PASS IT ON! What To Consider When Choosing An Umbrella School

If you are a homeschooler, you probably get questions from friends and family, and quite possibly strangers, about homeschooling. How do I get started? What curriculum do I use? Do I register with the county or an umbrella school? Which umbrella school should I choose? I am sure you all have your reasons for homeschooling and for choosing your umbrella school. Start there. But there are lots of choices in Tennessee and in other states that offer this option. Here is some information you can share and maybe some things you didn’t know about umbrella schools.

With so many options available for homeschoolers, the choices can be overwhelming. It’s often hard to know what is most important to consider when choosing the organization you will partner with on your homeschool journey. Will you register with the county? Will you choose or change to an umbrella school? Many families choose an umbrella (or “cover”) school to avoid regulations like testing, others for extra support and counseling, and still others for the record-keeping options. With so many considerations going into your choice, it’s necessary to do your due diligence and understand what is expected of the umbrella school in your state.

What are the top things to consider when choosing an umbrella school?

Compliance.

What is an umbrella or cover school? In some states, the Department of Education (DOE) allows families to register with a certain type of school as a legal option for homeschooling and in order to meet compulsory attendance in their state. State Departments of Education approve these schools and the school should be listed with the DOE, not all states offer this as an option. Schools that are specifically established to provide “legal covering” for your protection should fully meet the requirements in your state to be approved and operate as an umbrella school. This is of utmost importance.

In Tennessee, for example, these schools are approved as a Category IV church-related school, and they are required for state approval to require immunization records and notify counties of student enrollments each year. Similarly, it’s imperative that your school is following guidelines for other state documentation. For example, driver’s permit forms (SF1010) are regulated by the Department of Motor Vehicles, which have their own set of guidelines for schools to follow. In TN, either a Category IV school official or school district official (if registered with the county), not the parent, must sign stating that the student is in good standing in order to get their license per state statute. This form is just one of many forms and documents that a school or county must sign affirming that your students are in enrolled and in good academic standing. This is crucial to consider when downloading forms from a school site and why it is vital for your school to have grades reported regularly; reliable reporting can confirm your student’s academic standing and enrollment should any issues or needs arise such as transferring to another school, dual enrollment, or legal issues. Your school should provide these minimal services. The easy button is not always the best button.

Another example, some schools may be registered as both a Category II school, which is typically a brick and mortar school, and also as a Category IV school, which is often a non-campus school i.e. umbrella school. So, if you are attending a school such as this, your transcripts and documentation should reflect the correct information. For example, homeschooled students with parent-issued grades should not be issued transcripts under the Category II accreditation. The school must differentiate their documentation between their Category II students and their Category IV students. 0520-07-02-.03 (a) Category II Schools: Home schools that may affiliate with an approved agency are not approvable under this category.

In Florida, cover schools are FL 600 schools, considered by statute to be private schools, and these schools will be listed in the Private School Listing on the FLDOE site. South Carolina has a homeschool association you can register with, or you can join a homeschool school/organization that has more than 50 students. These schools are listed on the Homeschool Option 3 list on the SCDOE site. In some states (like Colorado) it may be called an independent school. All of these states have particular requirements that your school must meet in order to be a legitimate option for you. In states where they don’t allow for umbrella schools, there may be little to no requirements, or registry with the county/LEA/BOE is the only option; even in these situations, a cover school is still used to provide additional service and support.

Experience.

Another factor is experience. Not only should your school have experience in homeschooling, it should have experience with your state’s laws and homeschooling regulations, a history of working with students within the state, and an understanding of all types of students and goals, not to mention experience with graduation, colleges, careers, family dynamics, legal issues, etc. Having an established and experienced umbrella school is like having insurance, knowing that you’re protected and you have the resources and support you need when you need it. Schools often have guidelines in place because they have experienced the many issues that can arise down the road, and just having someone taking the journey alongside you can prevent future roadblocks that you may be unaware of at this point.

Also note that while there may not be specific requirements for reporting, planning, or curriculum for umbrella schools, experience can help in knowing why certain things may be needed and to help with planning for the “what-ifs” that may come along. Graduation requirements are a good example of this. In some states, umbrella schools are free to set their own requirements for graduation. A school could, in this case, not have any of their own requirements, leaving these decisions entirely on the parents’ shoulders. This could mean freedom for parents who are experienced, but could be disastrous for those that are not, leaving their student in a situation that could prevent them from meeting their goals such as college, or certain career paths. At best the student in this situation could add another year of high school; at worst, they would miss scholarship opportunities or admission to a program of their choice. True experience knows things that many may not know and sees things that have been seen before. Experience is essential.

Reputation.

If you are looking for a good umbrella school, look at their reputation. Look at reviews. Are people recommending them? Are other homeschool organizations, schools, teachers, counties/BOEs, or colleges recommending them? Look at how long they have been serving families in your state. Don’t take their word for it. Ask around, look at reviews, and ask for references and testimonials from other families. Do you have a foundation in which to build a relationship of trust? Are they reputable? Are they communicating accurate information? Do they align with your values?

Customer Service. It’s good to have a school that is there for you: Schools that have multiple ways for you to contact them, schools that generally answer quickly, and schools that offer flexibility, grace, and financial help are always at the top of the list. Service to families should be at the heart of a good umbrella school. Values such as helpfulness, grace, generosity, diligence, integrity, and flexibility can translate to top-of-the-line service. Communication is critical and should be encouraged.

Value/Investment.

Most of the time, you get what you pay for. Consider the value in what you are paying for and include the points above in that value. Compliance, Experience, Service, Reputation, Dependability, and standing the test of time – investing in a student’s journey together, having “insurance” for assurance, and not having to worry.

MORE…

Still… more can and should be considered. Look at the heart of the school. The mission. The services beyond the “legal covering”. The support. The information. The knowledge. Do they offer regular communication through newsletters or emails? Do they offer videos, webinars, or articles to help you succeed? Do they offer discounts, scholarships and financial aid? Do they offer support for special needs, NCAA, military, Classical Conversations, etc.? Do they promote school spirit to connect with your students or to you as a family? Do they give back? Do they advocate? Do they ask how you are doing? Do they care about you?

There are many good options for umbrella schools and there are good people serving our homeschooling families across the country. Sometimes, the missing pieces can come from a lack of experience rather than a lack of integrity. Relationships are key. Know your school.