Just thought I'd post an update on what has transpired with the whole European credential situation. With regret, we have finally decided to enroll our daughter in a full-time IB school for the next two years. After trying by every means we knew to get the authorities here in Italy to acknowledge the requirements listed on their own website for recognizing American educational credentials, we had to admit our chances of success were very slim. It wasn't just a matter of documentation, but of finding any navigable path at all. Even as listed, the requirements are onerous to an American high school student living in Italy; in addition to two further years (13 total) of AP classes these requirements would have required her to return to the US to attend college for at least one additional year before entering a higher ed program in Italy. But we were given no reassurance at all, despite many meetings, that even this path would be recognized. In addition, the requirements for each European country are different and we had trouble getting the information we needed about each. Finally we reluctantly acknowledged that the IB program was the simplest and least stressful (and perhaps the only practicable) way to qualify her to attend a European university or conservatory. All countries, including the US, recognize the IB. While difficult, it would take a year less to complete. And she could continue to live at home while completing it. We have been enthusiastic home educators for twelve years now and would very much liked to have continued. I have to admit I shed more than a few tears when I realized we'd have to put her in school. But even I had to acknowledge that, due to onerous and ambiguous requirements, the past year really didn't feel much like home education. It felt like someone else (or more than one someone else) was leading us and not even telling us where we needed to go. I didn't mind being a pioneer and working hard, but I didn't think I should continue to homeschool at the expense of my daughter's own well-being and future. I hope that someone with a little more support (maybe in an easier country) and a few more years advance notice will soon find a way to qualify American homeschoolers for European education. I was hoping to do it. But I have to admit that moving to Italy on relatively short notice, not really by choice, and then trying to figure out how to qualify by several different countries' standards at the end of my daughter's high school education, and not in English, was more than I could do. A woman, even a stubborn and enthusiastic American homeschooling mom who loves what she does, is not an island. But I'm very glad for the twelve years of homeschooling we had.

I found this today in LaStampa and thought it would be a good addition to the list: http://matutor.scuola.zanichelli.it/base/ It's online practice for the math portion of the maturita', plus previous tests. Buona lavora!

Have you watched all the cosmology/astronomy videos on Khan Academy yet? My daughter watches them for fun during lunch, just because she enjoys having her mind blown by super massive black holes, scales of the universe, and theories about a possible fourth dimension ;-). You can do as little or as much as you want, or add it to something else. Also, I agree about the wisdom of giving yourself some time to get used to a new culture. It does take a lot of energy, especially since your husband will need extra help, too. I hope it goes well!

I have to admit that the C2 part went by me the first time, because I assumed B2. My daughter only had to pass Italian to B2 to start the conservatory, I think, and she must have just squeaked by. She got better once all her classes were in Italian, but I'm still not sure she's a C2! Amazing how they can turn on the mental juice when they have to, isn't it? And I hear you on the financial aid. I'm not counting on it! And Laura C., yes, there are good conservatory options outside of London, I think. I've got someone who used to conduct in the UK checking on the strings programs.

Oh, yes, I forgot about that! I rather did like the word "subjects," though. I think the reason I tend to say "school" is so that I won't say university, but also to distinguish from the type of conservatory that doesn't have any requirements except being in line for solo career/household name status (yikes!). I'm using it in the US sense. But you're right, of course, that it's not used in Europe, and that college is used both in the US and UK to refer to a subdivision within a university, so I'll keep that in mind when talking to people in the UK. My sloppy American habits could be quite confusing!

Absolutely. We've seen this already. It makes a huge difference. Otherwise, it feels like you're constantly reinventing the wheel, which is how I've felt like for about the past year. We are, however, slowly but surely, making progress.

Thanks, Laura. Well, that is a thorough page, isn't it? Admittedly, I have a headache at the moment and couldn't look at it that long, but I looked up "national," and I think it means I have to be a citizen of an EU country, though I wasn't entirely sure because it said "citizen or national." Perhaps it's worth a talk with the school, though. There's got to be some advantage to the mountain of paperwork we did to get residency here, and to paying all those European taxes!

I don't know the answer, but I posted the same question about Potter's School chemistry on my online math placement thread, so I look forward to seeing what people have to say. Evolution or lack thereof wouldn't matter so much for chemistry anyway, would it?

