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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 12:39pm | IP Logged
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My sister --after one day of kindergarten  -- has decided she'd probably like to homeschool. I told her I'd help her figure out how. I'm looking at the Tennessee laws, and they're a little confusing. It looks as if she could register as an independent homeschooler for a fee since it's past August 1, and otherwise she has to sign up with a church-related school?
Can somebody give me any pointers to pass along to her? (PM me if you'd rather.)
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Anne
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| Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 1:03pm | IP Logged
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Hey Angela,
We have always signed up with a church related school. The one I use is Daniel 1 Academy. They do not have a statement of faith and have very few requirements. I live near Chattanooga, TN. If your sister is close you can have her call me for any further information. PM me for my phone number.
Blessings,
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Anne in TN
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8kids4me
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Is TN an "easy" state to school in(well I guess any state is easier than my state...NY)? We are looking at TN or AL when we leave here in a couple of years. I also have a daughter who will be homeschooling in 4 years, and she can pick TN or KY as her home state.
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CandaceC
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| Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 1:31pm | IP Logged
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Hi there, like Anne we have always signed up under a church school. This doesn't mean that they really have any "say" in what we do...it is just our covering.
Homelife Academy
Basically I signed up with them because it is easy - I can do it all online without having to attend meetings to register or throughout the year.
Also, they do not require testing.
I am just east of Knoxville, let me know if I can help anymore, I'm happy to! 
ETA: I think it is very easy. I turn in a list of what curriculum I use and then attendance and grades at the end of each semester. That is it!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
His Mercy Is New
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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 2:08pm | IP Logged
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How detailed do you have to be about the curriculum you submit to these places? She'd be pulling her ds this week and would need to register fairly quickly, right?
(She's in the Nashville area, btw.)
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Anne
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| Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 3:12pm | IP Logged
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Angel wrote:
How detailed do you have to be about the curriculum you submit to these places?
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You do not have to be super detailed. I just put down the curriculum, say Singapore Math, for math. When I really do not have a specific curriculum I simply say what type of learning we will be doing. ie US History 1800-1900. If she has not decided what items to use she can be quite vague at first and when she has made a final decision she can update her information. It is really her choice. My umbrella school is so easy going that I call and speak to the same person each time.
I am not sure of other states regulations. I do know that I like homeschooling in TN. I feel very free to school in the manner I please with out the hassle of anyone looking over my shoulder.
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Anne in TN
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SallyT
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We used Homelife Academy, too, Angela, and LOVED them. Would still be with them if we were still in TN. They are very easy to work with and all online, so that it's a cinch to register, submit grades, etc. Plus they have a wonderful counseling staff.
They respect a parent's authority in selecting curriculum (the people who run the school are quite unschooly themselves, so they definitely respect "out of the box" thinking when it comes to home learning), and all they really want is a rough educational plan for the year, which can be lists of books, lists of resources (I think I listed the library, the Children's Museum, and the Pink Palace as "science" the first year we homeschooled). If she emails them with questions about what a "plan" would entail, they'll guide her through it. They understand pulling out of school on a moment's notice, and they get that a parent in that circumstance might not have detailed plans worked out. Happens all the time.
I can't say enough good about Homelife as an umbrella school, and they do fulfill TN state requirements. If you're registered with them, you do NOT have to register with the state, and you're essentially considered a satellite campus of a private school. With Homelife, you don't have to do state-mandated testing, or any testing of any kind, unless you choose to.
All she'd have to do would be to go to the Homelife site and follow the directions for registration. They also would want her current school to forward them a copy of her records (a whole week's worth!). She could do that very quickly and easily. They're used to this kind of thing, too -- people are always pulling out of school at "weird" times, and they roll with it.
I'm now in NC, still waiting for my paperwork with the state to go through (though I'm not really waiting -- we're carrying on as usual, even though I put on the form that we were "beginning" in September) . . . Up to now we've only homeschooled in TN, but we've always found it to be incredibly easy to cope with the requirements, and nobody ever hassled us.
So that's my plug for Homelife! We really did love them (and I still use the grade-reporting service, which is great).
Good luck to your sister!
Sally
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SallyT
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Oops, I mean, a whole day's worth of school records!
Sally
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 7:40am | IP Logged
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Angel wrote:
(She's in the Nashville area, btw.)
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Angela - I wish my mom weren't so out of the loop with the homeschooling scene in Nashville (she homeschooled my brother and sister - but my sister graduated about 10 years ago) or I'd send her mom's info to get her set up with info and contacts - she used to coordinate all the groups in the Nashville area. When she started there were no Catholic groups, now there are many and spread out all over Nashville.
My sister goes to church at Assumption in downtown (Germantown section) Nashville and there are a heavy concentration of homeschoolers there. It might be a good idea to head to Mass there a couple of times to make some contacts.
Catholic homeschooling in the Nashville area has taken off, and there are a number of wonderful opportunities available as well as support! The legal requirements for the state of TN aren't that bad as the other ladies here have attested to.
 Wish her luck from us and let her know it is completely do-able!!
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 7:42am | IP Logged
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8kids4me wrote:
| Is TN an "easy" state to school in(well I guess any state is easier than my state...NY)? We are looking at TN or AL when we leave here in a couple of years. I also have a daughter who will be homeschooling in 4 years, and she can pick TN or KY as her home state. |
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We're in AL, Cindy!! You can pm me anytime if you're looking for more information or requirements for AL state law. It is pretty easy and hands-off to homeschool here, not as hands-off as some states, but the requirements are minimal.
We're in North AL, btw.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 21 2008 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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Thanks to everyone! I've passed on all the info.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: homeschooling in Tennessee?
