Sometimes things change, and your child will go from homeschooling to public school. What should you expect when you start the process? Here are a few things to keep in mind.
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The school is in charge of the school.
This is going to be different. While you were homeschooling independently, you made all decisions regarding your child's education.
The first thing to realize is that your child's school has policies and procedures that you may not be able to affect. Meeting with administrators may result in some flexibility, and you should advocate for your child, but you are navigating a system that is balancing the needs of many children.
The school may ask for grades and records from homeschooling.
Regardless of the approach you took to homeschooling, the school may ask for your child's grades and documentation of studies or learning. If you have homeschooled using traditional curriculum, tests, and grades, this may not be hard to provide.
However, some homeschoolers are flummoxed by this since homeschool laws in their state may not have required such records, and their homeschooling philosophy may have been to use a different approach, which was nonetheless effective. School officials are frequently unfamiliar with homeschool laws and may be more accustomed to dealing with students transferring from other schools.
Some options:
- Explain that you don't have these kinds of records and weren't required to keep them.
- Create a document to reflect what your child learned during the homeschool years.
- Show scores from any standardized tests your child may have taken.
It helps to remember that the school generally wants this information in order to determine grade placement. Again, this may not always be in agreement with where you think your child should be placed, but it is often at least a good faith effort at getting your child in the right grade in school.
The school is in charge of grade placement and may use their own assessments.
Sometimes parents are able to easily enroll a child in the grade they request, especially if it is the grade that is typical for the child's age, and especially during the elementary years. At other times, schools may use testing or their assessment of your child's home learning, and they will decide which grade a child should be in.
Going from homeschooling to public school in high school might be a bigger deal.
State requirements will vary.
Many states require specific courses and end-of-course tests to be passed by each child who will receive a public high school diploma in that state.
Public school students do not receive credits for these courses without the tests, and a child who enrolls in public school during the high school years may not receive credits without the tests either. Be aware that being told a student may reenroll in public high school after homeschooling is not the same thing as receiving public high school credit for courses taken while homeschooling.
Administrators may be flexible.
In some states, work done at home may not be "counted," even if a subject was studied in a traditional textbook way. It is worth speaking with administrators to see if they will let your child take end-of-course tests without re-taking the entire courses.
I know quite a few teens in different states who were able to get credit in this way, which allowed them to enroll in high school in the grade they expected.
Credit may not be given for work done at home.
However, there are also stories of disappointment, where students who would typically have been in 10th grade or later were required to retake lower grade courses at public school after having learned the material at home.
In Virginia, for example, many homeschool advocates advise if at all possible, if you believe your child will attend high school, to try to enroll by 9th grade. That's because not all high schools award credit for work done at home, and they may not allow your child to "test out" of courses. State law in Virginia requires schools to consider work done at home, but because of the emphasis on learning standards, end-of-grade tests, and accreditation, public schools are not required to accept credit transferred from homeschooling.
Homeschool organizations are good sources of information.
Check with your state-wide homeschooling organization to find out about the laws for homeschoolers enrolling in public schools, talk to homeschoolers in your area, and talk to the guidance counselor or administrator at the school your child will attend.
Diplomas reflect the school's requirements.
Not awarding high school credit for work done at home may seem unfair at first glance, but think about it from an institutional point of view. If a diploma means the student has taken these specific tests and followed the standardized curriculum, then it might seem that the only fair way to administrate this is to make it apply to all high school students for each year of their work—even if a year or two of that was done at home.
The child is no longer getting a homeschool diploma (though by the way, homeschool diplomas work just fine)—but will be getting a public school diploma, which indicates completion of public high school requirements.
Your child might be "ahead" or "behind."
Your homeschool has been marching to a different drummer. Your child's skill level or knowledge might be out of sync with expectations for kids the same age at public school.
It's important to remember that this is also true for students who attend public school who have never been homeschooled. There are kids who are ahead, kids who are behind, and kids who have special needs and challenges.
In some cases, teachers and administrators have an authentic big picture view of this, and they understand that children's academic levels vary a lot, regardless of how they have been educated before coming to this specific school. In other cases, especially if a child is behind, homeschooling may be blamed as an ineffective approach to education, even though there will be children at the same school who never homeschooled but who are also "behind."
One of the issues that crops up is that some homeschooling approaches are highly supportive of late bloomers, and the payoff comes in later years when a child's love for reading and learning has remained in tact because of less coercion to do developmentally inappropriate tasks quite early. For example, a child who learns to read at home at 8 or 9 may not be at a disadvantage at all because of the way homeschooling can compensate during skills lags—but that same child may immediately be seen as behind if she has to enter school as a non-reader.
Homeschoolers differ as to whether the possibility -- however slight -- of a child needing to attend public school at some point in the future, should mean trying to keep a child on grade level. Read my articles on Homeschooling and Grade Level and When Grade Level Matters for more thoughts on this topic.
If you have a child who has special needs, you should familiarize yourself with Wrights Law and be prepared to advocate for your child to get the best possible education.
You are going to have feelings about all this.
You may have good reasons to quit homeschooling. However, that doesn't mean you won't have mixed feelings and second thoughts. You may feel relief that public school is there for your child, but you may feel some grief that your picture of homeschooling did not play out as you hoped.
You may also struggle with adjustment to spending less time with your child and having less say-so over your child's daily life, as the school acts in loco parentis.
