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credit is 120 hours of instructor and student time. Most consider credits to be 120 to 180 hours study time. However, for homeschoolers who do not wish to track their actual class time, you can figure one credit has been earned when your child completes 85 - 90% of their highschool text book.

Tracking credits earned, however, is not enough. If your child plans to attend college, they will need to earn specific credits. To determine which credits they will need, contact three or four colleges before your child start highschool and obtain their specific credit requirements. This allows you to design your course curriculum to cover the basics.

Grades - remember this is an official document. The way you record your child's grades must follow the standard method. Record your child's grades using A, B, C, D, F. While you may include + or - , they are not required.

Each grade is also given a value. A simple way to do this is A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0. You will use these values to determine your child's GPA.

GPA - CREDITS BY SUBJECT - RANK IN CLASS

GPA - Your child's GPA is determined by multiplying the grade points earned in a course times the credit's earned in the course. Add the total grade points earned. Divide this total by the credits earned.

While this method works, a far simpler option is available. Back 2 College has a simple GPA calculator which allows you to enter the course title, credits earned, and grade received. It calculates your child's GPA. Furthermore, the website describes the process and gives visual examples to help you understand how the GPA is determined.

Credits by subject - a total compilation of the credits earned. For example:

Language Arts credits: 4

Math credits: 4

Social Studies credits: 4.5

Etc.

Rank in class - although most suggest you include these words on your child's transcript, they are not applicable to a homeschool setting. Thus you would write: "Rank in class: N/A"

GRADING SCALE - Do not forget this part. This is the scale' you used to determine your child's grades and GPA. It looks something like this:

A 92- 100% 4.0

B 83 - 91% 3.0

And so on

STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES - test names, dates given, and scores received.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES - a list of your child's activities including the grade year in which they participated (9th, 10th, etc). Include volunteer work, church activities, sports participation, and employment.

AWARDS - the special recognitions your child has received. Employee of the month. Service Awards. Contest Awards. Sports Awards. Etc.

Because a transcript has very limited space, you may need to attach an addendum sheet to record your child's extra-curricular activities and awards. If you do so, under Extra-Curricular Activities write "see attached". Do the same for Awards.

SIGNATURE - EVERY transcript must be signed by the school principle'. For homeschools, this means you, Mom or Dad, must sign the transcript. Do not worry about titles (i.e. principle), but do include any degrees you have earned after your signature (i.e. M.D., B.S., etc)

That is all your child's transcript must include. However, as you compile their transcript, there are a few important aspects you should keep in mind:

One - begin early. Most recommend parents begin preparing for their child's transcript while their child is in Junior High School. This allows the child to begin taking high school courses in Junior High, if they so desire. It also allows parents to begin laying out their student's course work to make the process as simple and painless as possible.

Two - be inflexible. A transcript does not require you to be excessively rigid in your homeschool's requirements. If your student takes 4 months to complete their Algebra 1 text, fine. They've earned their credit. On the other hand, if it takes two years to complete, fine. The credit is earned at the end of that time.

Three - do not procrastinate. As your student's graduation date approaches, give yourself plenty of time to prepare their transcript. No one does their best work when rushed. Details will be missed. Quality will be lacking. Take your time and create a document of which you can both be proud.

Four - keep documentation. While the transcript is a very concise certificate allowing little to no room to prove' its contents, you must be prepared to produce this proof, if requested.

Five - consider including a portfolio to accompany your child's transcript. Not only is a portfolio an excellent opportunity to highlight some of your child's particular achievements and abilities, it also provides a college with a better understanding of your child's individuality. In fact, while a transcript is required, a well-done portfolio can actually make or break your child's chances for a scholarship.

Transcripts require diligence and work from both the parent and their child. However, they are an incredibly important document well worth the time and effort if done right. To further help you compile your transcript, here are a few sites which offer sample transcripts or blank transcripts:

Higher Ed

HSLDA

Taylor Edu

For a comprehensive overview of the entire process, this Oklahoma Homeschool site is hard to beat. If you prefer reading a book, "Transcripts Made Easy" by Janice Campbell, is a wonderful resource for transcript newbies.

One more excellent resource which was designed to help homeschooling parents and students prepare portfolios, but which is also a great source for logs and forms helpful in transcript preparation, is this 33 page Homeschool Learning document.

High school transcripts may seem intimidating, but they do not have to be. They are important. Fortunately, they are also quite straightforward.

Learn more about this author, Lerrina Collins.
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