| T.O.P.S INFORMATION |
| Types of Homeschooling There are many different styles in which homeschooling can be implemented. However, each style will generally fall into one of three categories: Structured, Eclectic, or Unschooling. Structured Learning Structured learning is often called the cousin to public and/or private schools. A child who is being taught at home in a structured learning environment will find that his or her day closely mimics that of school children in public or private schools. School will generally start at a specific time each day. The school day flows in order and the curriculum that is used is fairly traditional. Structured learning is usually the first type of homeschooling that many parents implement. This is due in part to its familiarity to both parent and child. Many parents and children are pleased with structured learning as it brings a feeling of direction to the day and the school year as a whole. Unschooling If structured learning is perceived as “traditional” than unschooling is perceived as its opposite–unstructured. Advocates of unschooling report that it is a natural form of learning that is centered around the interests of the child. Most unschooling parents make sure their children learn to read, write and do basic math. However, lesson plans and traditional textbooks are not the norm. Unschooling is usually child-led. Generally speaking, unschoolers feel that a child’s inner curiosity and desire to learn should lead the way in learning. Unschoolers usually believe that each child has his or her own individual learning style which should be accommodated. They do not believe that a child should be expected to accommodate himself or herself to a particular style of teaching. Parents who unschool work with each of their children on an individual basis in relation to each child’s ability and areas of interest. Eclectic Learning Eclectic learning is a general mix of both traditional and non-traditional learning styles. Many subjects may be structured (such as Math or Language Arts) while other subjects may be unstructured (such as Science, Reading or History). Eclectic learning is fast becoming the more popular type of homeschooling. The curriculum is generally a mix and match of what parents have found works well for their children. In general, eclectic homeschooling parents do what they want in regards to teaching their children. They do not feel bound to structured learning and keeping with a set curriculum, yet they are not as laid back as unschoolers. Homeschooling the Single Child Homeschoolers report that it is sometimes more difficult to homeschool one child versus two or more children. Many parents report that it is easy to place too much pressure on a single child, as the child is the sole focus of the parent’s day. Clashes may also arise between a parent and a single homeschooler as they are together for a large part of the day. Both parents and single homeschooled children report that they sometimes feel smothered by each other. Some children also feel lonely. Parents who homeschool one child report that it is better for both of them if they allow the child some time to work alone. It is easy for the parent of a single homeschooler to hover over their child’s shoulder. This may handicap the child into becoming dependent upon their parent for approval, continually asking for help, and/or getting into the habit of not relying upon himself or herself to find answers. While children do not need to feel that they are alone, saying things like “I’ll be back in ten minutes to check your work,” or “I’m going to start lunch while you do your math,” seems to work well. When homeschooling a single child you may find that enrolling them in a support group or enrichment classes can greatly benefit him or her. This will give the child the opportunity to be around peers, work in a group, and learn to take instruction from someone other than a parent. Being in a homeschool group will give the child the chance to make friends. You can encourage friendships with other homeschoolers by allowing your child to invite his or her new friends on outings or for play dates at your home or the park. The Most Important Thing to Remember About Homeschooling a Single Child You should keep in mind that burnout is a possibility if you and your child do not have time apart. You need as much time away from your child as he or she needs from you. When time is spent apart (even if that means just being alone in your own rooms) homeschooling becomes more enjoyable and less of a chore. Homeschooling Multiple Children Homeschooling multiple children is sometimes like teaching school in a one room schoolhouse. You may have children which range from Pre-School to High School. The key to successfully homeschooling multiple children is to make them independent workers as early as possible. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to spend as much time with a second grader as a tenth grader. Do not assume that just because a child is older that he or she should be able to do everything alone. Many parents who homeschool multiple children do so through Unit Studies, or by themes. Let's use the Civil War as an example of a theme. Using the Civil War as the subject, you would gather reading material on the chosen subject to match each child’s reading level. One child may focus on the cause of the Civil War and which states fought for the South and which states fought for the North, while another child may be learning about the Generals of each side, and important battles. A preschooler may be given pictures to colors of Abraham Lincoln or the American Flag and be required to learn the Pledge of Allegiance. Once the books are read, each child would then start a report. A younger child may only have to come up with a book report, while an older child may have to give a biography of a