If your child is behind, you may feel guilt that he will struggle, and you may even feel guilt that he will be seen as a poor representative of homeschooling. Some parents run into this thought from administrators: a positive adjustment to school is "in spite of" homeschooling, while a negative adjustment to school is "because of" homeschooling.
This attitude has changed over the years, since so many teachers now homeschool their own children and other educators have become more familiar with homeschooling. However, you may still feel that you are seen as having done your child a disservice.
You will need to deal with the bureaucracy.
Schools have a lot of rules and red tape. You and/or your child will need to keep track of deadlines, rules, handbooks, homework, schedules, calendars, and more. Start inquiring about enrollment as early as possible once you know your child will attend school.
Many schools are welcoming to new students and want each child to have a positive experience; try to get a handle on the rules and policies to help your child have the best adjustment possible. You're playing their game now, and just as you made the rules when you were homeschooling, the schools make the rules for their game.
A popular speaker at homeschooling conferences, business groups, and parents’ groups, Jeanne Potts Faulconer homeschooled her three sons in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Virginia for twenty years. Holding her Master of Arts degree in Communication, Jeanne conducted portfolio evaluations for Virginia homeschoolers for evidence of progress for many years. Jeanne is a former college faculty member, former editor for several publications, news correspondent for WCVE, and former director of Brave Learner Home. She is the contributing editor for TheHomeSchoolMom newsletter and writes the popular Ask Jeanne column addressing homeschool parents' questions here at TheHomeSchoolMom.
So I’m gonna be going into 10th grade and I left public school in 6th grade would I have to take a test when I go back
Public schools in the U.S. are required to allow you to enroll, but they can set their own guidelines for grade placement and whether to give/accept credit for learning done while homeschooling during high school. There is no way that homeschoolers can tell you what the policies or practices of your local school will be. Every state, every school division, and even every school might have different policies. You or your parent will need to contact the school to ask how they will determine your grade placement and credits. Here is an article about transferring homeschool credits to public school you may find helpful.
Looking forward,
Jeanne
How do I, a retired Broward County elementary school teacher, access a 14 year old's grade placement? She is ready for High School, but she's never been to public school, just homeschooling and a little time @ a charter school. Thanks for any pointers.
If she's going to return to public school, the public school will determine grade placement using their approach. The public school would need to be consulted.
If you're going to assist her in continuing with homeschooling for high school, you could use placement tests from curriculum companies, often available online. This is most common for math. You could also have her start in a free program like Khan Academy to see where her skills line up.
For other subjects, you may have to use some trial and error. Ask her to read several stories, some science articles and the first couple chapters of a novel and see if she can handle what might be typically expected for a high schooler. Discuss the reading with her and see her level of comprehension.
Homeschoolers take a different approach to grade level, often mixing and matching subjects at varying grade levels depending on a student's ability and interest. For example, one teen might be super interested in science and really understand science concepts at a high school level while not being able to read and understand literature as well. Or vice versa. On the other hand, their reading might be fine in both science and literature, but their written composition skills might be less developed. Here is an article on Homeschooling and Grade Levels that may help.
Educational psychologists can do assessments of kids and teens and provide grade level equivalencies, but these assessments are expensive and aren't commonly used unless parents suspect a learning disability. If you're talking more about "where do I start," many of us find that trying curriculum assessments and then jumping in "somewhere" and adjusting as needed works as well as anything. Simply using free or less expensive resources first and making observations about whether she finds the work easy or way above her head can be effective.
Classroom teachers typically don't have the one-on-one time with students to do this; thus, the default for placement is age-based. Tutors, parents, and mentors are often able to observe one or a handful of students closely and understand "where they are" by trying a few different things and making a judgment about "what works best."
This is a bit of the art of education!
Looking forward,
Jeanne
Hello. I have a big question. We are considering traveling the US for a year with our boys after this school year is over. I have a rising 8th grade and 5th grader. My concern is if we pull them out of school and those grades next year to homeschool, are they then able to repeat those grades the following year when we are back in a school setting if that is our desire? Thank you for any guidance.
Hi Katy,
Travel with your kids sounds fun and educational!
Homeschool advocates can't know where a school would place your kids after a year of travel. We don't know if the school will place any weight on what you desire, or if they have some other approach to determining grade placement. Policies vary from state to state, school to school, and even administrator to administrator.
As stated in the article, when your child goes from homeschooling to public school, placement is up to the school. You'll need to communicate with school officials at the school your children would be attending after their travel year.
Wishing you happy travels,
Jeanne
Hello, my daughter started homeschooling in the middle of the school year in another country, but we don't have any records of the things she learned. But my daughter does have a record of the first semester in her international school. We also want to switch back to public school in the US by May, is that possible? We lived in California and will be moving back if that helps.
Hi Jane,
In the U.S., children can enroll in school at any time during the school year. Schools are required to allow children to enroll. Grade placement and high school transfer credit decisions are made by the school, and even though a child may have been homeschooling previously, homeschooling advocates aren't able to predict what school administrators may require from formerly homeschooled children for placement and credit.
Your best bet is to start by asking school personnel (at the specific school she would attend) what they need to determine grade placement if grade placement is your concern.
If she is younger than high school, public school educators will most likely place your child in the grade with her age-mates.
If she is high school age, you could create the type of records the school authorities say they would need. For example, you could make a transcript that reflects what you and she remember that she learned. Take a look at our Homeschool Transcripts Explained (which also has a free transcript template you could use). You could also include records from the international school.
