Home-schooling High School
Standards, Testing, and Assesments
Families home-schooling in Alabama are not subjected to governmental content or course of study regulations on any front. This includes state- or nation-wide standards, grade-level assessments, or graduation testing. Any co-op, cover, or organization that your family joins to assist with your home-school journey is free to require any type of testing they want as a condition of voluntary membership. If you do not agree with their standards, testing, or procedures, you are not required to join. That being said, if your child is college-bound, it is highly advisable to have them prepare for and take either the ACT or SAT. homeschoolers are eligible to receive merit scholarships, but most colleges look at test scores as a condition of merit.
This information is provided as a reference only, not as a requirement or as an organizational recommendation.
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Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment procedures are almost completely up to the college your student would like to be enrolled in.
Wallace State's Fast Track Academy is a local option for students who have
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completed 10th grade,
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a GPA of 3.0 or higher,
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submitted written recommendation from the local high school including approval of principal and superintendent,
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met WSCC entrance requirements, and
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completed placement exams.
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Transcripts
Creating transcripts can be one of the more frustrating aspects of being a responsible home-school parent. Keep in mind that the purpose of a transcript is to prove to a college, employer, or recruiter that your student has been exposed to the proper content to make them a valuable part of their organization. Transcripts don't exist to regulate you, but to support you.
Your transcript should contain:
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the words "Official Transcript"
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Courses covered in your student's high school career
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Grades earned and credits awarded for each course.
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Many cover schools offer transcript preparation as a benefit of enrollment and can help prepare a transcript for courses taken while you are a member.
​If you are unsure of what courses should be covered in high school, you can use the Alabama High School Graduation Requirements on our Documents page as a guide.
Example:
For a 24 credit transcript, you'll want:
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English Language Arts - 4 credits
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Mathematics - 4 credits
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Science - 4 credits
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Social Studies - 4 credits
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Foreign Language/Arts - 3 credits
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Physical Education - 1 credit
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Career Prep - 1 credit
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Health - .5 credit
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Electives - 2.5 + credits
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Graduation
The Law
Public school graduation standards are set by Alabama State Dept of Education Administrative Code Chapter 290-3-1 "Public School Governance". However, under ACT 2014-245 and according to the formal, legal interpretation of the State Superintendent of Education, "The ALSDE is not authorized to license or regulate any private, nonpublic, or church school offering instruction in grades K-12 or any combination thereof." (ALDSE FAQ, non-public schools)
This includes graduation requirements. Simply put, you won't find code dictating graduation requirements for home-schoolers because the State Board of Education is not authorized to do so.
A note about terminology: We use the phrase "Home-school Diploma" here because that is what most people refer to it as and will be searching for information on. However, there is no such thing as a "Home-school Diploma" in Alabama. We fall under the private school option and students will graduate with a diploma from the private school you created to home-school. In response to any questions, you are legally allowed to reply that it is a private school diploma.
If you are interested, see the State of Alabama graduation requirements for public school students on our Documents page.
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Diploma
This is the fun part! Be as fancy or as simple as you'd like. If diploma creation is not a service your cover provides, templates can be downloaded to create your diploma at home or it can be purchased from outside organizations. The following are listed as examples only and are not intended as endorsement for any specific service. More can be found utilizing a simple internet search.
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FreeDiplomaTemplates.com - Free
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Home-school Buyers Co-Op - Free
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Homeschool Diploma - Purchase
Will colleges accept my home-school diploma?
The answer everyone wants to hear is "Yes. All colleges and organizations everywhere will accept your home-school diploma immediately, without question or reservation for all of time."
The real answer is "Yes, but some organizations may want your student to prove their knowledge through portfolios, transcripts, and further testing."
By Alabama State Law, Section 16-1-11.4
"Admission of nonpublic school students by public institutions of higher education.Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, no public two-year or four-year institution of higher education in the state may deny admission to or otherwise discriminate against an otherwise qualified student based on the consideration, whether in whole or in part, that the student attended, graduated from, or is enrolled in a nonpublic school, including private, church, parochial, and religious schools, or was home schooled. (Act 2014-245, p. 785, §6.)
By federal law and formal, legal interpretation, your home-school diploma is just as good as one from a traditional public school at any school receiving federal funding. Home-schooled students are eligible both for the same college attendance and federal funding as students who have obtained a diploma from a state-regulated public school. (Federal Dept of Education, DCL ID: GEN-02-11, "Eligibility of Home-Schooled Students – Institutional and Student Eligibility")
Keep in mind, colleges and other institutions allowed to set minimum requirements for incoming students. Differences in requirements can occur depending on a school's funding source. (e.g. Colleges with federal funding may have differing requirements than those funded only by private endowments). Please check the enrollment requirements for any institution your student would like to attend at the beginning of their high school career so that you can work towards meeting those requirements. Although the majority of the following suggestions are not mandated by law, to strengthen your case should you run into trouble, you can prepare by
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creating an official diploma on thicker paper stock with a traditional-style template.
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keep records of courses taken (including course descriptions) and curriculum used during the high school years.
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complete a traditional-style transcript with course titles and grades earned.
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assemble a portfolio of work that showcases student understanding of concepts taught.
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Know the law. This means first-hand information from the regulating agency, not just blog posts or even just information from here. Any page that is not the source material runs the risk of becoming inaccurate if not updated with changes in the law. We link all claims directly to the legislative source so that you are able to quickly and easily fact-check everything we say.
