Why use an umbrella school if not required?

[displace]

So, the more I homeschool and learn, the more questions I have. And likely it's because I'm just now learning about things I was too overwhelmed to look into when we first started. :)

 

I was chatting to a mom who uses one and she didn't pay anything, just sent in attendance records. As far as I could see that was the extent of the relationship. In my state I simply keep a portfolio current for a yearly review (which I think I would do anyway for personal records), which happens to have attendance.

 

What benefits do they offer families if they aren't required? Before I was talking with this mom I assumed you pay them money for something but I guess not. Can you help explain them to me?

Btw, I assume state laws vary and that will color responses which is ok. I think it's good to understand a broader perspective. :)

[umsami]

They are popular here in Florida because it eliminates the need for a standardized teacher-administered test or portfolio review.   Personally, though, I like the outside accountability and measurement of the test.

[Ellie]

So, the more I homeschool and learn, the more questions I have. And likely it's because I'm just now learning about things I was too overwhelmed to look into when we first started. :)

 

I was chatting to a mom who uses one and she didn't pay anything, just sent in attendance records. As far as I could see that was the extent of the relationship. In my state I simply keep a portfolio current for a yearly review (which I think I would do anyway for personal records), which happens to have attendance.

 

What benefits do they offer families if they aren't required? Before I was talking with this mom I assumed you pay them money for something but I guess not. Can you help explain them to me?

Btw, I assume state laws vary and that will color responses which is ok. I think it's good to understand a broader perspective. :)

 

In California, people will enroll their dc in umbrella schools ("Private School Satellite Programs," or PSP) for anonymity. Homeschoolers are considered private schools; a private school files an affidavit annually, which isn't permission or approval or anything, and includes information such as the number of students in each grade, the number of teaches, whether it's a day school or a boarding school, and so on. There are no requirements for minimum number of school days, standardized testing, graduation, nothing. People will enroll their dc in a PSP so they don't have to file affidavits with only one or two students on it because then it's obvious that they are homeschooling. Back in the 80s and 90s, a few counties out of 50+ in the state (Los Angeles, Orange, San Mateo) were openly hostile to homeschoolers, even though there was never a court case, just lots of growling. Some of the early homeschoolers in the Los Angeles area came up with the idea of one person filing an affidavit and "enrolling" other homeschooled children, and it caught on. PSPs vary from the very simplest (one person files the affidavit for her friends and that's it) to the most complex (attendance records, quarterly reports, quarterly evaluations, course descriptions, standardized testing, mandatory monthly meetings...and more..).

[Dmmetler]

In my case, it's because I don't trust the local school district to keep DD's snake alive-and the critter eats about once every two weeks. Having worked there for years, I've seen so many records go awry and things get messed up (and that's in the regular district for their students and in programs that directly impact them) that I'm honestly scared that DD's would be among them and we'd end up being truant because of some poor overworked clerk that probably has to handle 10 different things.

 

By going to an umbrella that just handles homeschool records, I feel much safer. And, another major plus for me is that nothing has to be done on paper. I can file all records online, and have DD's test scores sent automatically and added without issue.

[displace]

Ok, those examples make sense and give me a

better understanding.

[Incognito]

Where I live there are also the benefits of teacher support and funding.  

 

For instance, many schools are completely flexible on how learning happens (some schools are even "unschool friendly"), but they provide a certified teacher that can serve as a sounding board for curricular ideas or questions on issues with teaching/learning.  These umbrella schools will also pay for curriculum or classes for you - up to a certain amount of money.  The "catch" is that the kids are to be following the local standards - but for K-2 they are pretty much all the same standards and they are very ambiguous.  3-8 gets increasingly specific on standards that need to be met, but how they are met remains flexible (AND, if you don't care what "grade" your child gets in the different areas, your child can just fail the standards).  

 

9 and up are a lot more specific and restrictive, however older kids can enrol in individual courses - so a child could pick and choose what they like from various schools - virtual and brick/mortar, as long as there is space.  So you can homeschool, but have your child take math or band at the local school (or an online umbrella school).   

 

 

[Kiara.I]

In my area, it means we are responsible to meet the local requirements (which, frankly, aren't that onerous.)

 

And in return we get $1000 per child per school year to spend on curriculum, lessons, memberships...  It's a pretty big motivating factor for many people in my area.  I'm much more confused by the people who join them, *don't* spend the money, and are apparently there because they *want* the oversight and, in some cases, required attendance once a week, or required curriculum...