Good luck!
Jeanne
Hi. My daughter has been homeschooled and will now enter public school. Do I need to inform the VDOE that I am stopping homeschooling? It will be a midyear change.
Hi Marie,
TheHomeSchoolMom typically cannot answer state-specific questions since homeschool laws are different in all fifty states. We encourage readers to consult state and local homeschool organizations to advise them on the law that applies to them.
That said, since you mention VDOE, I know you are talking about Virginia—one of the three states I have homeschooled in.
Therefore, I happen to know that in Virginia, homeschool communication is typically with your school division superintendent or their designee, not with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
And, when you enroll in school, your school communication is with the guidance counselor, principal, and other educators at the specific school your child will attend. Once you have contacted the school and completed enrollment forms, your school division should know you have ceased homeschooling. If the school division doesn't get the school's message and happens to look for homeschool end-of-year progress (as required in Virginia), you'll just let them know your child is enrolled in school.
For anyone reading along who lives in another state, you'll need to check your own state law to find out who to contact about homeschooling or enrolling in public school. Use the link above.
Looking forward,
Jeanne
Hi, I'm 14, and I REALLY want to go to public school. I live in rural Michigan, and I'm worried about repeating freshman year is there a way I can get the credit, so I don't have to? I'm keeping track of my grades and I have a few essays printed, but I don't know if that counts (I've been using https://allinonehighschool.com/ if that's important).
Hi Katherine,
A guidance counselor or principal (or other authority) at the public school you plan to attend will decide on whether to accept your credits, unless the state law in Michigan has a different requirement.
I recommend you and/or your parent contact the high school guidance counselor to ask questions about this because it is more of a "school question" than a "homeschooling question." They can tell you if there is specific documentation they will want to look at as they consider accepting the credit for the work you are doing now. The program you are using may or may not be relevant to whether they accept credits.
We have a new article that explains the challenges in Transferring Homeschool Credits to Public High School, which will provide you with more information.
Good luck, Katherine.
Jeanne
I had put my youngest child back in public school few years ago and he isn't doing well. My oldest stayed in home school can I just pull my youngest back out and put him back in home school they want to fail he already a grade being now. He just got diagnosed with Adhd and he was just ten points on each testing from passing.
Putting a child back in public school is not a commitment to leave them there forever—you are free to do what is best for your child. By homeschooling him, you will have the freedom to meet his current needs, and you will be able to customize his education during a period of delayed learning.
Hi, I am currently homeschooled as I have been my whole life. I want to go to public school next year. I am a grade ahead because I will be starting 9th grade at 13. Will the school allow me to join public school if I’m a grade ahead? I don’t want to repeat a grade.
Hi Sadie - as Jeanne notes in the post, the school will be in charge of that decision.
Hi!
A little background with my situation since it's a bit complicated. I started homeschooling my 14 year old son last year. It was quite a process since I had never homeschooled before. We started with time4learning curriculums to help with the learning transition, but it became a disaster for him, he used working on the computer an excuse to play video games, and allotting him to sit on a monitor for 12 hours a day. Which is extremely unhealthy. I stopped that approach, and my fiancé and I created a curriculum where his education was based on the classical education approach. My fiancé had the trivium and we worked with my son on the subjects. It took some adjusting for our schedule and also having an infant, we decided to give him some self educating opportunities. He was able to choose 5 subjects a day to work on, to complete between 5am to 5pm. He was to spend 1 hr per subject and is required to write an essay (in cursive) on each subject on what he had learned. He also had access to do his own research to help supplement his understanding. He then had to report orally to me what he had learned without reading the essay to make sure he had some understanding in which I would ask him questions. This was how I would pass his work. Other than that, I didn't give him any formal grades.
Prior to homeschooling he had attended Connections Academy online, because he was expelled from his public school in the 9th grade.
We travel consistently for work and homeschooling has worked so far in our favor. We have to travel again for a full month and then we are moving to a different state. My son has expressed to me many times he wants to go back to public school and I am trying to try and accommodate him after our move. My concerns are that when I do enroll him, if there is a way that I can evaluate whether or not he is truly on the academic level of where he should be and if his expulsion would take a serious effect on this. I also share custody with his father and where the expulsion happened with him in an entirely different state.
Any feedback is much appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Sha - Your situation is complex and as such deserves more in-depth examination than can be done in a blog comment section (unfortunately we do not offer personal consulting). One thing I would recommend is partnering with the school your son would be enrolling in to make sure that everyone (both parents, your son, and the school) has similar expectations with regard to the grade level, course selection, progress, and evaluation that will be in place. If possible, doing this in advance of registering would help smooth your path. As the post mentions, when entering public school at the high school level, it is up to the school whether to award credit for courses taken while homeschooling. Some allow credit for work done, some require testing to show mastery, and some disallow credit for work done while homeschooling. This may affect the courses you son has to take as well as cause a potential graduation delay. With moving to a new area and potentially not having all credit accepted by the school, you may want to consider the possibility of repeating a grade in order for your son to be in the same grade with the peers in his classes. This may not be necessary, but it is always good to go in with a flexible mindset rather than be blind-sided in case the school's policies clash with your expectations. Best wishes to you all as you choose the best path forward.
My ex started homeschooling my children, but they don't seem to be learning anything, and when I asked her for some grading and/or some of the work they completed she sends me pictures of the books they covered. We are in Illinois and I am actually appalled that they don't require any records or anything. My son has a 504B plan which she is not servicing as well.