Will the military accept my home-schooled diploma?
Yes. In fact, several branches of the military prefer a qualified home-school graduate over a GED graduate.
Air Force: "Home schooled or Youth Challenge applicants may enlist at age 18 with proof of having completed an approved home school program. These applicants will have the same eligibility as those with high school diplomas." (AirForce.com)
​Army: Not only will the Army accept your home-schooled diploma, they now offer enlistment cash bonuses to home-school graduates. "Those who qualify receive the same incentives as traditional high-school graduates, including up to $40,000 for enlistments. (GoArmy.com)
Coast Guard: "Have a high school diploma. GEDs are accepted in special circumstances." (GoCoastGuard.com)
Marines: "You will need to receive your high school diploma before beginning recruit training; however, you can talk to a Marine recruiter or sign your enlistment contract before graduating high school. A recruiter can answer any questions you have, including discussing case-by-case options for those with nontraditional high school diplomas or completion certificates." (Marines.com)
Navy: "Generally speaking, you must be a high school graduate, have earned a GED or have met other high school equivalency requirements to enlist as a Sailor in the Navy." (Navy.com)
In addition to holding a graduating diploma, all prospective members of the armed forces, no matter the educational background, are required to take and pass the Armed Services Vocational Ability Battery (ASVAB)
Additional Resources
"The Alabama Learning Exchange includes multimedia, learning activities, lessons, and unit plans all “connected” by the Alabama College- and Career- Ready Standards (CCRS) to promote deeper-learning competencies essential for success in college, careers, and our global society."
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Search state standards to see what students in each grade are expected to know in each subject
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​Search lesson plans and learning activities developed by teachers
"IThe ACT® test is the nation’s most popular college entrance exam accepted and valued by all universities and colleges in the United States. The ACT is based on what students learn in high school and provides personalized information about their strengths for education and career planning.
The SAT is an admission test accepted by all U.S. colleges, and the College Board has programs to encourage all students to take advantage of higher education. Income-eligible SAT takers receive college application fee waivers and all students can opt in to Student Search Service® to receive free information about admission and financial aid from colleges, universities, and scholarship programs.
“…it shall be the duty of every male citizen of the United States, and every other male person residing in the United States, who … is between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, to present himself for and submit to registration...”
Section 453(a), Military Selective Service Act
July 2, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed Proclamation 4771 which resumed registration under the Military Selective Service Act. It states men born on or after January 1, 1960, must register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Late registrations are accepted, but not once a man reaches his 26th birthday.
REGISTRATION CONTINUES TODAY. As President Clinton informed Congress in 1994, “Maintaining the Selective Service System and the draft registration provides a hedge against unforeseen threats and a relatively low-cost ‘insurance policy’ against our underestimating the maximum level of threat we expect our Armed Forces to face.”
Driver's License
Getting a driver's license is a standard rite of passage for all students, not just those enrolled in public school. To apply for your student's license, follow these simple guidelines from the State of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Your driver will need:
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If 15 and going for permit:
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US Birth Certificate
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If 16 and going for license
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One form of identification from the "Primary" list -OR-
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two forms from the "Secondary" list
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Social security card
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$5 test fee (no checks)
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$36.25 license fee (no checks)
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School enrollment documents.​​​​
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Certificate of graduation -OR-
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GED certificate -OR-
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Certified letter from school officials stating student is enrolled.
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Homeschool Affadavit Form
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Form DL1/93 is the enrollment/exclusion form used by public/private/cover schools. This form can be used by those who act as their own cover, but the affadavit is easier. both are
found on our Documents Library.
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To fill it out,
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Read all instructions.
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Section I is your student's information:
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"Driver's License" is the only question that may be left blank.
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Section II is to be filled out by "the attendance officer or chief attendance administrator" of your home-school. That is you, if you are coverless or if completing such forms is not a service your cover provides:
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"Name": Name of your home-school or cover signing the form. If you are coverless, you can think of any name you'd like (e.g. [LastName] Academy) or use a home-school name generator.
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"Check One": ☑ Secondary School
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"The applicant" [Date of DL exam] "is enrolled". Note that the date is the date of your student's driver's testing, NOT the date of when he or she enrolled in home-school.
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"Signature": Your signature or that of the cover school official completing your form.
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"Title": "Principal" if you are completing the form, or the title of the cover school official completing your form.
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*Section III is to be filled out only by those seeking exclusion from the standard rules due to hardship resulting from circumstances beyond their control, including transportation, medical, and work-related reasons and does not generally apply to home-schooled students.
Driver's License Manual
A helpful walk-through of what to expect can be found on Everest Academy's Driver's License page
Work Permit
Home-schooling is all about freedom. Freedom to educate how you want, when you want. Sometimes education includes a real-world job. If your student is under 16, they will need an "Eligibility to Work" form, more commonly known as a "Worker's Permit. This form must be filled out by your child's cover school if they provide such a service, or by you if they do not provide that service or if you are coverless, and retained by your student's employer. For more information on child labor in Alabama, see the Child Labor Law brochure on our Documents page
The Eligibility to Work Form (For Students 15 & Under) is found on our Documents page.
To complete:
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​Name of School: Name of your home-school or cover signing the form. If you are coverless, you can think of any name you'd like (e.g. [LastName] Academy) or use a home-school name generator.
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​Signature of School Official: Your signature or that of the cover school official completing your form.
Photos used under Creative Commons from rfduck, Defence Images