studies with an eye towards the long term. The more you look into your chosen path (college, military service, technical school, the arts, etc.), the more of a sense you will get of the kinds of things people may ask you to show in the future. Once you have researched the likely requirements for your chosen path, you will be in a better position to choose how you will document your high school years, and what (if any) kind of third-party documentation (GED, diploma program, college credits, etc.) you may need.

College Financial Aid: If you live in Pennsylvania, before you decide on what, if any, kind of diploma your child will get, you may want to consider the issue of PHEAA funding for college. Even if you have been accepted to college without a third-party high school diploma, PHEAA requires proof that you have completed high school in order to qualify for financial aid. There are several ways to meet this requirement (including the GED, a PA home education diploma program, or the superintendent's signature that you have complied with the home education law) but “home-brewed” diplomas/transcripts are not sufficient. See my PHEAA Issues page for more info.

Entering the Military: If you plan to join the military, the kind of documentation you have can affect rank, salary, and other important things. You will want to research this carefully, as early in the high school years as possible, as it may affect your homeschool record-keeping and your approach to the diploma/transcripts. Different branches of the service have different rules, and they have changed often in the past few years. Check and re-check.

College Athletics: If you plan to play sports in college, you may need to meet NCAA eligibility requirements. It is best to research these as early in the high school years as possible, as it will affect your homeschool record-keeping and your approach to a diploma/transcripts. Some diploma options, such as a PA diploma program, can make this process quite a bit easier than others by helping you to bypass the normal process for homeschoolers. See the NCAA's eligibility information and their FAQs on Homeschooling.

College Admissions: Colleges vary widely in their admissions procedures and requirements. For example, highly selective colleges have quite rigorous requirements in terms of both the documentation you provide and the high school course of study. At the other end of the spectrum, community colleges have significantly fewer requirements. There are several good books which cover the homeschooling-to-college transition, and about a zillion on college admissions in general. If you are aiming at the more selective tier of colleges, I suggest you read up on college admissions in general as early in the high school years as possible because it will help you to plan your course of study and how you will document it. For more selective colleges, in most cases, you will need to document your high school work, often in the form of a transcript, sometimes with supporting documentation. In general, it seems that the diploma itself is not anywhere near as important as the high school course of study and the documentation/transcript thereof.

No Diploma or Parent-Issued Diploma (aka “Home-Brewed” Diploma):

Some homeschooling parents issue their own diploma to their child. The actual diploma/certificate can be simply printed out on a computer (see DIY diplomas below). Keep in mind, though, that the diploma itself is often less important than the documentation that backs it up. Many folks who choose this option also make up their own transcripts, resumes, portfolios, and/or summaries of work to further document what they have done during the high school years. (See sample transcripts below.) Many also include letters of recommendation from adults who have worked with their children (scout leaders, athletic coaches, tutors, employers, mentors, etc.), or from their evaluator, especially if they are applying to college. Lacking a more traditional diploma or GED, documentation of other kinds becomes more important. Consider carefully how you will document your high school work.

If you are going this route and hope to get PHEAA funding for the freshman year of college, you will want to plan how to meet PHEAA's requirements. If you have been complying with the home education law, one option is to ask your district's superintendent to sign the appropriate PHEAA form saying so.

The information at http://www.homeschooldiploma.com/newfiles/canyouissue.htm is worth reading if you’re thinking of going this route. (You’ll need to scroll down to see the whole page at this link.)

If you do not need or want a high school diploma, or if you are philosophically opposed to them, you may choose to go without one entirely. Consider carefully what kinds of alternate documentation you will keep of your high school work.

