The Texas Alternative – Home School is not accredited by TEA or TEPSAC. However, The Texas Alternative- Home School is ” Texas state law compliant.” The Texas Alternative – Home School files and is recognized by the state of Texas as a nontraditional, nonprofit, secondary education “home” school and files to the federal government as 501c3. As such, The Texas Alternative – Home School is not required to be governed or accredited by TEA or TEPSAC and our graduates should not be discriminated because they are nontraditional, nonprofit, secondary education “home” school graduates.
The Texas Alternative – Home School’s graduates are qualified to obtain a college degree or career certification and are able to apply for FAFSA because our graduates are considered “equivalent” to public high school and GED graduates, per Texas state law, and as such, must be respected and treated as any other public high school or GED graduate. In the state of Texas, our High School Diploma and Official transcript are equivalent as a public high school diploma & transcript or GED. Each TAHS student meets all state requirements and credits by completing our curriculum (Accelerated Christian Education) to graduate, and upon successful completion, students have the right to enroll into a higher educational institution, enlist in any military branch, and participate in other opportunities that traditional graduates participate in throughout the United States.
In the final ruling of Leeper vs. Arlington ISD, the Supreme Court reviewed the decision issued originally by the district court, which stated that “a school-age child: residing in the State of Texas who is pursuing under the direction of a parent or parents or one standing in parental authority in or through the child’s home in a bona fide (good faith, not a sham or subterfuge) manner, a curriculum consisting of books, workbooks, other written materials, including that which appears on an electronic screen of either a computer or video tape monitor, or any combination of the preceding from either (1) of a private or parochial school which exists apart from the child’s home or (2) which has been developed or obtained from any source, said curriculum designed to meet basic education goals of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and a study of good citizenship, is in attendance upon a private or parochial school within the meaning of Section 21.033(a)(l) of the Texas Education Code and exempt from the requirements of compulsory attendance at a public school.”
The Texas Alternative – Home School (TAHS) is a private home school and falls under the following part of the Leeper Decision: “any combination of the preceding from either (1) of a private or parochial school which exists apart from the child’s home or (2) which has been developed or obtained from any source, said curriculum designed to meet basic education goals of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and a study of good citizenship, is in attendance upon a private or parochial school within the meaning of Section 21.033(a)(l) of the Texas Education Code and exempt from the requirements of compulsory attendance at a public school.”
TEXAS STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS REGARDING HOME SCHOOLING
To home school legally in Texas, you must follow three state law requirements:
The instruction must be bona fide.
[ Our home school programs are facilitated and monitored at our state law compliant home school settings throughout the state of Texas.]
The curriculum must be in visual form (i.e.- workbooks, video monitor, etc.).
[TAHS students must complete curriculum (Accelerated Christian Education curriculum) in order to receive full credit.]
The curriculum must include the five basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.
[TAHS students are required to complete and earn all core credits – Math, English, Science, Social Studies, and good citizenship. Upon completion of the program, each student is issued an official high school transcript and diploma. This includes the credits legally transferred from their previous public school and the credits earned from TAHS.]
CURRICULUM
TAHS utilizes several curriculums, such Money Smart for Small Business (MSSB) and Accelerated Christian Education (ACE. However most often TAHS uses ACE, which has maintained high Biblical academic standards and remains committed to setting individuals on a path for success. Our goal, as is ACE’s, is to prepare individuals for today’s world and provide academic and spiritual tools necessary to achieve their God-given potential. Based on these principles, ACE curriculum assures parents of:
A solid, mastery-based, back-to-basics education for their student.
A course of study diagnostically individualized to meet a student’s specific learning needs and capabilities.
A program incorporating Scripture, Godly character building, and wisdom principles.
POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE
Here in Texas, instead of a struggling or at risk public high school student dropping out, they can legally transfer to The Texas Alternative – Home School to earn a high school diploma. We understand that public education is not for everyone. If every public high school in Texas utilized The Texas Alternative – Home School, there would not be a significant dropout rate in the state of Texas. We are here to help these at risks students before they drop from our public high schools, and provide Verification of Enrollment (VOE) to notify their previous public schools that they have legally transferred to The Texas Alternative – Home School. Here at TAHS, we recommend for all student to finish public high school, if possible. If not, we are here to help former students enroll back in school with us and earn a state law compliant high school diploma, an official transcript, and get back on the right track!
NO STANDARDIZED TESTS
At The Texas Alternative- Home School, we do not believe that a standardized test demonstrates everything students learn during their high school years, especially for students with test anxiety or other such concerns. Therefore, no single test should determine whether or not a student should graduate. If students have successfully completed their classes but were unable to pass a standardized test to graduate, we are here to help. We are able to transfer your credits to our home school and enroll you into our STARR Redemption Program. As a result, you can graduate and then get on with your life!
FAFSA
TAHS GRADUATES ENROLL IN COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES AS HOME SCHOOL GRADUATES
The Texas Alternative – Home School graduates can successfully enroll in colleges and universities throughout the state of Texas, without hesitation. As previously stated, our graduates should not be discriminated against for being nontraditional, nonprofit, secondary education “home” school graduates and their diplomas should be considered “equivalent” to public high school or GED graduates. The Texas Alternative – Home School graduate can successfully enroll at any college or university in the state of Texas as nontraditional, nonprofit, secondary education “home” school graduates, as long as they meet the other admission requirements. Our graduates should not be denied enrollment or experience discrimination simply based on being home school graduates, and should be allowed to enroll in school and apply for FAFSA in the same manner as other public high school or GED graduates.
