In Tennessee, we have 2 options for homeschool. The first option is to choose to file an Intent to Homeschool form with our local education board. They will require you to show proof of your eligibility to homeschool (in Tennessee you have to provide a minimum of your high school diploma), your children's names, birthdates, and anticipated grade level, and your education plan laying out the curriculum you intend to use. If you are a homeschooler under your local education board, you are subject to their testing requirements and any audit they would like to conduct of your homeschool. The second option is to choose to enroll in an umbrella school. Research umbrella schools to find what you need. Here is an example of what our umbrella school offers. We use HomeLife Academy as our umbrella. I did not need to notify our local school board about our decision, nor did I even need to notify the school my child was enrolled in (though I did). HomeLife contacted everyone necessary and requested her records. With HomeLife, you still have to submit an education plan with your curriculum choices. However, you are not subject to the local school board requirements. There will be no local audits of your homeschool, and you are not required to submit to testing. HomeLife allows you to enter attendance and grades in an online system, and they provide proof of enrollment and a teacher identification card for you. They will also provide transcripts for your child.
As you can see, the one thing you need to spend time researching is curriculum. There are a lot of options, and it's worth spending a solid week researching to find what will meet a couple of requirements. First, you want a curriculum that will fit your child's learning style. But equally important is a curriculum that you are comfortable teaching. High school has requirements to obtain credit. HomeLife Academy has advisers available to help you ensure that you choose appropriate curriculum to receive high school credit. To help get you started, here is a list of frequently used curriculum providers:
The Good and the Beautiful
Torchlight
Blossom and Root
Teaching Textbooks
Christian Light Education
Abeka
Time4Learning
Easy Peasy
Calvert
Oak Meadow
Bob Jones
Saxon
Right Start
Math Mammoth
Math U See
SonLight
My Father's World
BookShark
Ambleside Online
Each of these curriculum options are available to research and see samples online. Personally, we are currently using The Good and the Beautiful, Torchlight, Teaching Textbooks, Time4Learning, and a small amount of Ambleside Online. I cannot say enough good things about The Good and the Beautiful. It truly is unlike any other curriculum I have ever used or seen, and it provides a very thorough education.