PA Diploma Programs:

A Pennsylvania student may fulfill the requirements of a home school organization to receive a home school diploma. A rough estimate is that almost half of home ed students in PA use one of these diploma programs, making them arguably the most popular third-party diploma option in PA. There are several of these non-profit programs available. Many are run by homeschoolers, for homeschoolers. Many of them cost under $100. Each program has its own guidelines for meeting the graduation requirements in the home education law. PHAA is the oldest and has been the most widely used in the past; the newer programs are becoming more well-known. Unlike most correspondence schools, most diploma programs allow students to earn credits in many different ways, making them a good way to combine credits from several sources into one diploma/transcript. PA diploma programs also meet the high school diploma requirements for PHEAA funding for college. See my PA Diploma Programs page for lots more info about the programs, links, addresses, etc.

Non-PA Diploma Programs:

There are several diploma programs based in other states. They function very much like the PA diploma programs. However, in general they cost about ten times as much ($1000 and up), so they are rarely used by homeschoolers in PA, though they are used by homeschoolers in other states. It is unclear to me whether a diploma from one of these programs will meet the requirement for PHEAA funding. Here are a few programs – there are probably many more:

· NARS (North Atlantic Regional Schools), in Maine

· Clonlara School, in Michigan

· West River Academy, in Colorado

· Cafi Cohen's list of diploma programs and correspondence schools

Correspondence School:

You may use a correspondence school to earn a diploma. Here are several to consider. There are probably many more. A disadvantage to correspondence programs is that you may have to do most or all of your high school courses through the program in order to get their diploma. (Another option would be to take just a few classes from a correspondence school, and use a diploma program to get a diploma/transcript.) You may want to check to see whether a diploma from the particular school you are interested in will qualify you for PHEAA funding.

· American School of Correspondence

· Keystone National High School

· Seton Home Study School (Catholic)

· Distance and Independent Study courses from the University of Missouri

· Cafi Cohen's list of diploma programs and correspondence schools

GED:

You may pass the GED test and receive the Commonwealth Secondary Diploma. While some are concerned that the GED bestows a “dropout” stigma, others find that it is useful to have a widely-accepted credential which can be produced if needed. Generally speaking, you must be 18 to take the GED, though there are exceptions. (See 022 Pa. Code § 4.72. Credentials other than the high school diploma for details on the exceptions.)

· Find general GED test information at http://www.gedtest.org/

· PA-specific GED information is at http://www.able.state.pa.us/able/cwp/view.asp?a=5&Q=39791

· In Pennsylvania, students who have completed one year (30 semester hours) of college work can get a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (equivalent to a GED) from the state, without taking the GED test (see below).

· If you plan a career in the military, please research their requirements carefully - a GED may or may not be a good thing, depending on your situation.

College:

If you have taken some college courses, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma, which is equivalent to a GED. "A Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma may be issued to any Pennsylvania resident who does not possess a secondary school diploma and who is at least 18 years of age upon presentation of evidence of full matriculation and the satisfactory completion of a minimum of one full year or 30 semester hours of study at an accredited institution of postsecondary education located in the United States." See 022 Pa. Code § 4.72. Credentials other than the high school diploma.

· Some homeschoolers take college classes (often at a community college) during the high school years. This would make it easy to qualify for this option. Note that if the student is under 18, they will have to have the superintendent’s approval to get this diploma.

· If you won’t have enough credits for this diploma at the end of high school, please note that you may want to think ahead about how/if you will qualify for PHEAA funding for the freshman year of college.

· You will of course need to get into college in the first place. For this, you may need transcripts or other records of your high school work.

· To use this option, you will need to contact the appropriate person at the PDE (see below), who will send you information about the procedure and the appropriate form. You will need to have your college send an official transcript. You will also need to submit proof that you are a Pennsylvania resident. If you are under 18, you will need a letter from your school district's superintend ant recommending issuance of the diploma.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Commonwealth Diploma Program, Attn: Mary Cain
333 Market Street, 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Tele (717) 783-6871 / TDD (717) 783-8445

Cyber Charter School:

You may wish to consider one of the new cyber charter public schools. In this case, you will be enrolled in a public school, and will not legally be considered a homeschooler, but the student can work at home. Obviously, this has pros and cons to consider. See my Public Cyber-Charter Schools page for more info and a list of public cyber-charters.

