HIGH SCHOOL RESOURCES
SBHN HIGH SCHOOL RESOURCES
California Homeschool Network maintains a Frequently Asked Questions page here. Please refer to it, and take a look at the information below submitted by local homeschoolers.
What coursework is required for high school students? California Education Code 51210 and 51220 list courses which must be offered, but students are not necessarily required to take those courses. If you are enrolled in an ISP, they will tell you what courses you are required to take in order to graduate. Private schools set their own requirement for graduation. You can find the specific codes here.
Here are some resources to help private schools create their own required coursework lists:
Requirements to graduate from PUBLIC high school
State by State High School Graduation Requirements
CDE Frequently Asked Questions: High School Graduates
University of California freshman admission requirements (a-g requirements)
Advanced Placement (AP) are courses that either offer an in depth, advanced study of a subject, or explore subjects outside the scope of typical high school coursework. Students headed to college may want to take AP courses in order to facilitate testing out of some college coursework. AP courses on a transcript may also look appealing to college admissions officers. These courses may be taken through private schools, or through local community colleges. Taking AP courses is NOT a requirement for college admission or for taking college Advanced Placement exams. Homeschoolers have the option of studying any subject in depth, at an advanced level, so even if your student hasn't taken courses labeled "AP", they may still opt to take AP exams at the college level to test out of coursework. Read more about AP courses on the College Board web site.
Start by reading about the process on the California DMV Site. If your student is under 17 1/2, they will need to:
complete a classroom or online course*,
THEN pass the DMV written exam at your local DMV,
THEN enroll in at least six hours of behind the wheel training through a certified local Driver's Ed School
(you can find these listed on the DMV site),
THEN practice with the parent for 6 months,
THEN pass the behind the wheel test at your local DMV.
*You don't have to use the DMV's online course. Just do a google search for "drivers ed" to find many different online courses which are often much cheaper.
There are two types of work permits in California.
The Entertainment Work Permit is for work in the entertainment business only. Download the permit here. Print the form, fill it out, and either have your ISP sign and stamp it, or, if you run a home based private school, sign the form and stamp it yourself. For some reason, the stamp is very important on this. Private schools can purchase a stamp for approximately $20 from any office supply store. Please remember that, according to California law, you are either a public or private school student, not a homeschooler. Homeschooling is not an entity that exists in our law. Do NOT offer any information on this form that is not required or attach any documentation that is not required such as transcripts or letters from your school. This will only slow down the permit process. The permit is generally good for 6 months.
The regular work permit to hold a job is available here. You must fill out this form, take it to your local public high school (in some cases a local private high school may accept these). Sometimes, your public school will refuse the permit because they cannot verify the student's attendance and academic performance. If that happens, you may try contacting your county department of education to see if they will process the permit. If all else fails, many homeschoolers opt to graduate their students early from high school since high school graduates who are at least 16 are not required to hold a permit to work.
If you are in an ISP, you will need to follow their rules for graduation and recieve your diploma from them.
Private schools graduate their students when the student has met coursework requirements as described above under COURSEWORK. The private school can create and issue a diploma.
If you choose to participate in a graduation ceremony, California Homeschool Network hosts a graduation ceremony at the annual Expo. You may participate in that ceremony, find a local ceremony for homeschoolers, or create one!
Both ISP and private school students can opt to take the California High School Proficiency Exam. This exam is NOT required to complete private high school. If you opt to take the exam and pass it, you will be granted the equivalent of a high school diploma from the state of California.
A Transcript is simply a list of courses taken, often inculding grades and credit received. If you belong to an ISP, they should create a transcript for you. If you run a home based school, you will create your student's transcript.
Private schools set their own graduation coursework requirements. The section on COURSEWORK above has resource to help with that. Here are some resources that may help you with creating your transcript:
Assigning Grades -A research paper from the College Board
Many high schools use the Carnegie Unit to assess credit hours. Here are some web sites describing this method:
What is a Carnegie Unit
Carnegie Units described by UC
Heading to College? Here are some resources you may find helpful:
College Board Planning Page. Resources to help your high school student prepare for college.
Federal Student Aid Application Site
California Student Aid Commission and CALGRANT Site
A List Of Colleges Known To Admit Homeschoolers
Local community colleges can be an excellent resource for transitioning into college and building up your high school transcript. Community colleges admit students who are 18 OR have graduated high school. They will also admit homeschoolers who are still in high school as concurrent enrollment students. Students who have acquired a certain number of credits at their community college may apply to many colleges as transfers, avoiding SATs and freshman high school transcript reviews.
To apply as a high school graduate, go through their regular application process. To apply as a concurrent enrollment student, go through the regular application process PLUS submit a K12 form signed by the student, parent and principal. Please remember that according to California law, you are either a public or private school student. Homeschooling does not exist as an entity in California law.
Local Community Colleges:
El Camino College Main Page
El Camino College High School Page
Harbor College Main Page
K12 Form
Santa Monica College Main Page
Santa Monica College High School Page
West LA College Main Page
West LA College Jump Start High School Page