HOMESCHOOL DIVISION OF COTTAGE HILL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CHCA PARTNERSHIP BEGAN JULY 1, 2014 FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRAISE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ESTABLISHED 1997 Cottage Hill Christian School “Empowering Parents to Raise Godly Leaders”

Just what is Homeschooling? In the purest sense of the term, “Homeschooling” is the choice of a family to take sole responsibility for the education of their child(ren). In the early days of the homeschooling movement, parents assumed the total teaching responsibility - all the subjects, all the extra-curricular activities, etc.

Current Trends in Homeschool The movement has changed in recent years. Many homeschooling parents/guardians are now the “general contractors” of the child’s education. Today there is a vast diversity of formatting of home education:  total in-home education  combination of in-home education with support from co-op groups, private tutors, Exploreum classes, etc.  hybrid education with in-home education combined with a traditional campus school setting (CHCA)  and more.

Who can legally homeschool in Alabama? According to Alabama State Law 2014 : Option 1: Attend a Church School (known in Mobile as a “cover school”) Option 2: Attend a Private School Option 3: Instruction by a Private Tutor Home Schooling in the United States: A Legal Analysis Edition As a division of Cottage Hill Christian Academy, CHCS homeschool students fall under Option School Year Enrollment as of 2/13/15: 56 families 76 students in 1 st – 12 th grades

How is CHCS different than other local homeschool programs? CHCS is the exclusive homeschool division of CHCA. CHCS students have exclusive opportunities to be involved in the activities, field trips, and classes offered by Cottage Hill Christian Academy.

What does CHCS offer the Parents? Personalized support and counseling to aid in the success of homeschooling:  Choosing of appropriate curriculum...  Maintaining of school records...  Documenting for high school credit... ... Overall readily available resource. Assignment to small groups with a designated team leader Specific group meetings offer support to the new family, clarification of high school credits, etc. Regular updates (Electronic) of CHCS activities

How does the CHCS leadership verify the homeschooling education? Attendance at August orientation and specific meetings, required Regularly scheduled documentation of home schooling: attendance reports, report cards, teacher lesson plan book, Let’s Go Learn reading and math reports, creative writing sample. K-12 th grades bi-annual diagnostic online assessments in reading and mathematic skills: Let’s Go Learn (DORA, ADAM, and DOMA)

Verification, continued... Grades 3, 5, 8 standardized achievement tests, required ACT test for graduation, required ASVAB Career Exploration test, optional Membership in Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), required

What does CHCS offer for the homeschool student? Age-appropriate activities Elementary Middle High school Co-op classes Yearbook School t-shirts School IDs High School Student Council Association (SCA) Spring formal/ banquet Diploma Full graduation ceremony

So then what does The Academy offer for homeschoolers? Classes such as the following, but subject to change each school year: K5 - 5 th Grades: Electives, some extracurricular activities, field trips Art, Computer, Library, Music, PE, Spanish, Sports (2 nd -6 th )

The Academy Activities - Middle School Classes such as the following, but subject to change each school year: Middle School: Electives, core subjects, some extracurricular activities Art, Band, Computer, Drama (full year commitment), PE, Praise Band “Direct Connection” (full year commitment), Research Technologies, Study Skills, Weight Training, Worship Leadership, Worship Media

The Academy Activities - High School Classes such as the following, but subject to change each school year: High School: Electives, core subjects, some extracurricular activities  1-3 CHCA courses –designated as homeschool student  Hybrid (4-5 CHCA courses) - designated as Academy student - eligible for participation in competitive sports AHSAA - 5 CHCA classes required

Are there specific leaders of the Cottage Hill homeschool division? Bonita L. Harris – Administrator Educator with master’s degree in education Alabama certificate: 42+ years Terina Mounce – Registrar and Office Manager 13 years of successful homeschooling with two graduates (daughter and son) Para-professional classroom experience (Haysville, Kansas): autistic, ADD, ADHD children; individualized tutoring; co-op classroom teaching

How would an interested family enroll with CHCS? Contact the west campus office at (251) and ask for the homeschool office. Schedule a “Meet-and-Greet” interview with the homeschool personnel. Complete enrollment forms and paperwork similar to those of The Academy. Complete benchmark assessment upon enrollment.

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