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By Root 379 0

day a month getting the billing out for Greg. They all take chemistry one morning a month, and we have park day every Thursday. Twice a month we have writing club here, followed by a sign language group in which we are all learning American Sign Language. Usually we get to at least one museum a month because I am intensely interested in art and study art history. In fact, Curtis sits in on the first half hour of my art history class before his rehearsal starts, and he gets these brief views of things like Greek pottery or Roman sculpture of heads. I am always amazed at how much he remembers (probably more than most of the class, which is there for a full three hours). We also walk the dogs each day—whoever has the time—and we cook and clean, although not enough. Mostly we all live together.

We have never had formal lessons, although the kids have used texts at times, more so as they got older and had specific things to study, like higher math or drivers’ ed. I think we have many more things that are structured learning programs now than when the kids were young, but it’s mostly by their own choice that they use them.

Finishing Early

No matter what their style of homeschooling, homeschooled teens often finish their secondary-level work and are ready to move on to something more challenging by fifteen or so. Because most states compel school attendance until at least age sixteen and often until eighteen, you’ll need to check carefully into your state’s regulations about graduation and diplomas. If your teen is enrolled in a private program that grants diplomas, or if state regulations allow you to grant your own diploma, you should have no problem; if not, you’ll have to make sure you won’t run afoul of truancy regulations.

Taking the GED (General Educational Development) exam is one option. There are five tests (writing, literature, social studies, math, and science), each about sixty to ninety minutes long. Although the tests are the same nationwide, each state establishes its own rules for who is eligible to take the tests and for minimum scores to pass. In some states, individuals are not allowed to take the GED tests until they are eighteen. A few employers and colleges, however, view a GED diploma less favorably than a conventional diploma; the armed forces, especially, limit options for GED diplomates. Some states have their own equivalency tests: California, for example, has its California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE), which can be taken during the sophomore year of high school. A passing score is considered legally equivalent within the state to a high school diploma. Such state-specific tests are often now honored by colleges and universities in other states as well, though it would be smart to check specifically with the institutions you’re interested in.

In short, you’ll need to learn what the rules are for your state. A state or local homeschool group should be able to tell you how homeschoolers where you live generally deal with these issues and can probably save you time and effort searching for the proper information. Your local library or community college will probably have information on (and possibly registration forms for) the GED and any other state equivalency programs, including test dates and fees as well as the eligibility rules.

Licenses and Permits

That major milestone for the American teen—the driver’s license—can also require some advance planning for homeschoolers. Your teen may be able to take driver training through a local public or private school, or you may be able to provide the necessary training yourself. If you know a homeschooled teen with a driver’s license, it’s worth asking her for information before tackling your state’s motor vehicle department; homeschooled teens are still few enough that accurate information can be hard to get, even from the agency that makes the rules. Where states mandate driver training requirements for schools, you may have to request a requisition form for driver education materials, sometimes by a specified date for the