Welcome to Home Schooling!
Teaching children within
the home is a wonderful and rewarding experience which brings both children and
parents many grace-filled blessings.
"The right and
duty of parents to give education is essential...it is original and
primary...it is irreplaceable and inalienable, and incapable of being entirely
delegated or usurped by others" (John
Paul II, Familiaris Consortio)
Take special
"care for the Christian education of [your] children according to the
teaching handed down by the Church" Canon
226.2
"Before all
others, parents are bound by the obligation of forming their children in the
practice of Christian life." Canon
774.2
Starting Off
1. Register with a CRS or/local county
superintendent
2. Register with the
3. Become a member of
a Catholic and/or local support group
4. Choose your curriculum - carefully
and slowly
5. Plan your schedule, but expect it to
change
6. Keep and maintain records
Church Related Schools/
Family
Christian Academy (FCA East)
8115 East
Brainerd Road, Suite 16
Chattanooga TN 37421
Store:
423-760-2528
Records: 423-760-2527
www.familychristianacademy.com
Receptionist@FamilyChristianAcademy.com
FCA requires a statement of faith. You may opt to include a
Catholic statement of faith.
901-454-1606
FAX: 901-454-9814
Gateway does not require you to sign a statement of
faith although it is a
Visit www.csthea.org for more listings.
1. Notify the Public School: 49-6-3050
Parents must submit a notice of intent to the local superintendent by August 1
of each year "for purpose of reporting only." Include the name,
number, age and grade level of children involved, location of the school,
curriculum to be offered (no particular subjects required in grade K-8) and the
proposed hours of instruction and the qualifications of the parent-teacher. In
grades 9-12, the notice must include whether a collage preparatory or general
course of education will be taught and a description of the courses to be
taught each year. Parents must maintain attendance records, which are subject
to inspection by the local superintendent. Records must be submitted at the end
of each school year. Instruction must be given 4 hours a day. Parents must
submit proof of vaccination or "a signed, written statement that such
immunization conflict with his religious tenets and practices." Late fees
are required if registration falls after August 1; however, families moving
into the state are not subject to late payment.
2. Associate With a Church-Related School (CRS): 49-6-3050(a)(2)(A)
"Home Schools who teach grades K-12, whose parents are associated with an
organization that conducts church-related-schools (CRS) are subject to the fee
requirements, attendance and grade recording, and testing requirements of that
particular CRS." However, students in grades 9-12 must file a 'notice of
intent to homeschool' with the local school district. This requires a letter to
be sent to the superintendent stating your intent to homeschool, the high
school students name, age, and grade level. You will hear the term dual
enrollment used for the high school years. Some umbrella schools require their
registering families to sign a Statement of Faith. Since these schools are
primarily Protestant, the Statement of Faith will be in accordance with the
doctrinal practices of the specific school. In some cases, the Statement of
Faith is found to be contrary to Catholic teaching. If your child is currently
registered in the public or parochial school system, you should register them
with an umbrella school before taking them out of their current school. Your umbrella school will request a transcript from
your child's former school.
3. Operate as a
Satellite Campus of a CRS: 49-50-801
Parents may opt for their children to attend a CRS where the home is considered
to be a satellite or extension of the CRS. In this instance, the term
'homeschooling' is not used. The students are considered to be attending an
extension of the CRS campus. Parent teachers are under the authority of the CRS
administration, and considered a faculty member of the CRS. Technically, the
extension campus is being operated by the CRS, not the parent. No requirements
are necessary for reporting to the local school districts in grades K-12.
CCHS is not a legal authority.
Please
refer to Tennessee Home Education Association at www.tnhea.org
or www.hslda.com.
The Home School Legal Defense Association is an organization
which provides home school families with any necessary legal assistance. HSLDA
also presents home school concerns on a national level before Congress. The
assistance HSLDA provides to home schooling is invaluable. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT ALL HOME SCHOOL FAMILIES BE
COVERED BY HSLDA.
HSLDA
540-338-5600, FAX: 540-338-2733, Fed. Hot Line: 540-338-1234, http://www.hslda.org
Attendance
The State of Tennessee requires a minimum of 180 days of school, four
hours each day. These may include field trips, teacher in service days, and sick
days. Although the beauty of home education is that it is flexible, its freedom
should be used wisely.
Grades
Grades should be kept not only for your own records, but for umbrella
school or county records as well.
Achievement Testing
The State of Tennessee requires achievement testing. Refer to your CRS,
umbrella school, or local superintendent for more information.
Select a Curriculum or
Course of Study
Catholic homeschooling families have a variety of curricula to choose from.
There is no "right" way. The options only need to be explored and
experimented with in order to find what is right for your family.
The Planned Home Study
Program
Planned programs include those which provide a prepared curriculum. Lesson
plans, books, and tests are provided for each student. Some planned home study
programs provide the added assistance of grading quarter tests. Numerous
Catholic home study programs are available. Note that
Seton
Home Study School
1350 Progress Drive
Front Royal, VA 22630
540-636-9990, modem 540-635-7528, FAX: 540-636-1602 or http://www.setonhome.org
Our Lady
of the Rosary School
502-348-1338, information@olrs.com or http://www.olrs.com
Our Lady
of Victory School
4436 East Alpine Drive
Post Falls, ID 83854
208-773-7265
1600
707-255-6412 or http://www.kolbe.org
Mother of
Divine Grace
Eclectic Study
In an eclectic program, parents take on the responsibility of choosing curricula.
Classical Study
A traditional approach to education based on the Ignatian method incorporating
many disciplines within a given subject area. The Classical program follows the
methods suggested by Laura Berquist in her book, Developing Your Classical
Curriculum.
Managing The Home
Home schooling requires organized management of the home. All of the
usual household tasks exist alongside education demands. The ease at which they
are accomplished depends upon the perseverance of the family. Education exists
not only in books but also in everyday tasks. Involve your children in the
management of the home. They will learn. Provide them with opportunities to
help out with household chores according to their age and ability. You will
find that the work load is eased by everyone's cooperation. The house may not
always be picture-perfect, but it will be a home filled with love and
appreciation.
"Perfect schools are the result not so much of
good methods as of good teachers who are thoroughly prepared and well-grounded
in the matter they have to teach; who possess the intellectual and moral
qualifications required by their important office; who cherish a pure and holy
love for the youths confided to them, because they love Jesus Christ and His
Church" Pius XI
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