TAHS’ GRADUATES APPLY FOR FAFSA AT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES AS HOME SCHOOL GRADUATES
The FAFSA general requirements are the following:
“show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law.”
The Texas Alternative- Home School graduates are qualified to obtain a college or career school and able to apply for FAFSA because they have a High School Diploma that is “equivalent” to a GED or public high school diploma per Texas state law. The difference is our students complete a high school education in a homeschool setting, which also approved under Texas state law. TAHS is recognized by and files in the state of Texas as a nonprofit, nontraditional, secondary “home” school. We do not have an CETC code, and do not need one for our graduates to enroll into college/ university or apply for FAFSA as a nontraditional, secondary “home” school graduate. Graduates may apply for financial aid at www.fafsa.gov as a “Home School” graduate. The Federal Student Aid general eligibility requirements state, “show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a GED or completing a high school education in a home school setting approved under state law”, therefore, each of our graduates has the right to apply for financial aid.
EDUCATION CODE ON NON- DISCRIMINATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION
Texas Education Code Section § 51.9241 – Admission of Student with Nontraditional Secondary Education
(a) In this section:
(1) “Institution of higher education” has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) “Nontraditional secondary education” means a course of study at the secondary school level in a
non-accredited private school setting, including a home school.
(b) Because the State of Texas considers successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education to be equivalent to graduation from a public high school, an institution of higher education must treat an applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education according to the same general standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission who have graduated from a public high school.
(c) An institution of higher education may not require an applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education to:
(1) obtain or submit evidence that the person has obtained a general education development certificate,
certificate of high school equivalency, or the credentials equivalent to a public high school degree or
(2) take an examination or comply with any other application or admission requirement not generally
applicable to other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution.
Added by Acts 2003. 78th Leg., ch. 232. § 1, elf. Sept 1,2003.
Additionally, the Texas Education Code Section 51.9241 (2) (b) also states “the state of Texas considers successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education to be equivalent to graduation from a public high school, an institution of higher education must treat an applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education to the same general standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission who have graduated from a public high school”. As each graduate has to the right to enroll into a higher educational institute, they are given an official high school transcript along with their diploma. Below is a summary of both laws protecting home school students.
Summary of Higher Education Legislation by Topic 78th Texas Legislature
“Persons with nontraditional secondary education, prohibits a public institution of higher education from having different admissions requirements for students who have completed a nontraditional secondary education. An institution may not require these students to obtain or submit a GED certificate of an equvilency to a public high school degree to take an examination or compy with any other application admission requirement that is not applicable to other applicants.” Effective date of Act is September 1, 2003, and applies to admissions on or after this date.
TAHS COMPLIES WITH THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTION 51.9241
TAHS offers a non-traditional secondary education. The Texas Education Code Section 51.9241 (2) states “Nontraditional secondary education” means a course of study at the secondary level in a non-accredited private school setting, including a home school. The Texas Education Code Section 51.9241 (2) (b) states “the state of Texas considers successful completing of a nontraditional secondary education to be equivalent to graduation from a public high school”. Therefore, if a high school diploma is required for any reason, students can obtain their diploma through TAHS, which is equivalent to a public high school diploma.
MILITARY
TAHS graduates have the right to enlist in any US military branch, pending the successful completion of 15 college credit hours at any college of your choice. Courses taken must be categorized as “1000” level courses, to qualify as credible hours. Graduates are also required to successfully complete the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. Available military resources may also be found at www.March2Success.com.
State & Federal Employment
Our graduates are not diploma mill or GED graduates. Our graduates apply and attain state and federal employment as nontraditional, secondary, “home” school graduates per Texas state law. The Texas Alternative- Home School is “State Law” Compliant and our graduates must be respected and treated as any other public high school or GED graduate. In the state of Texas, our High School Diploma and Official transcript are equivalent as a public high school diploma & transcript or GED. Each TAHS student meets all state requirements and credits by completing our curriculum (Accelerated Christian Education) to graduate, and upon successful completion, students have the right as any other public high school or GED graduate per Texas state law.
NO AGE LIMIT
Here at The Texas Alternative- Home School, we do not believe there should be an age limit to better one self. TAHS encourages life-long learning. One is never too old to learn. TAHS believes that not only does every graduate deserves a graduation, their loved ones and family members deserves to watch their graduates walk across the stage. We have annual graduations in June/July every year for our graduates and their families. Ask your TAHS Director how to sign up for graduation.
ESL(ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGE) HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM
We understand that Texas is a melting pot from different countries around the world. We have ESL Home School Programs for every nationality, not just for students transferring from Mexico. If available, we actually transfer credits from other high schools earned from other countries. Yes, if you do not have a current social security card or number with the United States, you are still able to enroll and earn your Texas state law compliant high school diploma and official transcript with The Texas Alternative Home School. Contact us today to discuss your options.
