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A homeschooling mom in Maryland writes:

"We use an umbrella school. This gives us the freedom to unschool our teenage son without state oversight. Otherwise we must follow state curriculum requirements, maintain traditional records, and submit to local supervision. We believe unschooling is our son's only chance to break out of the failure and defeat he experienced in public school special education programs."

Umbrella schools and independent study programs (ISPs) – defined simply as schools that help homeschoolers homeschool – come in more flavors than Baskin-Robbins ice cream. Most are private; some are run by public school districts. Many are Christian; an increasing number specify no religious worldview. Some are highly structured; others boast complete flexibility with respect to what your teenager learns, how he learns, and when he learns it.

While not for everyone, homeschooling families around the country use ISPs and umbrella schools for different purposes. Should you consider one? To help you answer that question, two sections follow: (1) reasons homeschoolers use ISPs and (2) questions for any umbrella schools and ISPs on your short list.

Reasons for ISPs

No Government. In some states, umbrella schools are an excellent way to protect yourself from inappropriate government demands. Do you find your district's or state's curriculum, testing, and reporting requirements unreasonable or even inexcusable? No problem. Satisfy the compulsory attendance statutes by enrolling your teenager in a umbrella school (ideally one with a flexible program). Clonlara Home Based Education Program in Michigan (see sidebar) is an example of one independent study program that has considerable experience dealing with difficult school districts.

Accredited Diploma. Some families homeschooling older kids say they use independent-study schools, like the traditional, structured American School in Illinois, because they want "an accredited diploma". Actually, in such cases, it is the school – not the diploma – that is accredited. The graduate earns a diploma from an accredited institution, not an accredited diploma.

Why are homeschooling families concerned about accreditation? Primary for college admissions, it seems. While my research indicates that most colleges do not require a diploma from an accredited institution, policies do change. For this reason, query colleges and universities about diploma requirements before your teenager enrolls in an independent-study school.

Additionally, illegitimate accreditors exist. Ask individual umbrella schools about their exact type of accreditation to assure a match with any college or university you may find that requires graduation from an "accredited program."

Independent Evaluations. Another lure of ISP's for some teenagers? They seek external assessment and validation. One mother writes, "We have always homeschooled Mark, who told us recently that he preferred to deal directly with other adults for academics. At age 14, he wants to bypass the 'parent' filter. He also likes working in a structured manner, for grades. An independent-study program provides these."

Group Activities/Resources. Some local umbrella schools provide a cornucopia of activities and resources that rivals anything offered at local public and private schools -- everything from choirs and orchestra to science and foreign language to competitive sports like basketball. Umbrella schools also may maintain resource rooms with microscopes, laboratory equipment, foreign language videos, and much more.

Money. I hear most often from Alaskans about public fund reimbursements for homeschoolers enrolled in their public school independent-study programs (ISPs). The minor attached strings and substantial monetary compensation makes Alaska sound like homeschooling nirvana.

Some Alaskan school districts give families roughly $1,000 per year per kid to spend on supplies and equipment, plus a family computer and internet access. Principal restriction? Money cannot be spent for religious materials. My homeschooling friends in Alaska use the funds primarily for music and horseback riding lessons, math manipulatives, science materials, foreign language videos, and reference materials.

There are other public school independent-study programs throughout the nation, but few as generous (or as minimally intrusive) as those in Alaska. In California, many school districts have public school independent study programs. Unfortunately, many of these require that you use the public school curriculum and submit to weekly teacher visits and yearly standardized testing. Still, some families welcome the free books and appreciate the teacher support.

Get Your Feet Wet. Some homeschooling teenagers choose independent-study schools to give themselves a taste of traditional academics prior to college. One mother writes, "I fear my daughter would be the 'rabbit frozen in the headlights' if her first exposure to tests, textbooks, note-taking, and grading occurred in college. She's told me she prefers a foretaste at home."

Record-Keeping. Not a few families say they use umbrella and independent-study schools for record-keeping. With data you submit and/or from test grades, the school grants credits, assigns grades, computes a GPA, sometimes even assigns a class rank – all to create an official transcript.

Of course, with preplanning or with a lot of hot coffee and a couple of all-nighters (for us procrastinators), you can write your own transcript (see my book "And What About College?": How Homeschooling Leads To Admissions To The Best Colleges and Universities for more record-keeping details for grades 6-12). Some argue, though, that an external transcript is more believable than one hatched on your word processor. Others say, "I would rather walk ten miles in a snowstorm than write a transcript," and happily delegate the paperwork.

Covering All The Bases. Some families choose independent-study schools to ensure that their teenagers receive a "well-rounded education." After years of perusing scope and sequence listings (Who Learns What When), I have yet to figure out what constitutes The Best Set of Facts and Skills and Attitudes. Nevertheless, you and your teen may find a compatible program, one that gives you confidence you have crossed all the T's, dotted all the I's.

Expertise For Difficult Subjects. Lastly, a few families have told me that they prefer using independent-study schools because they offer difficult subjects, like lab science or foreign language. Having French on video or high school chemistry with a kit and teacher you can contact anytime by phone or email attracts many.

Shop Smart

Ready for some window shopping? Here is my link to a list of diploma-granting, national-enrollment umbrella schools and independent-study programs. You should add your local and state umbrella schools to this list (get names and addresses from homeschooling support groups in your area). What follows are questions to help you narrow down the resulting list.

The questions do not have "right" answers. Instead, use information the schools give you (1) to find the best fit for your teenager and (2) to decide if you need an umbrella or independent-study school at all. To discuss independent-study schools with current users, check out the Independent-Study High-School Message Board.

• What is the educational philosophy and worldview of your school or program?
• Will you mediate with local school officials if they have objections to our teenager's enrollment in your school? (Obviously not a question to ask of public school ISPs.)
• What are the backgrounds of the owners/founders/operators of the school or program?
• What are the backgrounds of the staff? Were they public school teachers, private school teachers, homeschooling parents?
• How much access does the enrollee have to mentors, support teachers, administrators? 800 number? E-mail?
• How many years have you been in business?
• How do you deliver formal coursework? Strictly by mail? Via modem/computer? Video and audiocassettes?
• What are your fees? Does this include all books, study guides, and extra materials like laboratory equipment and foreign language tapes? Do fees include the diploma?
• How many enrollees do you have? How many graduate each year? What are your alumni doing now?
• How many mentors and support teachers do you have? If you assign one mentor/teacher to each homeschooler, how many teenagers are assigned to each instructor?
• What is your turn-around time to return graded and evaluated work to the enrollee?
• What records do we need to keep? How do you assign grades?
• Does your school or program offer foreign language? Which languages and how many years?
• How about a laboratory science? Which science courses include a lab?
• To complete grades 9-12 in four years, approximately how many hours each day do enrollees average using your materials?
• Can enrollees test-out or challenge required courses?
• What is your money-back-guarantee time period for review of initial materials?
• How do you assign credit for previously completed high school work?
• Can enrollees work on materials at their own pace? What is the minimum enrollment period to earn a diploma?
• If your school has a fixed course of study, can we make reasonable substitutions (e.g. World Literature for English Literature or Bookkeeping for Consumer Math)?
• If you offer "computer" courses, what, exactly, does that mean? E-mail with instructors? With other students? Synchronous, on-line classes? Self-paced on-line classes? Integration of the WEB into instruction?
• What do your transcripts include? Do you give credit for volunteering/sports/music/etc.?
• What additional services do you offer? On-line classes, graduation ceremonies, resource rooms, activities, conferences?

© 1999 Cafi Cohen. All rights reserved.