Home School Friendly

Presented byAngela J. Evans,

Ed. D.

Developing Developing A Home-A Home-School School

Friendly Friendly Admissions Admissions

OfficeOffice

Introduction

Understanding the Home

School Movement

Developing Recruitment &

Networking Strategies that Work

Implementing Alternative Evaluation Methods for Home-Educated Applicants

Understanding the Home School Movement

What is the philosophy behind the home schooling movement and why are parents eager to seek alternative methods of schooling?

What is Home-schooling?

Cited from the Home School Legal Defense Association

Concept of Home Education

The concept of home education

as an education movement is

growing in unprecedented

fashion throughout the United

States and recent research studies

indicate that more than 1.2 million school age children are currently being taught at home by a parent-teacher (Ray, 1998; Lines 1996).

Why Home Education?

Parents are selecting home based

education for a variety of reasons, including:

Fear of Violence in Schools Quality of Education Cost of Private or Alternative Education Flexibility in Home School Scheduling Religious Reasons Special Needs (Health, Learning Disabilities)

What about Regulation?

The increased levels of state regulations for home schooling have prompted many families to seek acceptable accreditation for students to avoid the hassles and negative stereotypes placed on home schooling students by local and state college administrators (Callaway, 2004).

What Does This Mean for Colleges?

“Admissions officers know little about the performance of a home school graduate’s academic performance in college, but this fact doesn’t stop colleges and universities from developing admissions policies (accommodating or unaccommodating) for the home school Population.”

(Jones & Gloeckner, 2004b, p. 17)

The Impact on Students and Admissions

Students are faced with overwhelming requirements that command extensive documentation of their home based education including:transcripts of academic performance and curriculumstandardized high school summation examsSAT or ACT Scoresletters of recommendationproof or compliance with state regulatory standardsand often a personal interview with an admissions officer

It is vital that these admissions representatives be prepared to aid students in making the transition from home school to post-secondary education (Evans, 2001).

Developing Recruitment and Networking Strategies that workAppointing a senior admissions officer to work specifically with home-educated students

Realizing the time saving benefits of developinga targeted home school website

Creating a comprehensive admissions forum for home-educated students and their families that includes a vendor fair, as well as sessions on completing the admissions process and applying for financial aid

Offering a guide for families that provides information on accreditation, curriculum, testing agencies and dual enrollment opportunities

A Home School Friendly Case Study

Kennesaw State University

Georgia’s Third Largest University Public Institution 4 Year Liberal Arts 20 Miles North of Downtown Atlanta 19,000 students 200 + Home Schoolers

KSU - A Home School Friendly Place A Dozen Years of

Experience With

Home Educated

Applicants Specialized Counselors Web Page / Other USG Institutions Are Linking to Our Site

/ over 14,000 Hits Since 1999 Workshops for Admissions at Local, State, Regional and

National Level Organizations Regents Level Student Advisors – 2 in a Row Portfolio Model…

A New Home for Home Schoolers

Fall 2004 24 Enrolled

Fall 2000 36 Enrolled

Fall 2001 52 Enrolled

Fall 2002 32 EnrolledFall 2003 24 Enrolled

These numbers do not reflect Spring or Summer Semester New Student Enrollment

This enrollment represents home educated applicants from non-accredited programs.

Fall 2005 29 Enrolled

Relationships with…• Students & Parents• Support Groups• Accreditation Agencies • Curriculum Providers• Other College & Universities• Alumni

A Look At What We Do…

• Dedicated Counselor

• Web Site

• An Admissions Handbook

• Workshop and vender fair

Dedicated Counselors• Admissions Counselor

dedicated to working with home educated applicants since 1996

• Back up Admissions Counselor since 2003

• Secretarial Support to manage contact lists and prepares materials

• Involved in Community Home School Groups, ACIS Centers, National Home School Support Organizations

• Stays current on literature• Follows Enrollment Trends

nationally, in Georgia, at KSU

• Program Development• Personal Research

Web Site www.kennesaw.edu/admissions/home_educated.html

Web Site Features• Admissions

Requirements• Admissions Handbook• Deadlines• Resources• Financial Aid Links• HOPE Reimbursement

Request Form for Homeschoolers

Web Site Benefits• Provides students with access to

requirements and forms 24/7

• Saves times – an information session/phone call can last an average of 40 minutes

• Over 14,000 hits since 1999

An Admissions Handbook

• A Checklist• An Information Page

with Release• Home School College

Preparatory Credit Evaluation Form

• Affidavit of Successful Completion of Home Study Program

The Workshop & Vender Fair

An Admissions Forum for

Home Educated Applicants

Format• Workshop Registration• Video• Welcome & Introductions• Admissions Information• Financial Aid Overview• Vender Fair• Campus Tour

Vender Fair• Something New in 2005

• 27 Venders Participated

• Over 100 in attendance

• Door Prizes

• Refreshments

Who Are The Venders?• KSU Student Services

• Financial Aid / GSFC

• ACIS Centers

• Curriculum Providers

• Commercial Venders

Why Have A Vender Fair?

• Brings Students to Campus• Builds Relationships• Sponsorships• Free Food• Fun• Great Publicity

Implementing Alternative Evaluation Methods for Home-Educated Applicants

Understanding the value of a portfolio review process that provides the admissions office with a uniform method to evaluate home schooled applicants while still providing them with an opportunity to showcase their individual merits

What are Portfolios?

A transcript of High School Courses (a mini-syllabus for each subject taken)

SAT or ACT and other standardized tests

Extra-Curricular Activities Letters of Recommendation Proof of Compliance with State

Attendance Laws (Declaration of Intent to Home School)

Samples of Work (Essays or Projects)

Portfolios can be anything… But you need to be specific or you will get everything!

What are the Benefits of Portfolios

A Portfolio Gives You The Opportunity To Get To Know An Applicant Before Or Without An Interview

It Gives The Student The Opportunity To Express The Abilities And Explain Their Educational Background

You Can Control What Information You Are Reviewing And Keep It Consistent

Accreditation for Home Education

A Unique Organization Developed in Georgia to Accredit Home Based Education

The Accrediting Commission forIndependent Study, non-profit, non-government is established for the purpose of accrediting community centers for independent study. The accredited designation is for those centers established and functioning under standards of the commission.

What Are Others Doing?Struggling to Understand!Open House Events for Home SchoolersWeb Pages Dedicated to Explaining Home Educated Student AdmissionsRecruitment FairsAdvertising in Home School Magazines and Support Group NewslettersDirect Mail (Buying Lists)Participating in Local Support Group MeetingsChat Sessions

Discussion

Contact Information

Angela J. Evans, Ed.D.Assistant Director of Admissions

Kennesaw State University1000 Chastain Road, Box 0115Kennesaw, Georgia 30144-5591

770-423-6500

aevans@kennesaw.eduwww.kennesaw.edu

Thank You