General or their opinion of the states that left the Union. A theme study could also be worked into the spelling and/or vocabulary words each child has, along with a special art project. Homeschooling parents who teach multiple children report that keeping to themes or unit studies keeps their work load at a minimum. They are not required to keep up with many different subjects for each child at one time and it saves time. Homeschooling parents who have toddlers or preschoolers find that it is easy to keep them occupied with a little forethought. Many parents have toys or projects that can only be worked on during school hours. This keeps the little ones entertained while the older children are working. Homeschoolers and Socialization Many people outside of the homeschool community are concerned about homeschoolers and socialization. The general assumption by many is that a child who is homeschooled will lack socialization skills. Tamra B. Orr states in her book A Parent’s Guide to Homeschooling the following: “The ability to socialize well with others implies that you know how to talk with people of all ages, types and backgrounds; how to convey your thoughts clearly; how to have your own individual thoughts and opinions that you can comfortably share with others; and how to listen to the thoughts of others in turn.” Many homeschoolers believe that their children are not peer dependent and/or pressured, as many school children are on a daily basis. Many homeschooling parents report that the type of socialization their children received at school is the exact reason why they have chosen to take their children out of the school system and homeschool them. In addition, many homeschooling families believe that homeschooling broadens their children’s social skills, as shown in this excerpt from A Parent’s Guide to Homeschooling. “In homeschooling, children are truly out in that “real world” they hear about in school. They run on errands with their parents, go to church, join 4H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the YM/YWCA, interact with other homeschoolers in support groups, play and talk with neighborhood children, take volunteer jobs, play on a community sports team, visit neighbors and relatives and enroll in any variety of classes. They meet with people of all ages and types, and even a trip to the grocery store can turn into a social event.” Reports have shown that many homeschoolers are very well socialized and most have a positive self-esteem. Reports show that homeschoolers tend to have a broader base of friends than other children as homeschoolers have friends of various ages, sexes and backgrounds and they do not confine themselves to one particular group. What constitutes “socialization” varies from individual to individual. While one would say that homeschoolers are very well socialized, others would say that this is an impossibility as they are not able to interact with their peers on a day to day basis. Convincing the Family to Homeschool Spouse Many times the reluctance a spouse may have about homeschooling is due in part to finances. When one of the adults in a household takes on the responsibility of homeschooling, usually any income that individual brought into the home will cease. Many times the decision to homeschool or not will be decided by putting pen to paper and doing the numbers. If there is a way to afford it, the hesitant spouse will usually grant their approval for a trial period of homeschooling. To do the financial numbers, parents who are thinking of homeschooling will generally sit down and make out a list. This list will show the money that would be saved each month by the spouse not working and the children being taken out of school. The areas in which money would be saved could include clothes, lunches, gas, childcare for a young child, and the other miscellaneous expenses of school and work. These figures will help the family determine whether they can afford to homeschool. Children Keep in mind that you are the parents need to determine what is best for their children. There common reasons parents want to homeschool are: • relaxed or a lack of teaching standards in your school district • violence in a school • a high number of students involved with alcohol or drugs • child with a learning disability • child that is not being pushed academically When trying to convince a child about homeschooling , find out what his or her concerns are. Children who are young may simply want to ride on a bus or have a chance to buy a lunch box. If so, you may be able to satisfy your child by taking him or her on a bus ride in your town. You can also buy a lunch box and pack it for him or her each morning before homeschooling starts. Older children may be afraid they will have no friends. Reassure them that they will still be allowed to have playtime with their friends. Their curiosity may also be peaked if you tell them you are going to enroll them in a group or enrichment classes where they can make friends with other homeschoolers. ***When first introducing homeschooling into a family, it should be viewed by all as a trial period. If children recognize this up front, they may be more willing to give it a try. Homeschoolers and College Can Homeschoolers Get Into College? Yes. Years ago it was difficult for a homeschooled child to enroll in college. However, is is not a problem today. With more than 1000 colleges and universities welcoming homeschoolers, a student should not have any difficulty going to a college of his or her choice. What About the More Prestigious Colleges? Prestigious colleges and universities will gladly accept a homeschooler. Check with the school your child is interested in to learn their policy regarding homeschoolers. Prestigious universities which welcome homeschoolers include Stanford University, West