Public or Private High School

Some homeschoolers put their children into public or private bricks-and-mortar schools for high school. Reasons include one-stop-shopping for classes, access to experienced teachers and facilities (such as labs), freeing mom up to focus on younger children, getting some experience in traditional schooling before college, or just that it seems to be the right fit for a particular child. If you are considering private school, you should start looking in the spring of 7^th grade, narrow down choices in the fall of 8^th grade, and take entrance exams around December of 8^th grade. Having experience homeschooling can help you look beyond the hype and pick the school that is the best fit for your child.

Other:

There may be other options. Here is a list of links that may also be useful: Distance Education

Sample transcripts

Check out these links to de-mystify transcripts if you plan to prepare your own.

· One Homeschooler’s Home-Brewed Transcript
(Personal info has been removed. This is in .doc format for Microsoft Word.)
This transcript includes the following supporting documents: Course Description: Math , Course Description: Science , Course Description: Social Studies , Course Description: English , Course Description: Foreign Languages , Course Description: Arts , Course Description: Other

· Mary Baldwin Homeschool Transcript Form
The homeschool transcript form from Mary Baldwin college. Requires Adobe Acrobat.

· Preparing a Homeschool Curricular Template
A sample transcript, with tips on creating yours.

· Transcripts - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling - More links about transcripts and diplomas.

· Report Cards and Transcripts for you to fill in. - Requires Adobe Acrobat.

Do It Yourself Diplomas

v For you to personalize: http--eho.org-pdf-diploma2.pdf and http--eho.org-pdf-hsdiploma1.pdf

v More at Certificates & Memories Free Custom PDFs Save and Print

v A template for a diploma using PhotoShop at http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/articles/060303.htm

v You can buy a beautiful diploma for your homeschooled child at http://www.homeschooldiploma.com/newfiles/diplomas/summaryofdiplomastyles.htm

Tips: Think Ahead!

Gather Letters of Recommendation: If your child is college-bound, you may want to start gathering letters of recommendation as early as 7th or 8th grade. If your child participates in a special activity, takes an outside class, does volunteer work, etc, you can have their teacher or supervisor write one. Just ask them to write about what your child did, what they learned, how they handled it, etc. You can use "To Whom It May Concern", or just leave that part off entirely.

Document Academic Work: It may make sense to document some of what your child does in 7th or 8th grade, especially if you plan to use a diploma program. The Pennsylvania law requires certain courses sometime between 7th and 12th grade -- it may be wise to get some of these out of the way early. Also, if it is special, unique, or would otherwise be of interest to colleges or employers, you can add it to your transcript or college application materials, even though it was done in middle school.

College Admissions Testing

If you are applying to college, you will probably (but not always) be expected to take the SAT or ACT, and perhaps some of the SAT II subject tests (now called "SAT subject tests"). Sign-up for these tests is several months in advance, though you can sometimes register late if you pay extra. The SAT "school code" for homeschoolers is 970000. If you are using a PA diploma program, they may have their own code, which you should use instead. Make sure your child knows this code on test day, because the person running the testing may not. (Note that, when you sign up for the test, the 970000 number comes up as "homeschooled - NY", however I've called the College Board and they said it was for homeschoolers nationwide. I also urged them to make this clearer, but they were not particularly responsive to my suggestion!)

The PSAT test is taken in the fall of the junior year of high school, and can be taken in the sophomore year for practice. It is most useful for students who expect to score highly and thus qualify for the National Merit scholarship program. Others may wish to take it as practice for the SATs; otherwise it can probably be skipped. Look into this early in the year as you may have to call around to find a school who will allow your homeschooler to take the test with their students.

You will need a photo ID for the SATs. There are many options, including:
--Passport - expensive, but you may already have one.
--Drivers' license
--State-issued photo ID - this is a "driver's license" for non-drivers. It is available for students age 16 and up, and costs only $12.
--U.S. Passport Card. - At $35, it is less expensive than a regular passport and more versatils than a state-issued photo ID. It is available at any age and good for five years.
--There are other options, see here.

