Because of COVID-19, there is a growing interest in home education. I
am frequently asked about how to get started and decided it would be better to have it
in one permanent place than to type it from scratch once or twice a
month. This blog post is for Tennessee in general and Tipton County in
particular. It is an edited and updated repost from an article I wrote in 2015.
So,
you are considering home education for your family and are wondering
what you need to do to get started. Might I first recommend that you and
your spouse are on the same page? Because if hubby isn't behind you in
this, it ain't gonna fly. If you are a Christian, you and your
spouse should be praying that this is the direction God is leading your
family. It's pretty important.
Also, when it comes to state law, don't take my word for it! You should read the actual law for yourself
and ask questions if you do not understand. The Home School Legal
Defense Association lays it out nice and neat for you at this link:
HSLDA Homeschool Laws By State
Now that the fine print is out of the way, let's break this down. To homeschool legally in Tennessee, you need
three things. Two are essential, and the third is highly recommended for a successful homeschool.
The first essential is to EITHER register your homeschool with your county's public school board of education, OR register with what is called an "umbrella school."
Most homeschoolers that I have personally known use an umbrella school, and I am unfamiliar with registering with the public school system. However, if this route seems best for your family, you can call your local board of education and they can advise you.
As for umbrella schools, they are simply private schools that keep up with your grades and transcripts. I believe that Gateway Christian School's Total
Home-Education program has probably served this area for the longest.
They require you to send
grades in twice a year, and they do not offer standardized testing
(although there are places to have this done if you want it). More
information can be found in the link below.
The other two umbrella
schools that most people in this area use are Home
Life Academy and Faith Heritage Christian Academy. Home Life
is all online as it is based in Middle TN. They require two grade
reports a year and do not offer testing. Price is comparable to Gateway. Faith
Heritage requires quarterly grade reports, is a little bit higher in
price, but offers yearly standardized testing (Stanford 10). It is
conveniently located in Millington and has a different accreditation
than GCS or HLA. Here are links to these
three:
Gateway Christian Schools
Home Life Academy
Faith Heritage Christian Academy
So
we have the first thing covered - don't be truant! Register with your public board of education or with an umbrella school.
Second, you need
curriculum.
Most first-time moms choose an out of the box, traditional
textbook approach, like ABeka or Bob Jones. Some of these companies, like Alpha Omega Publishing, offer an online curriculum as well (theirs is called Monarch). You can always branch out
later, but with these you can be secure that your child is learning what
they need at their particular grade level. If you are feeling
adventurous, purchase the book "102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum"
by Cathy Duffy. This book helps you determine your child's learning
style, then suggests curriculum for that style, as well as including
lengthy reviews on each top pick. Cathy Duffy also has a website with great reviews:
Cathy Duffy
Another great website for homeschool curriculum and reviews is Rainbow Resource. This is my go-to for curriculum as their prices are usually the lowest:
Rainbow Resource
The third and final resource I would highly recommend (but unlike the first two, this is optional) is a homeschool support group.
There
are many great support groups in this area, including Homeschooling Under Grace (HUG), Tipton
County Home Educators, Covington Home Education Association (CHEA), and
Memphis Home Education Association (MHEA). Most of these have Facebook groups. Some offer activities, some are affiliated with co-ops or teen groups (complete with student government). This is where you get encouragement, have your questions answered, and make sure your kids are "properly socialized" (since that seems to be a big concern about homeschooling).
Tomorrow I will try to post a second article about hybrid education opportunities. You don't have to do everything on your own! But until then, I hope this information has been helpful, and wish you the best in your child's education!
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