[shinyhappypeople]

Umbrella schools are different than homeschool-charter schools.  I'm in California and we have both.  I've thought of signing up with the local umbrella school to have access to the field trips and extra stuff.  I don't really care about the records support.  Here, filing is done online and takes all of 5 minutes.

[Ellie]

In my area, it means we are responsible to meet the local requirements (which, frankly, aren't that onerous.)

 

And in return we get $1000 per child per school year to spend on curriculum, lessons, memberships...  It's a pretty big motivating factor for many people in my area.  I'm much more confused by the people who join them, *don't* spend the money, and are apparently there because they *want* the oversight and, in some cases, required attendance once a week, or required curriculum...

 

Wait...you are not talking about an "umbrella school." You are talking about a public charter school. Two totally different things.

 

An umbrella school is the path some take to help them homeschool legally.

 

A public charter school is a public school, so that when you enroll your dc in it, you are not subject to any homeschool (or private school, as in California) requirements at all.

[Kiara.I]

Wait...you are not talking about an "umbrella school." You are talking about a public charter school. Two totally different things.

 

An umbrella school is the path some take to help them homeschool legally.

 

A public charter school is a public school, so that when you enroll your dc in it, you are not subject to any homeschool (or private school, as in California) requirements at all.

 

Okay.  I may not be understanding the term "umbrella school" correctly.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not talking about a public charter though, as many of them here are private schools.  I think the terminology here may just be too different for me to translate...

[Ellie]

Okay.  I may not be understanding the term "umbrella school" correctly.

 

I'm pretty sure that I'm not talking about a public charter though, as many of them here are private schools.  I think the terminology here may just be too different for me to translate...

 

Yes, you are not understanding "umbrella school" correctly.

I am not aware of any private charter schools that give stipends to their students. I only know of public schools that do.

[ScoutTN]

For me the umbrella school is a way to avoid dealing with the school system. We live in a low regulation state, but I prefer to keep government out of my children's education as much as possible. I am happy to be accountable to a small, clasical, Christian school for attendance, a course of study and curriculum list. My kids can test there too, when we want them to.

The school also offers extra curriculars and a la carte courses for the older grades.

[Farrar]

People I know who use them do it primarily to avoid the government. Even if they know they'll pass the review process, they trust the umbrella people much more than the government people. They find it less stressful. Sometimes the umbrellas have support networks or other benefits. Someone I know joined an umbrella that helps you make the child's high school transcript.

 

However, some of the people I've know who joined umbrellas are looking for approval. They have been pretty honest and said that they don't feel like their homeschool is acceptable unless someone has reviewed what they did and said they did a good job. I find this a little baffling for myself. However, if someone wants that, then I guess an umbrella is one way to get it.

[sassenach]

Okay. I may not be understanding the term "umbrella school" correctly.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not talking about a public charter though, as many of them here are private schools. I think the terminology here may just be too different for me to translate...

Generally, private umbrella schools require (nominal) tuition to be paid, public charters pay out stipends towards educational materials.

Ideologically, they're at opposite ends of the spectrum.

[Ellie]

People I know who use them do it primarily to avoid the government. Even if they know they'll pass the review process, they trust the umbrella people much more than the government people. They find it less stressful. Sometimes the umbrellas have support networks or other benefits. Someone I know joined an umbrella that helps you make the child's high school transcript.

 

However, some of the people I've know who joined umbrellas are looking for approval. They have been pretty honest and said that they don't feel like their homeschool is acceptable unless someone has reviewed what they did and said they did a good job. I find this a little baffling for myself. However, if someone wants that, then I guess an umbrella is one way to get it.

 

I owned a PSP for 16 years (see my note above regarding California "umbrella schools"). Mine was sort of the unschool version, lol. In the area I lived at that time, there were three or four PSPs, some of which were so over the top on requirements that I couldn't believe people volunteered for them. One had mandatory *weekly* meetings, one required high school-age children to prove 180 hours in each subject to get an A, and more. I met a number of people who enrolled their dc in those schools (because on paper, they look just like any other private school), and they thought that they law required all those things. :blink:

 

So I started my school because I knew that some people wanted to go that route, but I would have a much more relaxed program, and maybe make a little mad money for myself. :D At almost every interview with new parents, I had to emphasize and re-emphasize the fact that no, you do NOT need to be accountable to anyone except yourself (and, in fact, I'm not going to make you accountable for anything except getting paperwork in on time), the law does NOT require you to have a certain number of school days, the law does NOT require standardized testing (which the other PSPs required), you are NOT more legal because your dc are enrolled in my school. Sometimes they believed me, lol.