Hi I'm 16 years old ,i have been home schooled since the 8 grade I'm now grade 11 and i have been wanting to go back to a public school, but I don't know if I should, I'm a bit behind and I don't want my parents to feel bad. I'm really unhappy my life hase changed since being homeschooled , don't have any friends , i feel kinda left out on being a real teenager and injoying life, ( waking up early, going to school, having friends, just being a normal teen) what should I do, since i only have a year and about a half of school over.
Did i write this? We are living the same love
I want to ask my mom if I can go Back to School
I'm 16 - Gr11.. But I don't know how to ask my mom? If been homeschooled since the age of 11 and I know I'm missing out on things.. The town I live in only has activities that only school kids can join in, and the homeschool community is filled with kids half my age.
Hi Devocia - I'm sorry to hear that your experience has been difficult. Part of what you are feeling is shared by many teens currently, both in public school and homeschooled, due to the school shut-downs. it is a frustrating time for everyone.
If you and your parents are in agreement about a potential return to public school, you can reach out to your school district to find out their policy about giving credit toward graduation for work earned while homeschooling. Returning to school in the middle of high school can be challenging since public schools do not have to give credit for courses taken while homeschooling.
If returning to school is not a possibility, you might have a brainstorming session with your parents about ways you can get out and socialize. There are lots of ways to connect with other teens outside of school. Be sure to check out our Local & State resources linked above in the navigation menu - you might find an organization near you that offers activities and meet-ups. You might find a part-time job to be a good social outlet that also allows you to earn money. At 16, you might be eligible to take dual enrollment classes at your local community college, where you can meet people while also college credit.
Good luck!
Hi! My kids have homeschooled and went in public school in 2 different schools so I can give some insight as well. Your experience depends on your local school. Some schools or their employees are very anti homeschooling. If that is the case, be informed. Know exactly what you need to have, what the laws say, and be confident when you walk in that office. Have the law printed off and highlighted if need be. I have dealt with a more hostile school and while it was not fun, it is more important to remain calm, matter of fact and friendly because these people will be with your kids daily! Try not to let peoples personal opinions of homeschooling get to you. Check out HSDLA or most states have homeschooling websites at this point where you can get answers and information. On the other side, I have dealt with an amazing supportive local school. They know the laws, what you need and want your students to come to school and be successful. So not every school and experience will be hostile or negative. It just really depends. Just be prepared either way! One way I stayed prepared is by keeping an academic portfolio for my kids(a 3 ring binder of academic highlights for the year for each one). I don't care if it is law or not. You never ever know if your kids will need to go to school for whatever reason and this ensures you have something to show the school when or if the time comes. I highly recommend this! Always cover your bases, be informed and you never have to stress. Good luck!
Hello I’m Nan, my child did homeschool for the 7th grade year. He only completed 30% of his work. I t was a struggle trying to afford the program. I’m not working as of right now because of an injury to my ankle. The program has put his work on hold until I can pay to complete courses. He is suppose to go to the 8th grade in public school but I will have to obtain the work to show the board of education. What do I need to do to ensure he transmissions to the 8 th grade?
Hi Nan - Each state (and sometimes each locality) has different requirements for students transitioning from homeschool to public school. You don't mention what kind of program your son was using, but it sounds like an online school. Typically they only show progress for completed courses, so it's unlikely you will receive anything if your son does not complete the work. You might ask the school you want to enroll him in if they would consider testing in place of documentation for placement. Since no high school credits are being transferred, the administration might be more flexible with their requirements. Ultimately, it is their decision. We highly recommend connecting with other homeschoolers in your area; they often can give guidance based on previous cases they know of or offer suggestions for how to approach the situation keeping the local climate in mind. You can often find such groups on Facebook.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Morgan.
Hi
I have been homeschooled since I was in 2nd grade, when my family decided to move to Arizona part time. Last year , we moved back to our home state, and my parents decided that they want to travel. We traveled for four months, then the pandemic hit, and out traveling was cut short. I have been wanting to go to high school for about a year now , and have not been able to find the courage to tell my parents how I feel. I am afraid that it will hurt them , saying they won’t be able to travel anymore. My 3 younger siblings are also homeschooled and they don’t want any part in public school. I will be starting 8th grade this fall, and I would like to enroll in my towns public high school next spring. Do you have any tips on me explaining to my parents, and tips on enrolling? My dad is the one who homeschoolls me and my siblings, and we have our books from all our grades, but he has not kept track of our grades/grading. Would that be a problem when/ if we decided to enroll me ? With the fact that we don’t have the best records of our schooling?
I am just reading this comment. Did you summon the courage to speak to your father about this important matter? If so, how did it go? If not, I think you owe it to yourself to explain how you feel. It wouldn’t hurt to write out your feelings if you are struggling with coming up with the words or courage to ask. I am curious to hear how it turned out for you!
I am thinking about homeschooling my daughter who is going into 10th grade. I have thought of doing it in the past, but got overwhelmed with the idea that I would be teaching her everything, and that she does better with peer influence. I see where I was wrong now, but with COVID shutting down schools next year, and the schools planning to do on-line learning, I am now serious about homeschooling her. I saw how terrible it was the last 3 months of school, and don’t believe it will get any better. I know I can do a better job. My only problem is that if I homeschool her, will she be able to go back into public school easily after this is all over? She has always been behind in school and struggled with learning her whole life. I don’t think I will be able to convince my husband and daughter to homeschool with out knowing this. However, if it works out better for her, I would like to continue with homeschooling. Thank you!
