For students struggling through high school and faced with dropping out and getting a GED (General Equivalency Diploma), a homeschool diploma is also a legitimate option.
Students struggle with high school for different reasons. Some of the problems are social; others are academic. Regardless of the reason your high school aged homeschooler is facing dropping out of school, their only option for showing they have completed high school is get a GED. A GED however, may suggest to future employers, or prospective colleges that your child is damaged goods.
There is a certain stigma to the GED. It means, for the most part that the student was not capable of completing a high school program and getting a diploma. In many cases however, getting the GED is a lifesaver to a child who dropped out due to a family problems, personal problems, or even school problems. Instead of the GED showing that a student found a way to succeed, it often indicates the opposite.
For families who are determined to have their child finish high school away from the school, a homeschooling diploma will erase much of the stigma of the GED. You cannot however, simply issue your child a homeschool diploma in the place of a GED. You will need to back it up with a high school portfolio in the place of a high school transcript that would normally go along with a regular high school diploma. This means the parent would have to evaluate all of the classes the child has completed, compare and apply work experience to courses needed, and use online courses or local classes, or other study to complete the requirements for a diploma.
This solution is not the answer for all students facing dropping out and studying for a GED. You need a child and parent who are dedicated to a quality high school education, to make it work. You will need an excellent work ethic, and be ready and able to commit a great deal of time and energy to the homeschooling process. The good news is a dedicated student can complete two years of high school in one year’s time using this approach.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!