Point, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, Northwestern and Amherst. Can Homeschoolers Get Scholarships? Yes. Scholarships are available to homeschoolers, as well as public and private school teens. You and your child are encouraged to start searching for scholarships in the junior year of high school. What Can I Do to Help My Child Prepare for College? One of the most important things a homeschooling family can do is to start thinking about college in the student's freshman year of high school. Homeschooling parents are encouraged to list a few colleges of their child’s choice and to do research on the admission criteria of each. While your homeschooler may receive an accredited diploma from an umbrella school, many colleges may require additional course work prior to allowing a student to enroll. Try to plan out your child’s four year high school course work so that he or she will be eligible to enter a college of his or her choice. Many homeschooling parents may find that their child can attend classes at a local community college for those hard to teach classes during the teen’s junior and senior years. These courses can give him or her both high school and college credit. Many colleges place much emphasis on the scores of ACT and SATs of homeschoolers, as this test is impartial. You can enroll your child in classes which will prepare him or her for these tests. Benefits of an Umbrella School What Is an Umbrella School? An umbrella school is generally a private school which has an option available for homeschooling. An umbrella school has students which actually attend the private school, as well as students who are registered as homeschoolers. Why Do Homeschooling Families Want to Come Under a Private School? A family who homeschools signs up under an umbrella school to essentially become “blanketed” or covered by the umbrella school. When a family is covered by an umbrella school, the umbrella school stands between the family and the state in which the family resides. This is very important to a family who does not want to be held accountable to the state for their homeschooling decisions. Instead, the family is held accountable to the private/umbrella school. Most, if not all, umbrella schools meet the requirements of the state in regards to education. Homeschooling families who are registered under a private/umbrella school are required to meet the guidelines of the school. (This could simply mean that homeschooling families turn in immunization, grades and attendance records to the private/umbrella school.) It is important to note that each state has its own requirements for private and umbrella schools. Many homeschooling families also sign up under an umbrella school so their child will receive a diploma from an accredited school. A diploma from an accredited school is important to have when a child starts the college application process. What Do Umbrella Schools Offer a Homeschooling Family? Umbrella schools come in many different shapes and sizes. Many offer a wide range of services to a homeschooling family. Umbrella schools may allow homeschoolers to participate in sports and/or labs, offer annual testing, guidance counseling and more. Some umbrella schools may only serve as a record keeping office for a homeschooling family’s records. Umbrella schools may dictate the type of curriculum which homeschoolers must use, while others may leave the choice up to the individual families. Some umbrella schools are only offered to families of specific faiths, while others are more flexible with their enrollment guidelines. How Do I Find Out More About Umbrella Schools? The best way to learn about umbrella schools is to contact a homeschool group in your area. Homeschool groups will generally have a list of umbrella schools in your area. The contact information for these groups is generally available at your local library. You can also go on the Internet and do a search for your city. Music Candle in the Wind Is Louisiana law favorable to home education? Yes, Louisiana law is favorable to home education. Two options are available: (1) the Home Study Law or (2) the Private School Law. This constitutional liberty is protected by the Private Education Deregulation Act (Act No. 828 which amends Section 236 of Title 17 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950). However, as with all freedoms, it must be guarded. Although home study has been recognized since 1980, attempts have been made to repeal that act or chip away at this right. See "History of the Louisiana Home Study Law Letter to the school (Withdraw my child from public school) When removing a student from a government funded (public) school, you must notify the school in writing that the child will no longer be attending. This step is required by law if you choose to operate as a private school, and is highly recommended if you choose to operate as an approved home study program. (This is not required if the child is leaving a private school to be home schooled.) The letter must contain the child's full legal name, date of birth, race and gender. The letter may contain a request for a copy of the student's transcripts. Send it within 10 days of enrollment in your home school. (Recommend Return Receipt mail) The Right Chose- Whether you choose to operate as an "Approved Home Study Program" or as a "Private School" is up to you. Your choice is only limited under the following circumstances: 1.) HOME STUDY STUDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL ED SERVICES If you have a student with special education needs, such as a speech impediment, and you want to make use of a program at your local school that could help him, such as speech therapy, your student is only eligible for that program if he is a "private school" student (and the school districts only help a few at a time). "Home study" students are not eligible. Renew my