Hi! Our family is moving from Florida to Illinois this month. We have the opportunity to travel before our move and would like to take advantage of that opportunity. My son is in kindergarten. Since there is only a few months left of school anyway we would like to homeschool him the rest of the year. However, we are concerned that in the event we want him to return to public school when we get settled that they might try to have him repeat kindergarten, which we do not want. I have no idea who to contact for information on how to do this, what the best way to do this is, or anything! What would you suggest?
Contact the principal of the school your child will attend in Illinois or the school division there. Schools decide how to place students in their own institutions. During high school years, it's quite common that schools (especially in some states or localities) do NOT recognize credit for work done at home. At the kindergarten level, schools in many areas are more likely to put the student in the age-appropriate grade. Read our article about Who Decides What Grade? for more thoughts on this.
The travel sounds like a great opportunity for your family!
Jeanne
I have a different sort of question. I am a retired math teacher stepping in at mid year to teach 7th grade math at a very relaxed new Christian school. Most of my class of 20 were home schooled most of their school years and it seems that they’re having a difficult time adjusting to me. I’m an experienced teacher and know what they need (many of them are behind, for various reasons I’m sure), and I’ve never had trouble connecting with my students in the past. But these students are telling their principal and parents (who then tell the principal) that I don’t like them. I feel that I’m being very kind to them, but I do expect them to work, and not play around when they’re supposed to be working. I don’t know any other way to help them learn the math they need. Can anyone give me any tips or insight as to what might be going on, and how I might connect with these students without lowering my expectations? These are sweet kids, but I’m floored at their apparent responses to my teaching.
The issue I see here is that you are used to the school system where you teach and they learn and you command and they obey, on both instances end of discussion! My suggestion is to aks all parents and their kids in the class for a large conference and then ask each parent how they used to teach their kids in homeschool. This might give you an idea on how to effectively approach these students and reach out to them to make the teaching experience a positive one. Acts,2:38
I disagree, these kids need to learn how to behave in a classroom with a teacher. Many of them might be behind or haven't learned the concepts. I know this from dealing with stepdaughters who were homeschooled and are behind in math. They were used to dealing with a mom who is more of a mom than a teacher.
They'll will have to get used to it when they go to work.
Hi Mary,
I delayed responding because I really think your question deserves a longer response, possibly in the form of a full-length article. That said, I haven't pulled together the opportunity to get it written, so I'll make a few comments and try to keep this topic on my "to be written" list.
Experienced teachers sometimes have a hard time connecting with current and former homeschooled kids and vice versa. The culture of the public school classroom is so different from the way kids learn at home. In fact, I've found that even my co-op classes were more like my grad school seminar classes than they were similar to public school classes—much more of a "let's learn this together" than a "sage on the stage" approach.
Homeschooling means parents can meet kids "where they are," and they tend not to prioritize "getting through the curriculum" as the most important aspect of the dynamic. They tend to use kids' interests and preferred learning modalities to create engagement. On the other hand, many classroom teachers are accustomed to using behavior modification techniques, grades, and "expectations" to elicit kids' buy-in.
Just as we have public school kids who are behind in math in certain classes, we'll encounter those in classes of formerly homeschooled or currently homeschooled kids—as you say, for all kinds of reasons. When parents put them in a school or class, they may be facing this teacher-centered, curriculum-centered approach for the first time. They may be challenged not only by the material but also by a teaching approach they are unaccustomed to. Further, their parents may have chosen to use a class or entry into school because of particular challenges, and teachers may be seeing those challenges at play.
I don't know what's happening in your classroom; I'm not there. I've seen both homeschooled kids who were adjusting to a classroom setting and public school teachers who were adjusting to teaching homeschooled kids. There are a lot of possibilities. Specific kids and specific teachers struggle; others blend in seamlessly. My own homeschooled teens informed me that in community college, university, and business, no one ever asked or noticed if they had been homeschooled; there was no scarlet letter H after all.
My teacher friends have told me that they adjusted to homeschooling (and teaching in homeschooling co-ops and classes) when they focused on kids' learning rather than their teaching (and made changes to capitalize on said learning), when they stopped depending on behavior modification, and when they moved from an authoritarian to an authoritative approach. I have no way of knowing if this applies in your case.
Wish we could talk—or I could get that article written.
Thanks for reading here at TheHomeSchoolMom. You might find our articles about deschooling informative. Parents and kids spend a lot of time learning how to "not do school" by default; you might get some insight if you read about the emphasis shifting away from school and toward learning. Yes, they can be the same thing, but not necessarily.
Such an interesting and thought-provoking question. I'm so glad you asked!
Jeanne
Hello, I wanted to ask if there is any problem for me going back to public school, I want to go back to a public school but I want to make sure there is not problem. Do I need to do a transfer request before a new school year starts?
Fatima,
If you live in the United States, you have the right to a free and public education and can go to school after having homeschooled. You or your parent should contact an administrator at the school you would attend and ask for information about how to enroll for the next year. Whether a "transfer request" is needed is not something can tell you—I'm knowledgeable about homeschooling rather than school. That said, you can ask the school that question. You would probably benefit from making an appointment to meet with the guidance counselor at school in order to get more information about how to enroll.
Good luck!