[Mrs.Wilson]

I owned a PSP for 16 years (see my note above regarding California "umbrella schools"). Mine was sort of the unschool version, lol. In the area I lived at that time, there were three or four PSPs, some of which were so over the top on requirements that I couldn't believe people volunteered for them. One had mandatory *weekly* meetings, one required high school-age children to prove 180 hours in each subject to get an A, and more. I met a number of people who enrolled their dc in those schools (because on paper, they look just like any other private school), and they thought that they law required all those things. :blink:

 

So I started my school because I knew that some people wanted to go that route, but I would have a much more relaxed program, and maybe make a little mad money for myself. :D At almost every interview with new parents, I had to emphasize and re-emphasize the fact that no, you do NOT need to be accountable to anyone except yourself (and, in fact, I'm not going to make you accountable for anything except getting paperwork in on time), the law does NOT require you to have a certain number of school days, the law does NOT require standardized testing (which the other PSPs required), you are NOT more legal because your dc are enrolled in my school. Sometimes they believed me, lol.

 

We just moved from CA and I was always shocked at the number of people that homeschool under those PSPs that you mention.  They couldn't go on vacation without jumping through a bunch of hoops first.  They had to go to monthly meetings and do tests... It just baffles me.  And, they paid money to make homeschooling harder for them! 

[Ellie]

We just moved from CA and I was always shocked at the number of people that homeschool under those PSPs that you mention.  They couldn't go on vacation without jumping through a bunch of hoops first.  They had to go to monthly meetings and do tests... It just baffles me.  And, they paid money to make homeschooling harder for them! 

 

Yeah, I couldn't figure out some of those, either. In the early 80s, there was a large PSP in SoCal that required people to turn in quarterly goals, evaluations, grades, and attendance--color-coded, mind you. The administrator sold her forms to other PSP leaders, and they were fairly widely used for awhile. When I requested records from other PSPs, I could always tell which ones had bought into that whole paperwork thing. ::rolls eyes::

 

I could understand it if any of those records could have been used as evidence in court, but that was not the case. Or if there really was anything philosophical about meeting a standard of some kind...I never saw that, either.

 

I didn't believe it was, IDK, ethical or something to require more than the state required (AFA record keeping and whatnot).

 

 

ETA: Let me say this about charging: There's no way I would have done what I did and not charge. I spent many hours preparing forms and cum files and mailings and talking on the phone to newbies, especially in July, August, and September, when everyone was enrolling for the new school year (long story on why I enrolled only during June, July, and August, but it was the only way I could keep my sanity, lol), and my time is worth something.

[abacus2]

In TN, the umbrella school option is the easiest one legally. It insulates you from having to deal with local school districts or required testing. Under the umbrella school option, you only have to meet your umbrella school's requirements so you can find one that suits your family, whether you want simple with minimal intervention or lots of accountability and support.

[fdrinca]

A few local homeschool families use an umbrella school as protection. One has escaped an abusive situation and is on CPS's radar. She's nervous about doing anything outside the norm, so the school gives her some psychological security. Another has difficulties with an ex and the umbrella school is her "cover" for homeschooling. 

[displace]

Where I live there are also the benefits of teacher support and funding.

 

For instance, many schools are completely flexible on how learning happens (some schools are even "unschool friendly"), but they provide a certified teacher that can serve as a sounding board for curricular ideas or questions on issues with teaching/learning. These umbrella schools will also pay for curriculum or classes for you - up to a certain amount of money. The "catch" is that the kids are to be following the local standards - but for K-2 they are pretty much all the same standards and they are very ambiguous. 3-8 gets increasingly specific on standards that need to be met, but how they are met remains flexible (AND, if you don't care what "grade" your child gets in the different areas, your child can just fail the standards).

 

9 and up are a lot more specific and restrictive, however older kids can enrol in individual courses - so a child could pick and choose what they like from various schools - virtual and brick/mortar, as long as there is space. So you can homeschool, but have your child take math or band at the local school (or an online umbrella school).

