Living overseas and need help with homeschool diploma

[Kencam]

Hi-

 

     We are missionaries and live overseas, but are American citizens.  Our oldest dd will be in 9th grade at some point by Christmas.  We are trying to finish up 8th grade, but between furlough and traveling, we are a bit behind schedule.  I’m looking at requirements for a homeschool diploma.  The problem is, we aren’t really “residents” of any particular state.  On our furloughs (usually for 8-9 months every 2-2.5 years, we “live” for several months in PA (my home state) and WV (my dh’s home state).  We’ve never officially declared our intent to homeschool because we mainly live outside the country and bounce around while home on furlough.  However, I’m wondering what we should do for high school?  Since we don’t officially “reside” in the States, will our dd’s diploma be valid if we don’t “declare” her as being homeschooled in a particular state?  Do we need to look at an accreditation to make her diploma/transcript look more “official?”  I’m really not sure what, if anything, we need to do.  Does anyone have any advice??  Thanks so much!

[Farrar]

No one really declares your diploma valid. The thing your student will need for college is a transcript. As long as you're homeschooling legally in the countries where you live, you're fine. Many mission families and other Americans living abroad do choose to use an accredited online school - but that's mostly because they often need it for the countries where they live or it simplifies things. You don't actually need it in the US to make your diploma "valid."

In the US, homeschoolers don't need an accredited diploma to go start work, to attend community college, to attend college or to join the military. A few trade schools do get stuck on the diploma and require a GED. So that's the one potential exception. But generally speaking, not necessary.

As for residency... this may be a good time to think ahead to where your dd might potentially want to attend college. She'll need residency in a state in order to get in state tuition rates. There are often ways to make that happen, so you might want to do that. And then if you're able to get residency, you may need to register as homeschoolers and follow the law of that state, whatever it is.

[Kencam]

2 minutes ago, Farrar said:

No one really declares your diploma valid. The thing your student will need for college is a transcript. As long as you're homeschooling legally in the countries where you live, you're fine. Many mission families and other Americans living abroad do choose to use an accredited online school - but that's mostly because they often need it for the countries where they live or it simplifies things. You don't actually need it in the US to make your diploma "valid."

In the US, homeschoolers don't need an accredited diploma to go start work, to attend community college, to attend college or to join the military. A few trade schools do get stuck on the diploma and require a GED. So that's the one potential exception. But generally speaking, not necessary.

As for residency... this may be a good time to think ahead to where your dd might potentially want to attend college. She'll need residency in a state in order to get in state tuition rates. There are often ways to make that happen, so you might want to do that. And then if you're able to get residency, you may need to register as homeschoolers and follow the law of that state, whatever it is.

Thank you so much!  This helps a lot!  I didn’t even think about residency requirements for state schools.  Ugh!  Feeling so overwhelmed with all this right now.  So much to think about for HS.  But I really appreciate your response.  Thank you!!

[Bocky]

HS sounds scary but you can do it! Farrar is totally right that you don't need an accredited HS diploma in the US. There are options for getting an accredited HS diploma though if it helps - like NARHS, North Atlantic Regional High School. I enrolled my high schooler in NARHS because she needed an accredited HS diploma to enter university in my (non-US) home country. 

[Kencam]

@Bocky-Thank you so much for the encouragement.  I really appreciate it.  I’ve been very stressed about HS, but I’m trying to take a deep breath and relax some.  Thanks for the info about NARHS.  I will look into that!