| Regardless of the legal requirements of the state | | | | equivalent, and have that certification as their |
| in which you live, there are many benefits to | | | | testament to their secondary education. |
| keeping effective records of your homeschooling | | | | Ok, so now we know why we keep records, |
| activities. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, you | | | | how exactly do we do this? My suggestions are |
| can always answer anyone who asks what class | | | | as follows:o Document everything every day. If |
| schedule or coursework your child has completed. | | | | you don't let it pile it up it doesn't become |
| The questioner may include a collegiate institution | | | | overwhelming. This way you will also always know |
| asking because your child is a non-traditional | | | | where you stand if there are any requirements |
| student and has applied to their institution. Some | | | | you have to consider or prove (hours in school, |
| states do not require any documentation at all, | | | | etc) to your local authority, potential employer, or |
| but laws may change, and your child may one | | | | the provider of further education.o Compile a |
| day choose to enter into further education | | | | scrapbook and keep records of important events |
| interstate or even internationally. If you have no | | | | because, even though you're not doing it through |
| records of your child's education, this could be | | | | a school, your activities are still important in the |
| needlessly stressful. If you are providing a full and | | | | life of your child! This helps you and your child |
| rich education for your children, it is a wise choice | | | | create a record they can look back on with |
| to ensure that record-keeping is included as part | | | | pride.o Keep all the assignments and school stuff |
| of the mix. Some guidelines: | | | | in notebooks at the end of year. Many parents will |
| State/Provincial Audits | | | | file everything away in books to keep a record of |
| While this is not true for every state or every | | | | assignments, to be able to accurately assess their |
| situation, some states in their laws regarding | | | | child's skills in subjects, and to know what they |
| homeschooling allow the state education agencies | | | | need to work on a year to year basis. |
| to audit homeschoolers. This is to ensure that | | | | Legal considerations |
| homeschoolers are teaching their children and not | | | | I handle the legal considerations in a later article |
| just keeping them at home. It is best to look at | | | | but keeping complete and accurate records help if |
| your local state/province to see their specific | | | | you are ever in court over your homeschooling |
| requirements | | | | decision. Using these records, you can prove that |
| The answer to the question "Do you have a high | | | | you have been teaching your child and that you |
| school diploma?" varies, and may be asked by | | | | are not abusing your child by depriving them of |
| potential employers. There are several ways to | | | | education. Also, if for some reason the court |
| deal with the high school diploma situation, including | | | | forces your child back into the school system, |
| the following suggestions: | | | | you can get them into the correct grade. |
| 1. Depending on where you live, you may be able | | | | Record-keeping can be tedious, but I consider it |
| to sign and issue one to your "graduating" children. | | | | to be necessary. If you systematically record |
| 2. Private schools may issue your graduating child | | | | your child's progress on a daily basis, keeping |
| with a high school diploma if you provide them | | | | records need not be a source of stress. The |
| with the appropriate records and materials. | | | | benefits by far outweigh the inconvenience. |
| 3. Your child can take the GED, or your country's | | | | |