That might be nice to have a sounding board with an experienced educator sometimes, especially if there are gifted or disability specialists but I think they would be rare.

[displace]

Umbrella schools are different than homeschool-charter schools. I'm in California and we have both. I've thought of signing up with the local umbrella school to have access to the field trips and extra stuff. I don't really care about the records support. Here, filing is done online and takes all of 5 minutes.

In my area co ops and FB groups organize a lot of field trips but maybe in other places they don't.

[displace]

Ok, more perspectives are helping me understand, though I find the reasons to join so opposing: less government oversight replaced with sometimes increased HSing work or forms, free or paid. Interesting.

[Ellie]

Ok, more perspectives are helping me understand, though I find the reasons to join so opposing: less government oversight replaced with sometimes increased HSing work or forms, free or paid. Interesting.

 

It is interesting, isn't it?

 

It isn't always technically "less government oversight," at least it isn't in California, because there is no government oversight (filing an affidavit on-line once a year doesn't seem like government oversight to me). It is that people are more anonymous. This was marginally more desirable back in the early 80s and 90s in those few counties that were known to be hostile. However, none of those counties was successful in taking people to court, and in fact nothing much happened except a few phone calls.

 

So even though I owned a PSP so those who wanted to hide could do so, I made every effort, on a continuous basis, to inform and educate my families in hopes that they have a clearer understanding to the law and their rights and all that. Sometimes I was successful...

 

I did try to keep paperwork to a minimum (one-time forms on admission, annual forms on re-enrollment, no monthly attendance forms, and so on). I also had conversations with others who wanted to start their own PSPs, and encouraged them to keep the paperwork/accountability to a minimum. Sometimes I was successful...

[Mommy22alyns]

To me, the umbrella school is the least invasive method in my state.  I don't have to test at all.  I like it that the local school board does not know my kids exist.  I also get a letter stating that they are enrolled in XYZ school that I always keep on file just in case.  I am afraid that some of my family members could become vindictive, so that's very important to me.

 

I do submit attendance, just days, not hours.  I don't need to verify anything.

I do submit curriculum, but it doesn't matter what I use.

I do submit grades, but they are entirely at my discretion.

[Ellie]

To me, the umbrella school is the least invasive method in my state.  I don't have to test at all.  I like it that the local school board does not know my kids exist.  I also get a letter stating that they are enrolled in XYZ school that I always keep on file just in case.  I am afraid that some of my family members could become vindictive, so that's very important to me.

 

I do submit attendance, just days, not hours.  I don't need to verify anything.

I do submit curriculum, but it doesn't matter what I use.

I do submit grades, but they are entirely at my discretion.

 

Is the umbrella school route one of the legal options in your state?

 

In California, there isn't such a clear option; children must be enrolled in a public school or a private school, or tutored full-time by a credentialed teacher. Private schools file affidavits annually. The "umbrella school" (which the courts have labeled "Private School Satellite Program, or PSP) is not specifically stated as an option; on paper, it looks just like any other private school. The only difference is that parents who file their own affidavits might have as few as one child or, well, however many as they have. :-) It is more obvious that they are homeschoolers, because of the low enrollment number, whereas a PSP has many more children enrolled than a single family might have, and so people are anonymous (the affidavit does not include children's names).

 

I have wondered how people feel who live in states where an umbrella-type school is not an option, such as NC, where they have to notify some government agency. There is no way they can be anonymous, unless they do not comply with the law at all.

[73349]

I have wondered how people feel who live in states where an umbrella-type school is not an option, such as NC, where they have to notify some government agency. There is no way they can be anonymous, unless they do not comply with the law at all.

 

Meh. I have declared the kid to be homeschooled. They already know he was born and that he's vaccinated (NC has a state vax database). We declare him on our taxes, too.

 

FWIW, since NC only has you submit a letter of intent once, kids who were below compulsory age when you registered are never on the form, as long as the school does not close and later reopen.

 

It's not like I have to turn in what we're doing, though. Nobody has ever been asked to show the calendar recording instructional days, AFAIK.

 

I feel for people who are stuck turning in their test scores or sitting down and showing somebody a curriculum and/or portfolio to be approved, or a log of hours. "Mother, May I?" Ick.

