This presentation is for those just getting started or thinking about home based education in Alabama. We hope it blesses you as much as home education has blessed our family! There is a FREE gift for you at the end of the presentation. Romans 1:11-12 "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."

1. Homeschool
101
Prepared by:
Constance Gillon, Director
HOPE Christian Academy
Http://www.HopeChristAcad.org

2. Welcome to
HOPE Christian
Academy!
We are an educational ministry outreach of
Union Grove Baptist Church. We minister to the
needs of families that feel led to educate their
children in their own homes.
We have a FREE gift for you at the end of this presentation.

3. Topics To Be Discussed
●Legal requirements to educate children at home
●How a church school differs from a private school
●How to select a church school (if desired)
●Dis-enrolling from public/private school
●Selecting Curriculum
●Socialization
●High School – Graduation & College Acceptance
●Co-Ops, External Classes, & Dual Enrollment
●HSLDA

4. How do I legally
educate my child at
home?

5. THREE ways to educate at home:
●Private School
●Church School
●Private Tutor
“(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b),
every child between the ages of six and 17 years
shall be required to attend a public school, private
school, church school, or be instructed by a
competent private tutor for the entire length of the
school term in every scholastic year... ” Excerpt
Alabama Code 16-28-3 (2019)

6. What is a Private School?
“PRIVATE SCHOOL - Includes only
such schools that are established,
conducted, and supported by a
nongovernmental entity or agency
offering educational instruction in
grades K-12, or any combination
thereof, including preschool, through
on-site or home programs.” AL Code
16-28-1 (2019)

7. What is a Church School?
“CHURCH SCHOOL. Includes only
schools that offer instruction in grades
K-12, or any combination thereof,
including preschool, through on-site or
home programs, and are operated as a
ministry of a local church, group of
churches, denomination, and/or
association of churches which do not
receive any state or federal funding.”
AL Code 16-28-1 (2019)

8. What is a Private Tutor?
PRIVATE TUTOR: “Instruction by a private tutor means and includes
only instruction by a person who holds a certificate issued by the
State Superintendent of Education and who offers instruction in the
several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools
of this state, for at least three hours a day for 140 days each calendar
year, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., and who uses the
English language in giving instruction. Such private tutor shall, prior
to beginning the instruction of any child, file with the county
superintendent of education, where his place of instruction is in
territory under the control and supervision of the county board of
education, or the city superintendent of schools, where his place of
instruction is in territory under the control and supervision of a city
board of education, a statement showing the child or children to be
instructed, the subjects to be taught and the period of time such
instruction is proposed to be given. Such tutor shall keep a register
of work, showing daily the hours used for instruction and the
presence or absence of any child being instructed and shall make
such reports as the State Board of Education may require.” AL Code
16-28-5

9. What is the compulsory
attendance age in Alabama?
“(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b),
every child between the ages of six and 17 years
shall be required to attend a public school, private
school, church school, or be instructed by a
competent private tutor for the entire length of the
school term in every scholastic year except that,
prior to attaining his or her 16th birthday every child
attending a church school as defined in Section 16-
28-1 is exempt from the requirements of this section,
provided such child complies with enrollment and
reporting procedure specified in Section 16-28-7…..”
AL Code 16-28-3 (2019)

10. What is the deadline for
enrollment?
“At the end of the fifth day from the opening of the public
school, the principal teacher of each public school,
private school, and each private tutor, but not church
school, shall report on forms prescribed by the State
Superintendent of Education to the county
superintendent of education, in the event the school is
operated in territory under the control and supervision of
the county board of education, or to the city
superintendent of schools, in the event the school is
operated in territory under the control and supervision of
a city board of education, the names and addresses of all
children of mandatory school attendance age who have
enrolled in such schools;…” AL Code 16-28-7 (2016)

11. Who is required to report
Private School enrollment?
“At the end of the fifth day from the opening of the public
school, the principal teacher of each public school,
private school, and each private tutor, but not church
school, shall report on forms prescribed by the State
Superintendent of Education to the county
superintendent of education, in the event the school is
operated in territory under the control and supervision of
the county board of education, or to the city
superintendent of schools, in the event the school is
operated in territory under the control and supervision of
a city board of education, the names and addresses of all
children of mandatory school attendance age who have
enrolled in such schools;…” AL Code 16-28-7 (2019)

