Homeschool Q&A: Transferring High School Credits

This post is part of a new series titled, “Homeschool Q&A.” The series will feature questions we’ve received from parents on a variety of topics—and the answers!

Q. My homeschooled son will be entering eleventh grade and wants to attend public school. They will not accept any of his homeschool credits. What can we do?

A. Based on Virginia law, each school district makes its own policies for students transferring into government high schools whether they are public, private, or homeschooled students. The policies you mention concerning not accepting homeschool credits are similar in most other counties.

Credits for graduation begin at ninth grade. Government schools are NOT REQUIRED under Virginia law to accept credits from non-accredited schools, including private schools or homeschools. At the same time, they are NOT prohibited from accepting them. It is up to each district to determine its policy. In addition to evaluating credits, SOL tests from previous years often must be taken for placement.

Parents are no longer in control of important educational decisions when their students enter government schools, so there is little a homeschool parent can do other than object and try to negotiate. After trying to negotiate, you must ultimately submit to the policy decision of your local school board and the school counselor when sending your child back to public school.

Yvonne Bunn @ August 18, 2010