Fake diploma for homeschooling in texas?

Question

I really really want to get home schooled for my last year of High School, but my mother says that the diploma given by these online schools or curriculum's is fake and that it doesn't count in Texas and that I won't be able to get into any college. Im really bummed because I truly was looking forward to being home schooled, my parents say that they might go and talk to the councelor at my school to see what advice she might give. My parents also say that I don't have a good excuse to be home schooled :(

Is the Texas Diploma thing true?

Answer 1

If you do actual homeschooling in Texas, your home is considered a private school and your parents are the owners, headmasters and teachers, who can not only decide the curriculum but issue you a diploma.

There are plenty of reputable online or correspondence programs out there--Texas Tech is one that comes to mind. There's also American School of Correspondence, Keystone and several others. You could pay for K12--they don't have a free option where you live. These do NOT fall under the homeschooling laws; you are considered a private school student.

Your parents are also under the very common mistaken notion that you need a high school diploma to go to college. You don't. Talk to some colleges you are interested in and find out what their admission requirements are, especially if you don't have a diploma. They will tell you things like SATs or ACTs and/or essay submission and/or portfolio review. Depends on the college.

Do NOT talk to the counsellor at school about homeschooling--most schools know NOTHING about the legalities and requirements of homeschooling. If you are willing to do an independent study program through your school (if they offer it), then go for it. But don't expect them to know anything or even offer accurate information about actual homeschooling. You do NOT have to have a reason to homeschool under Texas laws other than a willingness for parents to do so.

Answer 2

I'm sure they may be fake diplomas out there but there are many legitimate online high schools. Contact http://www.k12.com  to see if they have a program in Texas.

Your parents may just be concerned because when they were in school, homeschooling was so odd. Now it's become very popular. Do your research and gently explain what  homeschooling is like now.

Best of Luck to You!

jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com

Answer 3

Colleges actively seek out home schooled students.  The diploma you get in the public school system is just as valid as a home school diploma.  All it means is that you have completed the required courses.  DO NOT talk to a counselor at the school, they will do everything they can to convince you to stay in the system.  The school gets money for each student in attendance so it is in their best interest to keep you in the system.  If your parents are set against home schooling maybe you should stay in public school.  Home schooling is a lot of hard work and requires dedication.  If they are not up for the sacrifice it would be a disservice to your education to home school.

Answer 4

are you for real im not sure

Answer 5

Do talk to the counselor. I'm not sure if they are the ones to contact, but perhaps looking up the local school board would also be able to help you find out what is legitimate and accredited or not.

Answer 6

So not true.

The diploma you earn is worth anyone the school hands out. Any person can walk into a office store and purchase one to fill out themselves. No college even asks to see a diploma!! They want to see a transcript, ACT scores, and some referrals from volunteer work.

And no one needs an excuse to homeschool. It's a moral and legal right to homeschool, and actually the original learning method for humans. Schools are a recent invention.

Be Ware. Any counselor at school is probably not going to have either the law or the pros of homeschool in mind. People in school are part of the system and there is no incentive for knowing about homeschooling.

Answer 7

Actually, Texas is one of the few states that actually has a law stating that homeschoolers cannot be discriminated against by colleges and employers as long as they can show reasonable evidence that they have completed an education.  Or at least that law was on the books at one time, I am not 100% sure if it still is.

Regardless, colleges across the nation seek out homeschoolers and gladly accept transcripts put together by their parents, colleges rarely even ask for a diploma, they do ask if you graduated.  Homeschoolers can answer yes to that question if they have graduated homeschool.

Answer 8

Homeschools are private schools.  The diplomas are real diplomas from real private schools.

Sometimes parents make excuses about homeschooling because they are too lazy or cheap to provide a high quality education for their children.  I'm sorry about that. It is a shame that you cannot have a parent who cares more about your education.  I'm sorry.

Answer 9

Do NOT talk to the school board, counselor, or anyone associated with the school concerning your desire to homeschool. The only thing your parents need to do is withdraw you from the school by sending a letter CERTIFIED of their intent to homeschool period.

I was just at a college today discussing what they need to admit my daughter who will be a HS junior this year. All they need is a transcript from the homeschool signed by the administrator of that homeschool. Your parents would be the admin of the private school that you would attend and they would have to determine when you have shown you are educated enough to graduate with a certificate of completion. Or you can go the easy route and get your GED. Then all you have to do is give them the GED paperwork and take the Accuplacer/ THEA/ etc test so they know if you need remedial help or can go straight into College Algebra, etc. BTW, let your parents know this tidbit of info...... 50% of HS graduates in the state of TX must take remedial classes when they enter college! Hopefully that will help you in your argument for homeschooling. If you are a HS Sr. then you have taken the exit level TAKS, yes? If you did well on that test you may not even need to do the accuplacer, etc.

My husband was still leaning toward leaving our daughter in public school until she made a list of pros and cons of homeschooling (and addressed the cons), what she thought it would entail, a schedule of classes that she wants to learn, etc. She went in and talked with her father about it and he told her if that is what she wants then so be it (with Mom talking to him today about it as well. LOL)

The only things you must learn in homeschooling is reading, spelling, grammar, math and good citizenship (ie don't get into trouble). Lewisville has a private school that is accredited (or was in 2001 when I first hs'ed my oldest sons) called School for Tomorrow with correspondence courses called ACE I believe. Anyway, you work at your own pace after they placement test you and they can grade your work and keep track of it or your parents can do it. If SfT does it I believe they have a graduation ceremony and you can walk and get a paper diploma from them and again I think they are accredited by the state of Tx.

I hope I have helped in some small way. Good luck in talking with the parents.