Yes. Check the College Boards site http://www.collegeboard.org/sat/html/students/reg003.html

The College Board is committed to serving students with disabilities by providing services and reasonable accommodations appropriate to the student's disability and the purpose of the exam. Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) provides Advanced Placement (AP®), PSAT/NMSQT™, and SAT testing accommodations for students who have documented disabilities.

Ah. Yes. The "S" word. It's come down to this. Educrats and well meaning relatives are finding it harder and harder to fault the academic successes of homeschoolers so they bring up the straw man of "socialization". While most parents consider socialization to be "plays well with others" and "listens to and follows directions" it's become apparent that socialization nowadays, may mean using your children to mold our nation into a society that looks like what educrats think it ought to be. This means your child is taught and graded on how well he understands and is willing to walk out certain issues. Some of those issues being: sex and choice, environmental concerns, globalism, multiculturalism, situational ethics, drug use, politics and more.

As a parent you need to decide just how you feel about those issues and if the school's view of these issues are consistent with your lifestyles choices.

Here are links to two articles you may find interesting reads on this subject. Both articles will provide plenty of reasons not to be concerned about socialization.

"No Thank You, We don't Believe in socialization" is Lisa Russell's contribution of truth on the subject with a touch of humor.

"What about socialization?" from Leliah McCracken of BirthLove.com

"Socialization: A Great Reason Not to Go to School" by Karl Bunday of LearnInFreedom.org

It's really up to you. Lots of families do quite well with a library card and not much else. Lots of families prefer to purchase "boxed" curriculum which can run into hundreds of dollars per child. Some families spend hundreds a month. Around here with one in High school, one in Junior High and two in elementary school we spend less than $1,000 to include curriculum, internet access and members to museums and such.

According to Michael Farris, president of the Home School Legal Defense Foundation, in a March 5, 1997 Wall Street Journal editorial. "For each home-school child, the average schooling cost is $546 per year, the annual public-school per-pupil expenditure is $5,325. Both figures exclude the costs of the building in which each child is taught."

We also save a good bit in not having to have the latest clothing, lunches out, transportation to and from school, various student fees and I believe our medical bills are less since the children aren't exposed to as many viruses and diseases. I saw an ABC News segment in August '00 where the average family, preparing to send their children to school, spent $500.

Maybe. "The superintendent has the discretionary authority to waive the September 1 deadline for good and sufficient reasons." The law doesn't define "good and sufficient" and so this phrase is defined by each superintendent as he/she wishes. Sometimes in our favor and sometimes not. Ask.

Yes. You can try and register him with your LEA but if the August 1/September 1 deadline has passed your superintendent of schools may disallow this. They have that legal right under TCA 49-6-3050. They also have the right to allow the registration for what the superintendent considers 'good and sufficient reason'. If they won't cooperate your other choice is to register with a church related school.

This depends upon how you define "homeschooler". Using the word as defined in 49-6-3050 (the homeschooling code) there are about 6,000 children registered with the LEA's and church-related schools as homeschoolers in the 2005-06 school year.

The vast majority of what are known as homeschoolers are actually parents utilizing a private school satellite option to teach their own children. This number is unknown but believed to be in the tens of thousands.

11. I'm homeschooling my children and I baby sit my [niece, neighbor's child...] can I homeschool them too?

No. The Tennessee Code 49-6-3050 specifically states that a "homeschool is a school conducted by parent(s) or legal guardian('s) for their own children. There is no reason these children can't sit in on the lessons though. 

Yes. Tennessee Code 49-6-3050 (b)11 says: "In the event of the illness of a parent-teacher, or the parent-teacher's inadequacy to teach a specific subject, a tutor, having the same qualifications which would be required of a parent-teacher teaching that grade level or course, may be employed by the parent-teacher.  You may want to check with a local support group for referrals to qualified tutors.

13. I'm recovering from surgery, can a friend teach my children for a couple of weeks?

Yes. Tennessee Code 49-6-3050 (b)11 says: "In the event of the illness of a parent-teacher, or the parent-teacher's inadequacy to teach a specific subject, a tutor, having the same qualifications which would be required of a parent-teacher teaching that grade level or course, may be employed by the parent-teacher. Check with local support groups for referrals to qualified tutors.

According to Ben Brown, who is the Director of Evaluation and Assessment for the Dept. of Education, Secondary Subject Area Tests are the end of course tests given to public school students.

According to Mr. Brown, currently (2/11/00) only 9th grade Independent homeschoolers (you're signed up with the Local Education Agency) taking Algebra I would be participating. You should be notified by the LEA (since they would already be giving that child the TCAP test anyway.)  

Most homeschoolers, however, do not feel that we are subject to these tests as they don't conform to the criteria of standardized tests as outlined in the homeschooling code and we don't usually use their curriculum.  You'll may want to read through our testing page.