Jeanne
Great thoughts here! I have moved my kids from homeschooling to public school and I related to a lot of this. God bless!
Glad you could relate, Lacy. Changing approaches to education can be a big transition. Thanks for your comment!
I just moved from Florida to Tennessee, my kids were homeschooled in Florida and now are going to public school. When I went to enroll them today the guidance counselor at the school told me I could be arrested for truancy because my kids were in homeschool for the first half of the year.....how is that possible when I filed the necessary paperwork with the homeschool office I. Florida?
Yes, state groups are extremely helpful but most are not going to contact a school for you as they are mostly just dedicated homeschooling families themselves. If the school is threatening arrest and you have informed them of the law, I recommend HSDLA. I know people who have personally contacted them when a local school district sent out letters demanding all homeschoolers report to the school or be reported to CPS which is not legal in my state. HSDLA was contacted and their lawyers sent a letter to the district on behalf of all homeschoolers in the district. The school followed up with an apology to everyone and the problem was shut down. So totally recommend them if you are having legal issues with your district. Do NOT let them threaten or intimidate you.
Our state organizations (Virginia) most definitely have reached out to school districts, but more importantly they empower homeschoolers to speak up for themselves. The case you describe is exactly the kind of situation where state organizations can inform school districts of the illegality of the request.
There are rare times when attorneys may be needed, but more often they are not. Knowing the law and invoking it often resolves whatever issue is at hand without provoking conflict between school administrators and homeschoolers.
The heavy foot of legal threats may work, but that does not mean it is the best first resort, or even second or third.
When legal threats are used in place of local advocacy and homeschooler self-sufficiency, attorneys assume the individuals' responsibility, and ". . . people on the state and local level are no longer building long-term relationships they can use, they are building relationships for HSLDA. When out-of-state attorneys fly in and start pulling tricks out of their hats they effectively circumvent the kind of networking and coalition building that can best serve the real needs of homeschooling families."
-Mark and Helen Hegener
We agree that homeschoolers should not let school administrations threaten or intimidate them. Homeschoolers should always know the law that allows them to homeschool, and when necessary, demand that the administration show them in the law where the administration's actions are legally allowed.
First thing to note is most school office workers know very little about the laws when it comes to their states. Check out the HSDLA website for your laws. And if they threaten again I would contact HSDLA and let them know. They will contact the school or whomever need be on your behalf for a small fee.
In addition to knowing and reminding school representatives of the law, we recommend working with your state's homeschool organization rather than national organizations. State organizations are intimately familiar with the state homeschool laws, know the local landscape, and are usually offer free helplines.
Hi! I'm an 8th grader and have been homeschooled my whole life. Currently, I'm considering going to a public high school next year. I've been trying to find out like tips or experiences of homeschoolers going into public schools, but can't find any. Is there any big thing I should keep in mind? From your point of view, is homeschooling better than going to a public school? And also, (I know this is kind of a stupid question), but how exactly do schools work? I know there are like periods, block days (or something like that), but I can't find anything on the internet explaining it. Thanks!
Hi,
I suggest you see if you can visit the public school you would attend next year. Some schools will let you shadow another student for a day or part of a day. You can also find out the dates of any open house events or orientation sessions that the school might do for 8th graders. They are often held in the spring of the year, and sometimes there are extra dates held in the summer. You or your parent can call the school and tell them you might be enrolling and find out what they might offer that would help you get to know the school. Even if you just met with a guidance counselor, that would give you some idea of the atmosphere of the school, and you'd have a chance to ask your questions.
For example, some schools do use block scheduling and others do not. A guidance counselor would be able to explain that to you. Block scheduling might mean that instead of attending six or seven classes every day, you attend three on odd number calendar days and four on even number calendar days. But there are a lot of other ways to arrange it, and some schools don't use block scheduling. They may just arrange their days into regular periods, one for each subject. Block scheduling might mean you stay with one subject for longer, such as 90 minutes or more, where regular school periods are shorter. You learn to coordinate when to bring or submit your homework or plan for class activities once you understand the schedule.
Is homeschooling better than public school? That's an opinion question, and some people will say yes and some people will say no. My kids homeschooled through high school, so that worked out well for our family, but I know many other teens who went to public school for high school and were pleased with their decision. One important thing to know is that in many states, a high school won't give you credit for work done at home, so in some places, if you do plan to attend high school, it's recommended you go by 9th grade.
Read more about the good news and bad news of homeschooling in high school.
Get connected with people at the school you might attend so you can visit and get a feel for things.
Good luck!
Jeanne
Hi I'm in 9th grade homeschooling and live in Barcelona, Spain I'm not originally from here but I've lived here my entire life. From 3 to 12 years old I went to a public school here in Barcelona then I did one year online, which I left because of the 7 hours in front of a computer thing and last year kinda only did English and math. This year I was going to go to San Mateo high school (the school accepted me and said I had an average level...) But we didn't have the funds to go live close to the high school so I decided to come back here (Barcelona)
So my question is that if I get my curriculum in order and submit it correctly can I go for 10th grade to q public US high school?
Thank you and have a great day
-AOGS
Every state and many individual schools have their own laws, rules, and regulations about this. If you are a resident in the U.S., you can attend public school, but grade placement is up to the school. Many schools do not accept work done at home when they are figuring out grade placement; others might, especially if you have documentation. There is no way to know ahead of time what grade a specific school might assign you to. They might want you to take tests or show work done in 9th grade. Even then, there is no guarantee. You and your parent need to contact an administrator at the school you plan to attend to find out their policies.
