For students homeschooling during the high school years, the collection and issue of credits, building a transcript, and receiving a diploma are important considerations. Some colleges accept homeschoolers without a high school diploma, but many require it. Additionally, many colleges want some kind of record of a student's high school work, and a transcript is the preferred means. Some homeschoolers decide at some point in their high school years to return to public or private school, and verifying and transferring credits from their homeschool work is often necessary for them to receive a diploma. Students entering the workforce after high school usually find that a diploma is expected when applying for employment. When selecting an option, please keep in mind enrollment in post-secondary institutions and re-enrollment policies for public/private high schools vary and change. Please check the requirements at the institution of your choice. The following are some high school diploma options for homeschool students:
1. Take the General Educational Development (GED) test. Some families choose not to worry about a transcript at all and have the student take the GED test. For current information in West Virginia call the GED office, (304) 558-6315, or call your local board of Eeucation for the GED program nearest you.
2. Reenroll in public/private high school (grades 10, 11 or 12). Students who reenroll in school should contact their school for their policy concerning homeschool or transfer credits as these policies vary. Some school districts are using the results of standardized or other tests to award credits, some require you to take the year-end tests by subjects, and other school districts award credit on an individual basis.
3. Early enrollment in a post-secondary institution. Some students have completed college or university courses while still enrolled in high school. Students generally take some classes while in high school to show they are academically and socially able to handle college classes, and they by-pass their high school diploma in lieu of a college diploma. Some colleges still require a diploma when/if the student enrolls full time, so check with your college on this matter.
4. Issue your own transcript and/or diploma. There are many books available on the topic of creating your own transcript and diploma.
5. Enroll in a correspondence school or diploma-granting program. Most correspondence programs keep an annual transcript of record and issue a diploma upon completion. These programs generally fall into the category of "traditional" or "umbrella." Traditional programs generally provide all the materials, tests, and other course work and are available in a variety of formats such as traditional textbook, video, satellite, CD-ROM, DVD and on-line offerings. Umbrella programs, far fewer in number, are organizations that offer to maintain records. Like traditional programs, they also have graduation requirements, but in addition to text work they allow credit for a variety of life skills and life experiences, and credits are often collected by recording time and activity in an area of study.
For more information on this topic or more information on the Institute for Alternative Learning, a transcript and diploma program for West Virginia and Ohio homeschooled students, please contact Linda Campbell, IndependentEd@att.net or call (304) 983-1200.