No. They have no authority to do most of this. It would require a search warrant as in any other case where the state seeks to enter your home.

16. Does anyone know what happens if I won't sign a SOF (Statement of Faith)?

If you won't sign it the CRS can deny your application for registration. There are a few CRS's that don't require a SOF. Check our CRS chart.

17.  Are there any Jewish synagogues that can/will/do what a CRS does?

There are none that do at this time. You may want to check the CRS Chart for the most current information.

18. Not that I intend to do so, but has anyone every challenged the constitutionality of the law that that only allows, essentially, Christian CRS's?

Not to my knowledge.

19. Regarding being registered with the state: How does the state prevent people from just saying they've taught for 4 hours per day for 180 days but who don't actually do it?

Essentially they don't. Parents are required to submit these attendance sheets to the superintendent but there is no provision in the law for enforcement. The first step would probably be someone alleging educational neglect which would probably trigger truancy or child neglect charges.

20. What's the difference between a "homeschooler" and an "independent homeschooler"?

When you register with the local education agency (school district) you are an "independent homeschooler" When you register with a CRS that reports their registrations to the LEA you are an "homeschooler". If you are registered with a CRS that is utilizing the private school satellite option you are a "private schooler". However, we all colloquially call ourselves "homeschoolers". See also #28

21. I'm planning on registering with the state. Will they give me my curriculum when I sign up?

No. The state does not provide curriculum. You are on your own as to what you use to educate your children. Consider it as absolute freedom to choose from the abundance of resources available to families now days who educate their own children.

No. The county does not have the authority to approve or disapprove whatever curriculum, or non-curriculum you choose to use.

23. My county says my son must come in this year for TCAPs even though he took them last year in the 5th grade. Is this right?

This is wrong. The law only requires homeschoolers to be tested in the 5th, 7th and 9th grades. There is a dispute about the 9th grade tests. Read through the issue as outlined at http://TnHomeEd.com/Testing.html Remember that you are allowed to be in the room with your 5th grader.

24. I understand that the Department of Education can waive the baccalaureate requirement for homeschooling high schoolers. What are my chances?

Only twice since 1985 have waivers been granted. We do have a new Commissioner whose opinion has been untested. Write if you need help.

The first waiver was granted:

"September 13, 1991, a Homeschooling family in Memphis, Hubert & Lois Van Tol, received the first exemption to the B.A. requirement from then Commissioner Charles Smith. The Van Tol family was unique. While neither husband nor wife had a B.A. degree, Hubert was in college working toward a degree and Lois was in her second year of medical school specializing in obstetrics. She had been accepted at UT Medical School without a B.A. degree because UT acknowledged as the equivalent of a B. A. her almost completed college education along with her 10 years experience as a mid-wife."

The second waiver was granted:

"January 23, 1996, the Stuart Goggans family of Harrison, TN, (outside Chattanooga) received a letter from Tennessee Dept. of Education (DOE) Commissioner, Jane Walters" [granting the exemption].

"The first year the Goggans family submitted a request to the Commissioner for an exemption was in the Fall of 1992. The request was 956 pages long; it included a statement of their religious convictions as the basis of their home schooling and also 18 letters from Tn legislators recommending that the Commissioner grant their exemption."

"The next year, in the Fall of 1993, the Goggans submitted another request for exemption with 15 additional letters of recommendation from legislators. They again received a form letter rejecting their exemption request."

"In the Fall of 1994, the Goggans again requested an exemption from then Commissioner Wayne Qualls. They never received a reply. Then again, in August 1995, with 21 additional pages and three additional legislator's letters of recommendation, they submitted their request for this school year to Commissioner Jane Walters."

"At the 1995 Middle Tennessee August Conference in Nashville, (snip) Stuart and Tamie (Goggins) were introduced to Gov. Sundquist and their request situation explained."

It was just about 5 months later that Gov. Sundquist's appointed commissioner, Jane Walters, granted this second exemption.

Here's the code that allows these exemptions:

TCA 49-6-3050(b)(7) Possession of at least a baccalaureate degree awarded by a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the state board of education, by a parent-teacher conducting classes in grades nine (9) through twelve (12). A parent-reacher may request an exemption from this requirement from the department on a year-to-year basis;

 

26. Does the school district get money for homeschoolers?

We may all consider ourselves homeschoolers but the State of Tennessee does make some distinctions which could be important at some point, especially in dealing with government entities and colleges. So here's a few definitions.

Independent homeschooler: You are registered with your LEA.

Homeschooler: You are registered with a CRS that reports it's registrants to the LEA.

Privately schooled: If you are registered with a CRS and operate as a satellite school as outlined in the Jeter Memo.

29.  Defining CRS Category numbers