Jeanne
Hi,
I have homeschooled my daughter since fourth grade to ninth grade and am thinking of putting her into High school next year. Through the years she has worked fine on all her math, Science, health, etc. I am abit nervous she may not meet the level she is to be in for tenth grade like everyone else. Do you think she will fit in fine?
Hi Haley,
Every child is different, every homeschool is different, every curriculum is different, and every school is different. There is no way to know whether your daughter is academically at the level of the tenth graders at your local public school. Many homeschoolers are academically "ahead," some are "on par," and others will be behind school students—which, if you think about it, is the same for school students! They are all over the place. My teacher friends have told me that their experience with homeschooled students entering school reflects this very thing: a wide variety of ability levels when they enter school.
If "where she is" would affect the decision to attend school, perhaps you could ask a former or current teacher to look over her work and talk with her to determine her level. Some people use tests or performance in online classes to help them have an idea of their child's academic proficiency.
The thing is, I have known kids who felt behind in specific areas who have gone on to excel in school when they needed to and had the opportunity. I have also known some kids to withdraw from school and return to homeschooling because school was either "too easy" or "too boring" or had "too much busy work."
Do keep in mind that many schools do not accept credit for work done while homeschooling grades 9-12. In my state, this is so true that homeschool advocates recommend returning students to school in 9th grade rather than in a later high school grade, so that the student does not get surprised by being told she has to repeat a grade she did at home. Read my article about the Bad News/Good News about Homeschooling High School.
Good luck to you and your daughter. I hope things go well.
Jeanne
I've been Homeschooling my son since the 4th grade but to be honest he is behind considerably especially in Math and English and his math has never been common core. So if he goes into the High school ( Idaho) with math that is about 3 years behind will they be able to work with him? He is stubborn, easily distracted and possibly slightly autistic.
Hi,
Schools have children at all different levels, including those who have been in school their entire lives and are considered behind. Will they be able to work with him? They are required by law to provide him with an education. Will they work with him effectively in ways he can learn well? That depends on the resources available at the school, the school's outlook toward children who are not on grade level, and the school's practices for children who are "stubborn, easily distracted and possibly autistic."
There is no way to predict how the school will work with him. Some schools do a great job with children who are transferring from another school, moving into the school division, or coming from homeschooling or private school. Some schools do a great job taking a child's personal characteristics into consideration. Some schools have a great approach to helping children catch up. Some schools understand that children can be "behind" for many reasons, and they don't blame homeschooling—since they know they have kids who have been in school since kindergarten who are also behind.
That said, some schools are under-resourced. Some teachers and administrators may place blame on a child, a parent, or an education method. Some schools have to be pushed to meet children's needs when they are different from the mainstream. You may have to get an IEP in place and regularly push to make sure the IEP is followed.
I suggest you meet with the school counselor to discuss your son's adjustment to school.
Best wishes,
Jeanne
I am a homeschooled graduate . And I really miss being in school . I really did not enjoy my homeschooled program . Although I “ graduated “ from it can I enroll back 2 public school ?
Hi Monserrat,
There are different laws in every state governing school attendance and homeschooling. In some states, if you are still of the age that schools must require an education, you could possibly re-enroll. That might also depend on how your school views "homeschool graduation." In many places, homeschool graduation is not something that is "filed" with a school division or department of education, so while you and your parents considered you to have graduated, the school might not even "know" that. Then the challenge is getting them to see the credits you earned at home "count" so you wouldn't be placed at a grade level lower than you should be—while not looking at those credits and seeing you as a "graduate."
It's a bit tricky to think about. Can your parents help you find out about state laws governing homeschooling and education there? You would also have to think about the potential downside of considering yourself NOT graduated for the purpose of re-entering school.
Are there alternatives to entering school that could work for you, such as attending community college? That is a great transition for many homeschool grads.
Jeanne
Hi Jeanne so today I went to school to get enrolled back . And they did not want 2 accept me because they seen I had “ all “ my credits that the school offers . Which I find a problem to it because I thought homeschooled work does not count in school ? And I really jus wanna be back in school already !
Hi Monserrat,
Unfortunately, your public school may have the authority to make the decision about this. There is no overall regulation that says "homeschooled work does not count in school." There is also no overall regulation that says "homeschooled work DOES count in school." This varies state by state and even school by school.
Your age could make a big difference and how your state handles "homeschool graduation" matters, too. For example, in my state, neither local school divisions nor the state department of education recognize or have anything to do with how homeschoolers consider themselves "graduated." They wouldn't even have a record of it, so it might be possible for a homeschooled teen to not provide information about graduation and just enroll in school. Of course, then she or he might have to start at 9th grade, which might not be ideal.
See if you can find an adult to help you navigate this: a guidance counselor at the school, a librarian at your public library who might help you look for information about state laws, your local literacy council (ask at the library), a social worker, or a relative.
Jeanne
Hey, Jeanne,
I am in the 11th grade and want to go to public school within the next year, after two months of preparing myself on things. I am hoping, the state I am in (Florida) will allow me to go to my correct level. I have to be honest with you, these past three years I have been homeschooled have been tumultuous and my mother wasn't always able to keep track of my brother's and I's grades with life getting in the way, even though we have been learning. I have figured out many things about this and sometimes the process seems easy, and sometimes hard. Also, how do I make a transcript? Are there sites I can print them out? Thank you.