application for the home study program each year. A renewal application must be made by the first of October of the school year, or within twelve months of the approval of the initial application. Renewal applications are approved when parents submit satisfactory evidence that their home school offered a sustained curriculum of a quality equal to that of the public schools at the same grade level. This can be done in one of four ways: (1) Verification that the child has taken the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT), California Achievement Test (CAT) or another approved standardized test and has scored at or above his grade level or has progressed at a rate equal to one grade level for each year in home study. A clear copy of the test results attached to the Home Study Application is sufficient. Note that the same Home Study Application form is used for the initial application and for renewal applications. (2) A written statement from a teacher certified to teach at the child's grade level stating that the child is being taught with a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at that grade level, or in the case of children with mental or physical disabilities, a sustained curriculum at least equal to that offered by public schools to children with similar disabilities. (3) Verification that the child took the State Basic Skills Test and scored at or above the state performance standard. (4) A packet of materials may be presented including a complete outline of the subjects taught, list of books and materials used, copies of the student's work, test results, statements by third parties who have observed the child's progress, or any other evidence of the quality of the program being offered. Most parents choose to send in a copy of their child's test results. Whichever option you choose, proofread for spelling and grammatical errors; and be sure that all required information is included. 2.) PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR TOPS If you have a student who intends to apply for TOPS college funding, he must be enrolled in an "Approved Home Study Program by the end of his 10th grade year." A private school student is not eligible for TOPS unless he graduated from an approved private school. Our home school private schools are not approved by the state department because the law does not require approval of any private school (unless the school seeks government funding). Some of the larger church-run private schools around the state have chosen to work through the lengthy and cumbersome approval process so that their graduates may be TOPS eligible. The home school equivalent of state approval is the Approved Home Study Programil.) To operate as a Private School, send a letter to the state DOE each school year notifying them of the number of school-aged (7-18 year old) children you are currently teaching. The letter should include contact information (such as the name and address of your school) and your starting date for this school year. Send only one copy, and mail it within 30 days of your first day of school (we recommend Return Receipt mail). You are NOT required to include ANY information about your children besides the total number enrolled. Send a letter according to the instructions given for the initial notification under the private school option, updating the information to reflect the new school year. Home Study Program Application |
| June 29, 2007 Louisiana--TOPS Bill Passes Legislature! Dear HSLDA members and friends: Thank you for all of your hard work and prayers. The TOPS bill, House Bill 634, passed the Senate earlier this week. Because there were a few minor amendments in the Senate, the bill went back to the House for concurrence. The House agreed to the amendments on Tuesday, just two days before the Louisiana Legislature adjourned for the year. Only one Senator opposed the bill, and the House voted unanimously for House Bill 634. Praise God! The bill now goes to Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco for her signature. We don't anticipate any difficulties. The passage of House Bill 634 really has been a joint effort. With HSLDA helping mobilize support, your phone calls, and CHEF of Louisiana's work in the Legislature, TOPS awards are now going to be more accessible for homeschool graduates. A number of homeschool parents and students testified in favor of the bill, which also contributed greatly to its passage. Once House Bill 634 is signed into law, it will be easier for a homeschool student to be eligible for a TOPS award. Under the bill, a homeschool student will have to score 2 points higher than public or approved nonpublic school students on the ACT for a TOPS-Tech or Opportunity Award but only 1 point higher on the ACT for a Performance or Honors Award. Currently the minimum ACT scores a public or approved nonpublic school student is required to receive to be eligible for TOPS are: (1) For a TOPS-Tech Award- 17, (2) For an Opportunity Award- 20, (3) For a Performance Award- 23, (4) For an Honors Award- 27. Thus, a homeschool student would be eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award with a 19, an Opportunity Award with a 22, a Performance Award with a 24, and an Honors Award with a 28 on the ACT. The passage of House Bill 634 is a victory for several reasons. If the bill had not passed, homeschoolers would have gone back to having to score 3 points higher on the ACT for all TOPS Awards. Additionally, while homeschoolers still have to score higher than their public or approved nonpublic school counterparts, homeschool students are not required to meet the core curriculum requirements established by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Thank you for your part in fighting for greater freedom in Louisiana! Sincerely, Thomas J. Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney |