Homeschool and Beyond A guide to high school and post-high school preparation Tonight’s handouts and notes will be available at omahahomeschool.com

Am I able to teach high school so that my children will be prepared for their future? --Learning along with your child: textbooks often have teacher guides, CDs, videos, lesson plans, tests, and quizzes ----Community college: Metro (online classes and in person, Career Academies, College Track) --Group classes: the Learning Center, Classical Curriculum, Regina Caeli, Veritas, Omaha Virtual School, etc.

Resources to Teach High School (cont’d) -Online high school courses and distance learning programs -- Families group together and hire a teacher; --Tutors--Part Time at Christian or public schools (Omaha Christian Academy, Trinity Classical Academy, Saint Barnabus, and others. --Local opportunities: extracurricular activities (sports, debate, choir, etc.)

Resources to Teach High School (cont’d) --DVD, video, or CD courses (such as Teaching Textbooks, Rosetta Stone, etc.) --State conventions/speakers: NCHEA, Nebraska Homeschool, HOPE --Support Groups/Facebook Pages --Web Resources See handout for websites that offer free monthly emails, brochures, timelines, and other resources.

What does my child need to graduate high school? Not much. Nebraska is one of a few states which has no minimum standards for graduation. Each school district—and you—determines graduation requirements. So you can graduate your child at any time. But this is not helpful. Instead, ask

What does my child want to do after high school? --“I don’t know” --but do you know what they aren’t going to do? Med or vet school, elite college (including College of the Ozarks and Hillsdale)? --If not one of the previous, you may be able to worry less about (or eliminate) ACT scores and some higher level classes (chemistry, calculus, Victorian Literature) --Consider: Work / Family business / Entrepreneur / Wife and Mother / Vocational school / Associate’s Degree / Military / 4-year degree or higher

What is required for the military? GED currently works for all branches except the Marines What is required if they want an Associates Degree? Most community colleges do not require a diploma (including Metro). Check out what different Associate Degrees require: Respiratory Therapy Welding Transfer (A to B)

Some of the classes required for an associates degress in Respiratory Therapy

Some of the classes required for an associates degree in welding

https://mccneb.edu/Academics/Programs-of-Study/Liberal-Arts-and-Sciences-General-Studies.aspx

How does my child get a diploma if they are interested in a 4-year college? 1. DIPLOMA (a paper certifying completion of high school): rarely needed 2. TRANSCRIPT: needed for colleges and university but not typically for community colleges (Metro—not needed) 3. GED: mostly unneeded; some homeschoolers think it has negative connotations. (Accepted by most military and some colleges, such as UNO, which reserves the right to ask for extra courses based on score)

What Colleges Want From You 1. An ACT score (Univ Neb: 20 or top half of class) [or successful college experience] Students who score lower may be accepted on a provisional basis and required to take a one semester course in College Success. 2. A transcript that you create 3. A copy of the last NE Department of Education filing confirmation 4. A transcript of transfer credits sent from the community college 5. Money

What Colleges Don’t Want From You A list of electives Course descriptions Worksheets Book titles Clay model of Chimney Rock

Which high school classes are required by 4-year colleges? For UNO and many universities: English - 4 years (may include speech or journalism if they include substantial amounts of reading and writing) Math - 3 years, including Algebra I, II, and Geometry. Social sciences - 3 years: 1 unit American or world history; 1 unit of history, American government or geography; and 1 unit of any social science.

Classes usually required by 4-year colleges Natural sciences - 3 years: 1 from biology, chemistry, physics or earth sciences. 1 of these needs laboratory instruction. Foreign languages - 2 years (same language; Sign Language typically taken). Students without this will be required to take it at their university. Some specific colleges (such as engineering) have more rigorous math and science entrance requirements. Additional Academic Requirement: 1 year-long unit chosen from the above academic disciplines.

GPA calculators can be found online. (There’s a good one listed on your handout.) Metro Classes Count as high school and college credit. Typically a college class is counted as a full year high school class. Usually transfer to other colleges (articulation)

High School Academic Philosophy Should your transcript be a precise report of your child’s academic career --or-- a report similar to the transcripts of conventional schools? Understanding the practices of schools gives you more freedom in developing your transcript.

High School Academic Philosophy (cont’d) --When is a course complete? --How do I grade? --Can I create courses from unit studies?

Making College Affordable --FAFSA Grants: Apply the October of the student’s senior year --Scholarships --Metro’s Board of Governors’ Scholarship: --Regents (ACT 30 for 2019-20) --Jobs

Resources for Transcripts and Planning [HANDOUT]