Hi Calie! I just started my Senior year of homeschool today and am in the EXACT same position. My brothers and I have fallen behind because my mom did not adequately schedule our courses. We are enrolling back in public but I am trying to save my brothers and I from flunking a grade, so we are all working really hard from sun up to sun down to complete the courses we didn't know we needed. It's so glad to hear another older sibling is in the same predicament. I always feel like I am the teacher trying to aimlessly figure out our homeschooling years. I envy kids with homeschool moms who are present and have not grown apathetic. If you ever want to talk you can email me! It's great to hear I am not alone.
-Clara
Indeed, all types of education, and homeschooling in particular, work best when there is an engaged parent who is helping children and teens learn, grow up, and make the transitions they need to make.
Calie and Clara, I hope you can find a helpful guidance counselor at your school who can be your advocate. It's tricky, because school officials really do expect everything to have been done in "a school way," even though there are many successful homeschool grads who attend college and who are successful young adults WITHOUT having done everything in the exact same way that a public school official might expect. (For example, many homeschoolers don't "schedule courses" or even arrange their learning into courses all the time). Typically, with an involved parent staying informed on how homeschoolers can move into adulthood, a homeschooled teen will have learned enough or done enough or become self-possessed enough to make the transition.
The real problem occurs right where you are: when homeschooled kids want or need to go back to public school during the high school years. That's when they, like you, are faced with trying to translate their homeschooling into a language of credits that public schools will accept. It's frankly easier in some states to go to community college than it is to return to public high school. (There's even a book by Blake Boles called College without High School: A Teenager's Guide to Skipping High School and Going to College).
When homeschooled teens don't have an involved parent to help them return to high school or take the next steps they want to take, the challenge is compounded. My heart goes out to you.
Jeanne
Thank you very much Mrs.Jeanne, that means a lot.
Hi Calie,
I'm sorry that your homeschooling has been tumultuous. There are times when public school is a better choice, although sometimes parents and teens/kids disagree with that for good reasons. I always encourage parents to think about whether the time has come to quit homeschooling because the feeling should never be "homeschool no matter what."
Many parents do not use grades for their kids, including college-bound kids. It can be a conscious decision related to an educational philosophy. However, it sounds like you are homeschooling in a way where grades would be typical and expected, and not having grades is not a conscious decision but an indication of some chaos. I'm sorry that is the case for you. Ideally, your parent should be assisting you in your return to public school, and getting together paperwork you need on your own is challenging, I'm sure.
You can use TheHomeSchooMom's transcript form to record your classes and credits.
Talk with a counselor at the school to find out what you will need to go with your transcripts. I don't know Florida law or policy, but in general, schools may ask for things like test scores, curriculum, class descriptions, grades, and an explanation of how grades were figured. They may not want any of those things, and I'm not saying you should take them in unless you're asked to. I'm just saying a good first step is to find out what they say they need to determine which credits they will accept from homeschooling.
I hope the counselor at school will be friendly and helpful to work with. Best wishes in your return to public school.
Jeanne
My teen is entering public school as a junior, having been homechooled her entire life. This is her choice as well as ours, as she wants to go into engineering and the school has a terrific program we would not really be able to access otherwise (she doesn't want to go part-time). She has been looking for tips for homeschoolers entering public school for the first time and not really finding anything helpful. Do you or your readers have any sources? She is somewhat anxious by nature and needs to know what to expect - all possible scenarios, if possible! Thank you in advance!
Hi Sheri,
In the places we've lived, many homeschoolers do enter high school after having homeschooled for a long time, so they simply talk to each other! I don't know of specific resources for teens by teens, but it's a great idea. My suggestion would be to join some "homeschooling teens" Facebook groups and ask parents what their teens have experienced. Of course, going that route, you do risk people focusing on homeschooling through high school. There are definitely teens who are majoring in engineering in college after homeschooling all the way through, so you would hear some of those ideas, and you'd also hear from people who homeschool and dual enroll in community college during the high school years as a transition to majoring in engineering.
In our state, most teens who are going to high school do go by 9th grade because public schools do not have to accept credit for learning done while homeschooling. That sort of diminishes the pool of teens who don't attend until their junior year, which could be different in your state.
Readers may post their experiences here although I expect those drawn to this article may also just be embarking on the transition to school.
I wish your daughter the best of luck with her plans. I know many teens who have gone to school. Some have stayed in through to college; others have preferred to return to homeschooling. It can work out all kinds of ways!
Jeanne
So, I was wondering how I figure out what things my daughter would need to know to enroll in PS in 8th grade. The goal was always to PS for highschool, but now I can't figure out how to know if she's ready for 8th grade or not...
Hi Yavanna,
This is more of a school question than a homeschool question if your intent is to enroll in public school for 8th grade. I would encourage you to talk to an administrator at the school your daughter would attend. Many school divisions do have websites with standards of learning to show you what students are expected to know or the level of proficiency for each grade. You could also look for online tests for certain subject areas, such as math curricula websites that have placement tests; however, there is no guarantee that homeschool curricula will align perfectly with your local school division.
Jeanne
Hi Yavanna,
This is actually more of a school question than a homeschool question. Your school division may have a set of standards or guidelines for grade levels on their website. These vary from state to state and even within some states, so your best bet is to look for school resources. You could also make an appointment with a counselor or administrator at the school your daughter would enroll in and ask them. Good luck!