Homeschool Options

COLLABORATIVE (Partnership): 

    At Summit Homeschool Academy, our Grammar program is delivered in a collaborative model. Our homeschool enrichment program partners with parents to teach Math & English with parents, providing a classical curriculum, Teachers Guides, training, and pacing schedules. 

    With highly qualified teachers, small class sizes, parent training, and classical curriculum our program ensures families are well-supported in classically educating their child. As an academic collaborative, we teach 2 lessons per week, while parents, as the Primary Educators, teach 2-3 lessons a week in Math & English.  

UNIVERSITY MODEL:

    In the upper school. 7th-12th grade, Summit classroom teachers deliver all of the content as subject experts. and parents oversee homework. Parents will also provide any additional learning supports they deem appropriate, such as tutoring or assistance with executive skills. 

  Summit Math Teachers will assign lessons and teach lessons in class. They will assign 3 additional digital online lessons to be completed during the week. The class time is spent on a lessons together, reviewing more difficult concepts, testing and building a stronger foundation than an independent study. 

  Summit English Teachers will deliver all new content, using the progymnasmata to build effective writing and speaking skills using composition, literary analysis, socratic discussion and presentations. (Literature is not a subject included in the course, but a survey of the great works are included in the content. There is an optional History course that can be used as the literature component of your child's education, or the course comes with suggested literature and a pacing guide is included, should you desire to align complimentary pieces of literature alongside our expository composition course.) 

INDEPENDENT HOMESCHOOL (100% on your own):

    This option allows for flexibility in a family's busy schedule, accommodating diverse learning experiences that count as education suck as travel (social studies), balancing a checkbook (business skills), and sports (physical education). Unlike more structured programs, you won't need to worry about carving out a strict 4-hour daily learning block; the time fills naturally with independent teaching. For curriculum ideas, check out Facebook groups where homeschooling families share suggestions, with most options available for purchase online. 

    This approach is especially ideal for families needing adaptability - like those with competitive athletes - offering more freedom than a collaborative model with a committed pace. You can even connect with other families using similar programs to form learning co-ops for added support.

PRIVATE (Tuition-based):

    Private school options include full-time enrollment, a university-style model school, or homeschool program. These are tuition-based program, not using any government funding and may be offered online or at a brick-and-mortar locations.

Enrichment Programs offer standalone learning experiences that operate independently of your at-home curriculum, typically focusing on electives. These programs provide supplemental instruction-often a few hours per week-without requiring coordination with your core teaching. While they may include some group interaction, they offer limited program support or community-building opportunities, leaving parents fully responsible to manage both the primary education and their child's social connections.

Collaborative Programs (Instruction Time + Program Support and Social Interaction) like Summit Homeschool Academy, create a true partnership between parents and educators to deliver a cohesive education. The curriculum, taught during 6 hours of weekly group instruction by professional educators, spans a full year of Math & English and seamlessly integrates with what a parent is teaching at home. 

    Beyond academics, this model prioritizes building a vibrant community: families learn alongside one another, sharing the journey through collaborative teaching, special celebrations, and memorable events. Because it's locally rooted, your child can form deep, lasting friendships with peers they see regularly outside of class-enhancing their social experience far what enrichment offers. A standout benefit is the relief it provides parents: while children with peers and learn in a dynamic group setting, parents enjoy a well-deserved day to recharge, which can be a game-changer for maintaining energy and commitment over the long haul. In fact, joining a collaborative could be the single biggest factor in sustaining homeschooling success. That said, parents remain the primary educators and must dedicate 2-3 hours per day, 4 days a week, to reinforce the lessons at home.

Just a few things to keep in mind as you navigate the homeschool ocean of information.

1. The parent, a close relative, or licensed teacher can teach your children.

2. Record Keeping Requirements: 

•  Attendance (Requirements are 172 days with an average of 4 hours per day)
•  Assessment Results, tests/exams at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grades (must either be tested using a nationally-standardized test that also has a composite score OR be evaluated by a qualified person)
•  Immunization Records (exemption form example here: https://chec.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Immunization-Exemption-6.29.20.pdf

3. Over the course of their learning, your child's education program must include: communication skills of reading, writing & speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and regular courses of instruction in the constitution of the United States as provided in section 22-1-108.

4. Your children won't be left out of important school experiences! They can still participate in sports, dances, events and interscholastic activities offered within the district where they filed the Notice of Intent (NOI) to Homeschool.

TIP: The best planner that has pages to record everything (attendance, lesson planning, grades, grocery lists, event planning etc.) is right here! https://shop.wellplannedgal.com/index.php/shop/planners/2021-2022-planners/homeschool-planner.html)

    Think back to when you first brought your little one home from the hospital. Parenting didn't come with an instant instruction manual, did it? It took time, effort, and a whole lot of love to figure it out how to parent well. Maybe you binge-watched A Baby Story, signed up for birthing classes, learned how to baby-proof every corner of your house, or took a CPR and First Aid class just to be extra prepared. You might of poured over What To Expect When You're Expecting or Baby Wise, scribbling notes in a journal, and later joined a group of playdate moms who were in the same season of life to share tips and laughter with. Homeschooling is a lot like that: a beautiful journey that grows with time and care.

     To do it well, it deserves an investment of time. Once you've picked your homeschool program, take a little time to learn how it works-maybe through training or just diving in and exploring it on your own. Map out your year (will you go year-round, stick to a traditional schedule, or try something like six weeks on and off a week?) Decide how you'll measure progress-grades, milestones, or whatever feels right for you and your child. Set some goals, dream big, and when the time feel right invite your child into the planning. Look for teaching workshops or ideas that get you excited to teach. And just like those early parenting days, find your people-other homeschooling families who understand where you are in the process, who'll cheer you on, share wisdom, and remind you why you started on this adventure on the days your questioning the why. These parents will be your strength on the tough days and your inspiration to keep going. 

    Here's the truth: if you feel called to homeschool, you're already the BEST PERSON for the job! You've got this! It'll take some time and a bit of creativity with resources-libraries, YouTube, and Facebook Marketplace are goldmines for free or low-cost materials! That said, I'd encourage you to carve out a little space in your budget for a few key things:

• Your child's needs: Think field trips, passion activities like sports, art, or music,. and even for professional tutors if your child learns differently. You're not meant to do it all alone or know everything-homeschool shines when it's built on strong family bonds, a supportive community, and the freedom to explore beyond four walls.
• Your needs: Don't skip on yourself! Invest in teaching tools that make your life easier-maybe online lessons to guide you through Math or English, or a professional development course (online or in-person) to shape your homeschool vision. And please, take care of YOU, a little time away to recharge means you'll show up with fresh energy and joy for your kids. Remember, you're not just teaching...you're building something amazing, one day at a time.

    And if you give homeschooling a try and realize it's not quite your thing, that's perfectly okay! It doesn't mean you've failed as a parent-far from it. Your kids are still on their way to becoming incredible humans, with you cheering them on. If this happens, look for a full-time program that fits your family's values, or bring in a qualified tutor to lend a hand. The key is to keep their learning on track-dabbling with just a day or two of school or skimming the surface won't give them the foundation they deserve for a bright future. You don't want homeschooling to turn into a hurdle they have to clear later in life. If providing a solid education at home feels out of reach, explore other paths with confidence. You're still an amazing parent, and your child's success is still within reach!