They don't care about the diploma accreditation? Wow, that could make a difference of thousands of dollars in umbrella school fees! Of course, I'll need to check that out for the schools we're most interested in. I'm getting extra documentation ready anyway. What you're saying about the American admissions officer surprises me, and I hope it's true. I have yet to find such a person, and wonder if it's because conservatories are usually smaller than universities. The director here candidly said she'd never had an Americans apply before, and was shocked to hear that the US doesn't have a European style exit exam. So far, our other experiences have been similar, though sometimes at least the contact person speaks English (not here). But it's good to know that there are American admissions people out there, and we'll keep trying to find them. Asta, may I ask another question? If you are an American who was talking to British schools, did you run into much higher fees because of American citizenship? The requirements on the Royal Academy websites seem clear and doable compared to elsewhere in Europe, yet with the non-EEA fees plus living expenses, the schools seem as expensive as US conservatories. If I thought that being an EU resident (and taxpayer, ouch) would somehow exonerate us from those double-ish outsider fees, I'd be much more keen dd applying. And yes, there is that language thing! That's one reason we're trying to figure out which schools are on the shortlist now. A romance language might be learnable, since dd now understands her classes given in Italian well enough. But with German, in particular, she'd be starting from scratch, so best to get started soon if it looks like a real possibility. Joan, I had sent you an e-mail as you suggested on one thread, but I'm not entirely sure it went through. If you're busy and your box is full, no problem, but I just wanted to make sure it even sent. Again, thanks for the responses, everyone!

Woohoo, thanks! Lots of stuff to go through here, and I will. Meanwhile, does anyone have experience with specific math or chemistry offerings/teachers from The Potter's School or Scholars Online?

Thanks, momof2cm! I did look at the linked brochures (at least the parts I could read), and they do say to present "proof of university certification." This is, of course, standard fare for Europeans and means exit exam results, but it requires interpretation for Americans, especially homeschooled ones. It's true that conservatories are separate from universities, but they almost all require academic qualifications. Conservatory entrance exams are necessary as well. Since music isn't often a big part of the various secondary school curricula, there has to be some way to test skill level and theoretical knowledge. At any rate, I'm still working on making a short list and making contacts in various countries, so we'll know where to concentrate in asking about what extra certification we need. I'll put these on the list of conservatories to ask about. What instrument did/does your dad play? Is he still an professional or active musician?

My dd needs a good online math course for next year, with support, and I'm honestly not sure what course we need. Dd previously worked with a tutor and skipped around on topics including a good bit of trig and calculus. What she understands, she seems to understand well, but I seriously doubt she got every facet of trig and precalculus up to that point. So, first question: Does anyone know of an online placement test she could take? And secondly: Given that she's likely to place anywhere between algebra II and calculus (but most likely somewhere in between those), and given that I can't teach her confidently anymore, in what sort of online class is she most likely to get good support? The method she had been using with the tutor was very visual and conceptual. She enjoyed it, and it was successful, so for the course, something similar would be good. She isn't likely to go into math/science, but still, we'd like the best course we can find and that she can reasonably do. Thanks! Laura

Ester Maria, I don't know if you are still considering this, or where in Italy you live, but the American School of Milan has been willing to allow our daughter to take American tests as a private candidate. The contact, Andrew Newton, is a very pleasant man. Message me if you'd like more info. Probably other American schools would allow outside candidates as well. I agree with the others. Most US schools don't require a diploma, and have their own requirements posted on their sites. They usually want ACTs, SATs, or SAT IIs. It often throws people in Europe for a loop when they hear this, but it's just a different kind of system. And most regard the bac fairly highly.

Thanks, Laura! I'm mostly thinking of this as a possible English-language equivalent of the maturita'. If they gave us no other choice, at least it beats that! Here's what the Italian website says about British qualifications: "The British secondary qualifications normally accepted consist of 6 passes in different subjects, at least 3 of which must rank at advanced level. The 3 A-levels must be related to the chosen Italian programme (course requirements). An A-level in Italian is valid for admission to any programme, independently of its subject field." If we pursued this, I guess we'd have to figure out how to do that lab component. Then, we'd have to see if A-levels were accepted in other European countries as well. The reason for not considering education in the UK itself (such as the Royal Academies, which quite seem do-able), is that the UK adds a pretty steep international fee for American citizens, at least as I understand the qualifications, making the Royal Academies just as expensive as US conservatories. If that's the case, we'd be more comfortable with the US. As for sitting for APs, we can do that here. In fact, we'll be traveling to Milan tomorrow for dd's first AP exam.

Joan, I've been reading these threads all day. Very interesting! Thanks!