More Information

· Cafi Cohen's Homeschool Teens and College has tons of information to consider. In addition, two of Cafi Cohen’s books are well worth reading:

· Homeschoolers’ College Admissions Handbook: Preparing Your 12- to 18-Year-Old for a Smooth Transition, by Cafi Cohen

· And What About College?: How Homeschooling Can Lead to Admissions to the Best Colleges & Universities, by Cafi Cohen

· Here are several national email groups that discuss homeschoolers and college. All are very informative, and worth subscribing to early in your child’s high school years.

· hs2coll Yahoo Group
"A group for parents of teenaged homeschoolers who are aiming toward college. We discuss preparing to apply for college; what colleges might want; what courses, materials and curricula work for us and our kids; filling out college applications; how our older kids who are already in college are faring; particular colleges; SATs, SAT IIs, ACTs and AP tests; and other topics related to homeschooling teenagers." An inclusive list.

· Homeschool2college Yahoo Group
Another one for parent-to-parent discussion of homeschool-to-college issues and information.

· Transition of home schooled students into post-secondary education [HSC-L@LIST.PACE.EDU]
This one is more for asking questions of the college admissions folks on the list. There is less “chat” on this list. To subscribe, put "SUBSCRIBE HSC-L YOUR NAME" in the message area of an email (no subject is needed), and send it to LISTSERV@LIST.PACE.EDU (Obviously you would write in your own name where it says YOUR NAME.)

· For more information about homeschooling high school in PA, see my pages on Local Homeschool Groups and Co-Ops (there are several co-ops and homeschool "schools" listed, mainly in SE PA).

· For more information on the PA Homeschooling Law, and links to lots of resources to help you comply with it, see my Complying with PA Law page.

Pennsylvania Required Subjects & Graduation Requirements – Secondary School

"At the secondary school level, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry; art; music; physical education; health; and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires. Such courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor of the home education program, economics; biology; chemistry; foreign languages; trigonometry; or other age-appropriate courses as contained in Chapter 5 (Curriculum Requirements) of the State Board of Education."

The above courses must be taught some time between 7^th and 12^th grade. The requirements for graduation below must be met between 9^th and 12^th grade. If you are using a diploma program, you will want to ask about their standards for meeting these requirements.

“(d) The following minimum courses in grades nine through twelve are established as a requirement for graduation in a home education program:

(1) Four years of English

(2) Three years of mathematics.

(3) Three years of science.

(4) Three years of social studies

(5) Two years of arts and humanities.”

If you don't feel capable of teaching a particular secondary school subject, you may wish to use an on-line or correspondence class, enroll your child in a homeschool co-op or class, hire a tutor, take a class at a community college, or see if a local high school will let you take the class. For resources in SE PA , check out my homeschool groups and co-ops page.

PA Compulsory Attendance Law

24 PS 13-1327 Compulsory school attendance

(a) Except as hereinafter provided, every child of compulsory school age having a legal residence in this Commonwealth, as provided in this article, and every migratory child of compulsory school age, is required to attend a day school in which the subjects and activities prescribed by the standards of the State Board of Education are taught in the English language…
(d) Instruction to children of compulsory school age provided in a home education program, as provided for in section 1327.1 of this act [the home education program part of the law], shall be considered as complying with the provisions of this section…

24 PS 13-1326 Definitions
The term "compulsory school age," as hereinafter used, shall mean the period of a child's life from the time the child's parents elect to have the child enter school, which shall be not later than at the age of eight (8) years, until the age of seventeen (17) years.

The term shall not include any child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited senior high school. [This phrase, according to the PDE, does not include graduating from a home education program.]

For more information, see my compulsory school age page.

(The above info is based on excerpts of the law – you may want to read the whole thing, as it is complex and there are several exceptions. Go to The Pennsylvania Homeschooling Law (at the DOE's site) and scroll up to find the CSA section of the law. )