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The best information we got when we began to homeschool was from the people in our area that already homeschooled. Our school system was of no help to us. After all, it costs them money every time a child is taken out of their "system". I looked in our local paper for homeschooling parent meetings. I then called the number provided and started asking questions. Homeschoolers are very eager to give out information that will enable another family to make this choice. We found out what schools, if any, they were affiliated with and then began to contact the schools. I found that homeschooling through a Christian affiliated church school was the easiest and it allows my child to receive a diploma, not a GED. Make sure it is an umbrella school. Not all schools can give your child a diploma nor can credits from all schools be used when applying to colleges. I found it easier to go through a local home based christian academy because they were familiar with our state's requirements. I have dealt with some people who have horror stories of their child being enrolled in an out of state program only to find out they cannot graduate with a state diploma or GED because they didn't meet their state's requirements. The school should make things easy. I turn in two semester grade reports and attendance to the school and they take care of the rest. They schedule his yearly testing and make sure that the state knows he is not truant. They also offer tutorial classes and field trips along with many other activities throughout the year. The cost where my son is enrolled is very nominal and I am able to buy prepared curriculum through them or use my own. I prefer the ones already packaged, because I know my son is getting everything he needs and I am not missing anything important. It is also easier to manage the daily lesson plan this way. All homeschool programs I have checked with in the state of Tennessee require 180 days a year with at least 4 hours being devoted each day to school work. That doesn't seem like a lot, but when you take into consideration that we don't have to schedule breaks, lunch, or recess and other activities for a whole class, 4 hours is a significant amount of time to complete the work load.

Learn more about this author, Mechelle Brawner.
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