Hi I am sorry if this is a repeat question but can someone please help. I recently got information on an Umbrella School. It sounds almost too good to be true. The cost is $50 for the first child and $20 for siblings. The offer a regular diploma (not GED) and the only requirements are to verify attendance, put in grades- I can use my own Curriculum. In Florida we are required to get evaluated each year, and keep all materials for a couple of years as well as a blog, scrap book or journal. Just seems like a lot less pressure. I have a s 2nd grader and K in the fall. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much. PS the school is HomeLife Academy Thanks again!
That sounds interesting to me as well. Seems too good to be true too, though. I'll have to look into this as much as I can. Maybe you can go to Yahoo! Answers to find out as well.
That is really cheap. The umbrella schools here are run just like that except they cost around $300. They do they same things you mentioned. I am joining one next school year because it is a brick and mortar school that is state approved. They open up the band, competitive sports, music, art and gym to the homeschoolers in the umbrella. As well as spelling bee, plays and any other school activity. They also have a huge homeschool network and a diploma program. They keep the state away too, but it's not 50.00! I would be really scared if it were. Sorry not trying to hijack, I was just making a comparison. I would look into this HomeLife Academy very carefully before signing up. It does sound to good to be true. I have never even heard of it. Also make sure it is an approved umbrella by your state. If it’s not then IMO it would be a total waste of time and money to sign up.
I've read the website, and it does sound pretty good. But after all, it's just recordkeeping! I think I'd do that myself and if I wanted the diploma, I might enroll the kids at ninth grade...
We were enrolled in a local private program, umbrella, and it ran us $40 a month plus fees if Ems took classes at the private school. They offered sports, music, or any class that I couldn't teach at home, as well as fieldtrips, park days, and so on. Dances were offered to the older students, as well as a diploma. The program was accredited but we used our own curriculum. After a few years we dropped because we stopped using their services. The only thing we attended was the meetings. So basically, make sure it is legitimate and legal. Then decide if it will benefit your homeschooling experience and if the money is worth what you might be getting.
I used Homelife Academy when we lived in TN. It is inexpensive, because the founders are homeschoolers themselves, and they created an umbrella school better fit the needs of the growing hs community. In TN, you cannot homeschool high school students unless you have a college degree. That, along with required attendance and testing, mean many families choose an umbrella as a loophole. The diploma must be pretty new, but I know they have grown tremendously. David Parkerson is the founder. In the beginning he was always available to answer any questions you might have. I think they have counselors now, but I'm sure they could help you. Once enrolled in HomeLife, you are no longer "technically" a homeschooler, but enrolled in a private school that allows its kids to learn at home. As a side note, the Parkerson family moved to a commune that some consider a cult (Rose Creek Village) in 2007. Some felt they could not support the Parkerson's as they would also be supporting the commune. I didn't leave until I moved, because a move was already in the works. I'm not sure whatever happened with it. I don't know if they are still there. I just know it was an issue for some people.
I use HomeLife Academy,this is our second year with them.They have been wonderful to deal with,are very inexpensive,always answer questions in a timely manner,and have the online grade reporting. A lot of families here use them,and I have never heard of anyone having any problems.Here,most families use an umbrella school,just to make things easier.Technically,with them I am considered a "member"of the faculty,with my home being a satellite of their campus.It is a loophole for us to use in order to homeschool through high school.
Food for thought. If you are interested in the umbrella school because they give you a diploma, please realize anyone can make a diploma. Offering a diploma alone, I realize they offer more, does not imply anything. What I am trying to say is that a diploma is not a (can't think of the word) certified certificate that your child finished school. As a mom I created a diploma that universities accepted. These universities were open to receiving homeschoolers. Also, I am not against umbrella schools. I seriously considered it when our daughter was entering high school.
I can see where you are coming from, but please... don't jump into joining something just because you are scared of getting an annual eval and keeping a record of what you do. A diploma means little in the eyes of a college.. what they are going to look at is a transcript, which by the sounds of this umbrella school, you would have to keep yourself anyway, and the children's SAT scores. Heck you can print your own diploma if you feel they need that piece of paper, or you can even join something at the highschool level (cyber schools, diploma programs, etc). But signing up just to get a piece of paper and getting out of having an annual eval and record keeping isn't always a wise decision.
WOW really cheap for umbrella school! I have friends who head up one it is way more than that , which is why I dont join lol. One reason anyway. The other is that we do thinks a little different in our schooling and they actually have tons of classes youc an sign up for the lady who is over it helps grading and report cardstuff too... so to me its too much work to join it. lol sounds funny? Yeah, probably. I would check into it, find out what any other homeschooling families do who are in it.. it may be helpful for you, but would have not worked out for me.
Incidentally, I spotted several spelling errors while perusing the website, like "board" for "bored" and something with 's when s would have been right. I guess it stood out to me more because it's supposed to be dealing with education -- would have blown it off, but it's supposed to be professional, y'know?
I just found another mistake at a quick glance through... I know the lady who was once in charge of their website. I wonder if she still is.
This is our 2nd year w/HomeLife Academy. We are in East TN and most hs'ers around here use them. I've had nothing but wonderful contact with the counselors. They keep our transcripts, I fill in with extra goodies ie Cub Scouts, AWANA, community service etc.....BTW, from what I understand, the diploma is a state diploma...not something that someone printed up to make you feel better
Thank you all who responded. Several of you made good points such as just getting out of the eval and the "diploma" as being an issue. Just a note-my sis has a masters degree and graduated with a GED. Anyway several issues are going to make me research this more such as how important accreditation is. (Homelife academy is NOT accredited) but like I said not sure how important that factor is. Being in FL we can school through High School so that is also not an issue. Some Umbrella Schools do seem like money makers while the more recognized ones are a bit pricier. Again thank you all, I will do my research before jumping in.
We're in Florida too. Here's a free umbrella school: http://www.freewebs.com/floridaunschoolers/index.htm... If you are just trying to avoid the evaluations, why not just use the free umbrella school and then you can use something different if you want for high school.
If it's not accredited, then it is 100% the same as you printing out a diploma on your own, it's not a state recognized diploma like rhettsmommy believes it is. But again, you don't need a diploma or even a GED to get into college as a homeschooler
I've heard of many parents having their high schoolers take a handful of community college classes to help with college entrance. Plus it gives them college credit.
I felt the need to elaborate: due to recent changes in TN legislation, a category IV school's diploma (ie HomeLife Academy) now receives the same "respect" as a public school diploma. So, while it is not accredited I do have reassurance. While I realize that you don't need a diploma or GED to be accepted into a college/university, I do believe that a transcript/diploma may be beneficial. HomeLife will also forward your transcript to the colleges of your choice, as well as help you with curriculum/placement questions. In TN, if you do not enroll w/an umbrella school then your option is to register through the school board as a homeschooler (this option doesn't sit well with me for a multitude of reasons). Those are the only options that I am aware of, please let me know if I'm mistaken on that point. Every state is different concerning their hs'ing laws, but this is how I've understood TN's.