12. Who is required to report
Private School enrollment?
“At the end of the fifth day from the opening of the public
school, the principal teacher of each public school,
private school, and each private tutor, but not church
school, shall report on forms prescribed by the State
Superintendent of Education to the county
superintendent of education, in the event the school is
operated in territory under the control and supervision of
the county board of education, or to the city
superintendent of schools, in the event the school is
operated in territory under the control and supervision of
a city board of education, the names and addresses of all
children of mandatory school attendance age who have
enrolled in such schools;…” AL Code 16-28-7 (2019)

13. Who is required to report
Church School enrollment?
”…The enrollment and attendance of a
child in a church school shall be filed with
the local public school superintendent by
the parent, guardian, or other person in
charge or control of the child on a form
provided by the superintendent or his or
her agent which shall be countersigned by
the administrator of the church school and
returned to the public school
superintendent by the parent….”
AL Code 16-28-7 (2019)

14. Does anyone ever verify
that children are enrolled?
“The county superintendent of education or the
city superintendent of schools, as the case may
be, shall upon the receipt of the report from
teachers and private tutors showing the
enrollment of children of mandatory school
attendance age, compare and study the reports
with the list which has been compiled of the
children who should attend each school and
ascertain what child or children required to attend
school are not enrolled.”
AL Code 16-28-11 (2019)

15. What happens when someone
fails to re-enroll or withdraws
from a Private School?
“Each parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of any child
required to attend school or receive regular instruction by a private tutor who fails
to have the child enrolled in school or who fails to send the child to school, or have
him or her instructed by a private tutor during the time the child is required to
attend a public school, private school, church school, denominational school, or
parochial school, or be instructed by a private tutor, or fails to require the child to
regularly attend the school or tutor, or fails to compel the child to properly conduct
himself or herself as a pupil in any public school in accordance with the written
policy on school behavior adopted by the local board of education pursuant to this
section and documented by the appropriate school official which conduct may result
in the suspension of the pupil, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction,
shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) and may also be sentenced to
hard labor for the county for not more than 90 days. The absence of a child without
the consent of the principal teacher of the public school he or she attends or should
attend, or of the tutor who instructs or should instruct the child, shall be prima facie
evidence of the violation of this section.” AL Code 16-28-12(a)

16. What happens when someone
fails to re-enroll or withdraws
from a Church School?
“…Should the child cease attendance at a church
school, the parent, guardian, or other person in
charge or control of the child shall by prior
consent at the time of enrollment direct the
church school to notify the local public school
superintendent or his or her agent that the child
no longer is in attendance at a church school….”
AL Code 16-28-7 (2019)

17. Aside from the
previous topics,
what are the major
differences between a
Church School and a
Private School?

18. CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
Church School Private School
NONE PE
“Every public school and private school,
except church schools as defined in
Section 16-28-1, shall carry out a system of
physical education, the character of which
shall conform to the program or course
outlined by the Department of Education.”
AL Code 16-40-1

19. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Church School Private School
NONE ANNUAL
“At the end of the fifth day from the opening of the public
school, the principal teacher of each public school,
private school, and each private tutor, but not church
school, shall report on forms prescribed by the State
Superintendent of Education to the county
superintendent of education, in the event the school is
operated in territory under the control and supervision of
the county board of education, or to the city
superintendent of schools, in the event the school is
operated in territory under the control and supervision of
a city board of education, the names and addresses of all
children of mandatory school attendance age who have
enrolled in such schools;…” AL Code 16-28-7 (2019)

20. IMMUNIZATIONS
Church School Private School
NO REQUIREMENT REQUIRED
“The boards of education and the governing
authority of each private school shall require
each pupil who is otherwise entitled to
admittance to kindergarten or first grade,
whichever is applicable, or any other entrance
into an Alabama public or private school, to
present a certification of immunization or testing
for the prevention of those communicable
diseases designated by the State Health Officer,
except as provided in Section 16-30-3.”
AL Code 16-30-4

21. Things to consider when
selecting a Church School:
●Cost of Tuition
●Level of Accountability
●Curriculum Choice
●Lesson Plan Required
●Field Trip Availability
●Parent Support
●Mandatory Meetings
●Education Website
Memberships
●Statement of Faith
●Church Membership
●Course Counseling
●Dual Enrollment
●Transcripts
●Diplomas
●Graduation
●HSLDA Membership
Requirement

22. How do I dis-enroll my
children from school?
PUBLIC SCHOOL
1) Enroll in church or
private school.
2) Turn in enrollment
forms to your local
Board of Education.
3) Begin education and
keep good records.
PRIVATE SCHOOL
1) Enroll in church or
private school.
2) Turn in enrollment
forms to your local
Board of Education.
3) Turn in enrollment
forms to your previous
school
4) Begin education and
keep good records.

