Sometimes parents decide that the time has come to end homeschooling and transition their child to a public school. The reasons for this can vary, but most often, it is because the parent has to manage work commitments with educating their child.
Moving from homeschooling to public school is a significant move. Here are some thoughts on the matter.
The School May Ask For The Child’s Grades
In some states, parents who homeschool are required by law to keep a record of their child’s performance during exams. Parents in this position, therefore, will find that providing admission staff with the correct documentation is easy.
Many parents in states that do not require that children take exams never collect or record grades. Thus, when the school asks for evidence of academic performance, it can often leave them flummoxed. To make matters worse, many administrators are often unfamiliar with processing application requests from homeschooled children. They may not know, therefore, that the law does not require kids educated at home to take regular SATs.
If you find that you’re having problems with administrators, provide the following evidence:
- Show them test scores that your child has received from recognized examinations
- Create a portfolio of what your child has learned during their homeschool education with you
- Tell the administrators that the law doesn’t require you to keep exam test results
Most schools want bright, affable children to attend. Often, a simple interview with your child can convince them to accept them for a place. You may find that you have more luck with religious schools. If you have a Jewish heritage, for instance, a Jewish School might be the best option. The same applies to any other religious affiliation. Usually, you’ll need to complete information about your background when making an application.
Children May Struggle To Adapt
Homeschooling is far more respectful of children’s time than regular public schools. Parents intuitively understand that it doesn’t make sense for kids to be doing academic work every second of the day, including the evenings.
The same is often not true of the public school system. It may, therefore, take some time for your kids to adjust to the higher workload.
Work Done At Home Might Not Count Towards Qualifications
If you are transitioning an older child away from homeschooling to public school, you may find that work they’ve done at home doesn’t meet the standards required of coursework. Administrators and teachers may not offer credit at all, and kids will have to start again from scratch.
The rules around which work students can complete at home, and which they must complete in class varies from state to state. In Virginia, for instance, the law says that schools must consider work done at home, but they don’t have to accept it for accreditation if they do not wish to.
Your Child Might Not Be At The Same Level As Their Peers
Homeschooled kids sometimes find that they are ahead or behind their peers. While this is normal, it can create tensions between you and the school. You may need to hold your child back a year, or request that the school moves them forward.