[StillStanding]

In my case, it's because I don't trust the local school district to keep DD's snake alive-and the critter eats about once every two weeks. Having worked there for years, I've seen so many records go awry and things get messed up (and that's in the regular district for their students and in programs that directly impact them) that I'm honestly scared that DD's would be among them and we'd end up being truant because of some poor overworked clerk that probably has to handle 10 different things.

 

By going to an umbrella that just handles homeschool records, I feel much safer. And, another major plus for me is that nothing has to be done on paper. I can file all records online, and have DD's test scores sent automatically and added without issue.

 

So true.

Umbrella Schools in Tennessee are considered private schools, so if you are enrolled  with an Umbrella School you don't have to report anything to the state (or do the compulsory testing required every couple of years). I test because I want to but my umbrella school doesn't require testing (Except ACT/SAT : There is a minimum score to graduate).

My Umbrella School keeps record, they provide transcripts, and counselor letter of recommendation when it is time to apply to colleges. On their website there is a ton of information (it is actually open to anybody, just google HomeLife Academy). The counselors review your course of study junior and senior year to make sure you are on track to graduate. I am also able to build a resume on their website that they send alongside the transcripts to colleges.

HomeLife also puts seminars together on a variety of topics. I have been very happy with them.

[JennyD]

 

I'm also in TN but register with the local school district.   The folks in the school district office seem to be extremely efficient and I like the fact that I don't have to submit curriculum or grades.   Philosophically, I think it's very important that there be a completely free way for homeschoolers to exercise their statutorily protected rights, and I feel like I'm helping to keep that option open by using it.  

 

That said and to echo previous posters, IMO the two key benefits of an umbrella school would be (1) no testing requirements; and (2) help with record keeping.  

 

[Ellie]

 

 

I'm also in TN but register with the local school district.   The folks in the school district office seem to be extremely efficient and I like the fact that I don't have to submit curriculum or grades.   Philosophically, I think it's very important that there be a completely free way for homeschoolers to exercise their statutorily protected rights, and I feel like I'm helping to keep that option open by using it.  

 

That said and to echo previous posters, IMO the two key benefits of an umbrella school would be (1) no testing requirements; and (2) help with record keeping.  

 

 

But again, an umbrella school is one of the ways you can legally homeschool in TN. The OP was wondering about people who enroll their dc in an umbrella school where it is *not* one of the legal options. :-)

 

California is one of those states, because the legal option is to enroll one's children in a private school which has filed an affidavit. That private school can be the one that's in your kitchen and you filed the affidavit, or it can be a PSP (private school satellite program). Both look exactly the same on paper, except that the PSP will have more students.

 

Texas would be another state where it isn't a legal option. The Leeper court decision was that homeschoolers are unaccredited private schools, which are completely unregulated by the state, with no communication between the private school and the state at all. There is nothing like a PSP here; people will enroll their children in distance-learning programs such as CLASS or Seton, because...um...I don't know why. Anyway, in both states, Calif. and Tex., people enroll their dc in some sort of umbrella-type school even though it isn't a legal requirement or option.

[freesia]

We use one because N Y law says that we cannot issue a diploma. I know the kids don't need one for college, but I want them to have one if they don't go.

[J-rap]

We didn't have an umbrella school, but our small town did allow us the option of "transferring" our homeschool classes to their school in their senior year and graduating with the public school class (and therefore getting a degree from that school).  We're a small town and everyone knows each other anyway, so it didn't feel strange to my kids.  (Also, they had been taking classes here and there at the public high school  -- foreign language, choir, plus sports.) 

 

Really the main reason we decided to get that degree is because all of my kids expressed interest in studying internationally at some point (not as a semester abroad, but as actually enrolling full-time in a foreign university), so this seemed like a safety precaution.  I wasn't sure if other countries accepted homeschool degrees.

 

In the end, three of my kids did dabble in various short-term international schools up to a year (but those schools would have accepted homeschool degrees).  Another one decided to enroll full-time in a foreign private university for her entire university career (just one semester left now!).  This one may or may not have accepted a homeschool degree.  They never had before, and they were not easy to get into -- it required lots of hoops.  So, I imagine having a traditional high school degree made this at least a little easier.

[Ellie]

We use one because N Y law says that we cannot issue a diploma. I know the kids don't need one for college, but I want them to have one if they don't go.

 

Does it truly say that? Or is it that New York colleges don't accept diplomas issued by parents?