23. Choosing Curriculum
BOXED SET
Pros: Lesson Plans
& Good For Multiple Ages
Cons: Rigid Structure
& Tends To Be Expensive
Eclectic
Pros: Affordable &
Fully Customizable
Con: More Parental Work
Virtual Public
Pros: FREE Easy to Use, &
Public School Sports
Cons: Rigid Schedule
Truant If Behind On Studies
Common Core
Online Academy
Pro: Easy to Use, Affordable
& Great Record Keeping
Cons: Rigid Schedule
Little Parental Involvement
Students Always On Internet

24. SOCIALIZATION
CHURCH
Your church youth
programs are a quality
source of positive social
engagement.
SPORTS
You will find that sports
not only help students with
physical fitness but also
social skills.
CLASSES
Homeschool Co-Ops,
museums, and educational
businesses offer a wide
variety of valuable class
opportunities that also enrich
your child socially.
SUPPORT GROUPS
There are numerous online
support groups to join for field
trips, activities, and online
networking.

25. HIGH SCHOOL
CREDITS
A high school credit is a
Carnegie Unit. That equates
to 120-150 instructional
hours OR completion of a
standard text book/course.
DANCES/PROM
You will find that
dances/proms are available
to ALL local
homeschoolers through
multiple organizations.
DIPLOMAS
PRIVATE: You prepare them
for yourself or order online.
CHURCH: Most church
schools prepare them for you.
Be sure to check for fees.
TRANSCRIPTS
PRIVATE: You must prepare
them on your own.
CHURCH: Most church
schools prepare them for you.
Be sure to check the fee
schedule for transcripts.

26. DUAL ENROLLMENT
HIGH SCHOOL
PRIVATE SCHOOL
Some colleges currently will
not accept a single family
private school registration for
dual enrollment, as they
require a Memorandum of
Agreement with each school
before students may dual
enroll. Each Memorandum of
Agreement must be approved
by the President of the
college before being sent to
the school administrator.
CHURCH SCHOOL
Most church schools prepare
transcripts each term and
process all the school
administrative paperwork for
you. As part of the
Memorandum of Agreement,
schools contractually agree to
award ONE high school credit
for each 3 semester hour
class a dual enrolled student
completes. Grades are sent
directly to the church school.

27. HIGH SCHOOL
MAY STUDENTS WORK DURING THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL DAY?
“(a) No person under 16 years of age shall be employed,
permitted, or suffered to work in any occupation during
the hours in which the public schools of the district in
which the person resides are in session, unless the
minor has completed the course of study required for
secondary schools. Persons 14 or 15 years of age,
when school attendance has been waived, upon
recommendation of the local superintendent of
education and approval by a child labor inspector, may
be permitted to work in a nonhazardous occupation."
AL Code 25-8-37(a) (2019)

28. HIGH SCHOOL
WHAT ABOUT ACCREDITATION?
“Alabama Code 16-28-3 contains language
about students from an accredited school
being considered transfer students. BEFORE
that, it states, "....every child attending a
church school as defined in Section 16-28-1 is
exempt from the requirements of this section,
provided such child complies with enrollment
and reporting procedure specified in Section
16-28-7."

29. HIGH SCHOOL
WHAT ABOUT COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE?
“Any provision of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, no public two-year or four-year
institution of higher education in the state may deny
admission to or otherwise discriminate against an
otherwise qualified student based on the
consideration, whether in whole or in part, that the
student attended, graduated from, or is enrolled in a
nonpublic school, including private, church,
parochial, and religious schools, or was home
schooled.”
AL Code 16-1-11.4 (2019)

30. HSLDA
PROS: HSLDA provides legal advice and
representation to their members to support
homeschool liberty. You essentially have a legal
adviser that you can call during business hours to ask
about homeschool issues. They are a wealth of
homeschool information and lobby for homeschoolers.
CONS: HSLDA costs $120 ($100 with discount) per
year per family. You may not ever need them.
NEUTRAL: HSLDA has very conservative Christian
principles. They MAY (at their discretion) represent
non-members to support the cause of homeschool
freedom. They support a Texas style homeschooling
model; no reporting, no accountability.

31. Thank you for taking the time to
review this presentation!
This presentation is the result of many hours of research
and collaboration with fellow home educators. We pray
that this brings you comfort by increasing your
knowledge base. Please do not hesitate to contact us with
any questions or updates.
Constance Gillon
Director, HOPE Christian Acad.
See the next slide for special FREE offers!

32. FREE is always the right price!
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