One of the benefits of attending public school is the ability to take college courses while still enrolled in High School. Students are able to earn college credit while simultaneously completing their high school graduation requirements. The tuition costs are deferred to the school district, and high schoolers are able to take up to two classes a semester after completion of at least one high school semester.
But, can homeschoolers dual-enroll?
YES! Homeschoolers are able to enroll in college classes once they are 15 years old (this may change depending on the college or university they are attending) and have successfully completed one semester of high school (9th grade) in their homeschool curriculum. Some school districts will allow homeschooled students to register for dual enrollment with them, but this is not a federal requirement. Unfortunately, you may need to absorb the tuition costs personally.
Where do we begin?
Registering your high schooler for dual enrollment is a bit of a process. Once you've selected a college, you can begin by reaching out to the registration or enrollment department. Some colleges have a specific form that they require the student, teacher/counselor, and principal to complete, along with their traditional application, and most require your student to complete the Accuplacer test. As homeschoolers, you may need to pay the application fee for your student, though many colleges will waive this fee for high schoolers.
Once you've completed the application and dual-enrollment forms, the college will require high school transcripts. As homeschoolers, our transcripts might look slightly different from the public school system, but they should include any courses your student has completed in high school, their final grade in each course, semester GPA, and overall GPA. You can find transcript samples and templates on websites like Time4Learning, Schoolhouse Teachers, and even within your Microsoft Word program.
Some colleges require you to submit all this information with the application, whereas others will send you a request for documentation once they have accepted your student. Generally, your student will need to complete the Accuplacer test after the college has accepted their application and has continued with student enrollment. The Accuplacer test demonstrates student readiness for college. It's essential to check the college's website for its specific process.
Do we fill out a FASFA?
No. Because your student is still in high school, they are not generally eligible for financial aid, like Federal Pell Grants or Federal Student Loans, which are primarily for students pursuing a degree or certificate program. Even though they can earn college credits, they are still high school students. If your school district allows your student to dual-enroll through them, the cost of tuition is covered by the district, but if not, there are other options to help with the cost.
While your high school student may not be eligible for federal student aid, they can still apply for public and private scholarships and grants offered by the college or other state programs. It's important to keep this in mind, so you have time to complete the application process before your student's first college semester begins. The college financial aid department is a valuable resource for helping you navigate this process.
But is it necessary?
Well, that depends.
One thing I love about the homeschooling community is the acceptance of different ideas and perspectives. Some families focus on skill-building, others focus on character development, and still others focus on STEM. The goal of all homeschooling parents is to ensure their children have the best possible education and opportunities to excel. We want the best for our children and their futures. For some kids, that means certifications and vocational programs. For others, that might look like AP courses, STEM, dual-enrollment, or extracurricular activities.
In our home, our children's lifelong happiness is essential. We want them to be kind, loving, & generous people who are willing to help their neighbors. But we also want them to feel fulfilled in their religious life and their career. Lofty goals, we know! Before high school graduation, we want each of them to know how to play an instrument (but what instrument is entirely their choice), we want them to have some kind of certificate to fall back on (again, entirely their choice), and we want them to understand how to budget their finances. So, for us, it is entirely dependent on our children if they want to pursue dual enrollment, sports, or other extracurricular activities. Still, we will encourage them to try at least once.
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