If you’re a parent who’s homeschooled a child for a certain period of time, you may now be considering enrolling them in a public school. This is a major transition for a student, as the educational environment and expectations for a student in a public school are typically very different from what they are when homeschooled.
Additionally, the process in order to properly enroll your child in a public school can also be complex. In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to do in order to enroll your homeschool child in public school.
What Do You Need to Know Before Enrolling?
Before enrolling, there are a few key considerations you need to make. First, schools often require different enrollment procedures depending on the district in which you reside. It’s important to contact the school and school district in order to receive appropriate instructions and forms which may be required to complete the enrollment process.
Additionally, it’s also important to familiarize yourself with the school’s policies regarding enrolling a previously homeschooled student. These usually differ from school to school and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and can have a major impact on what needs to be done when enrolling.
Finally, you may also need to provide homeschool records for the previous year (or years) in order to properly transition the student’s education into the public school system. These include documents such as your child’s homeschool curriculum and grades, as well as any assessments that may have been completed over the years.
How Do You Enroll a Previously Homeschooled Child?
The first step in enrolling a previously homeschooled student into a public school is to contact the school and district, as previously mentioned. Each school likely has an admissions process and packet of information you must complete in order to enroll.
These are typically available online and contain crucial information regarding the specific enrollment procedures, types of documents and information needed, and any testing requirements, if any. Next, you’ll also need to provide proof of residency, as this will be necessary in order to enroll them in the school’s district. Again, the school district and school in which the student will be attending will have specific requirements for providing adequate proof of residency.
If your child has completed the homeschooling curriculum for the current school year, their prior work must also be examined by the school. Most schools require that the homeschool record be certified by a licensed teacher or administrator.
In addition, the school may also require an evaluation of the student’s work to ensure they are placed at the appropriate grade level and are ready to transition into the school setting.
What Impact Will Enrolling Have on the Student?
When enrolling a previously homeschooled student in a public school, there are various impacts that it can have on their education and lifestyle. The biggest impact for the student is the transition from being responsible for learning material, taking exams, and completing assignments from home to the building setting. It’s important to have a discussion with the student regarding expectations of accountability, attendance, and participation in order to ensure that they’re prepared for the different atmosphere.
Another aspect to consider is the feeling of isolation or being out of the loop. Homeschooled students often go many years without the traditional social interaction of peers of their age and in the same grade, so the transition to a public school can initially be overwhelming.
Encourage your child to take part in social activities and after-school programs during their public school career, in order to help them grow more comfortable and engaged in the school situation. Finally, it’s important to recognize that a significant transition like this could be felt not just by the student, but also by you as the parent.
Homeschooling is often a very hands-on process and parents can experience the same sense of isolation and unease as the student when they no longer have day-to-day involvement in the schooling process. Encourage yourself to reach out to other parents, joining parent groups both at the school and in your local community, in order to ensure that you have the necessary support during this transition.
Conclusion
When considering enrolling a homeschooled child in a public school, it’s important to remember that this is a major change for both the student and the parent. The transition can be difficult for a student, who may have gone years without the traditional classroom environment and peer interaction, as well as the parent, who may have been the primary educator for their child throughout the homeschool journey. It’s also important to stay organized and follow the school’s enrollment protocols.
Contact the school district and school in order to receive the appropriate forms and guidance, and provide any necessary records or evaluations of the student’s academic progress. Finally, be sure to discuss the expectations and potential impact with your child to ensure they’re prepared to make the transition.