If you’re concerned about homeschooling through the high school years, don’t be! It’s become commonplace, and for good reason. Your teen will have far more time to read, write, travel, think, create, and “live” while learning at home than in school. The teen years are also the time when homeschooled children can really take control of their schedules and their education, becoming “self-directed” learners. Many MHA members homeschool their teens. Here are some of the opportunities they’ve found along the way.
Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO): Minnesota’s PSEO program lets high school juniors and seniors take college classes. The students get an opportunity to experience college-level coursework and earn college credit while the Minnesota Department of Education pays for tuition and books. For more information on this great program, see our PSEO page.
Driver’s Education: It’s now possible for homeschooling families to provide the “classroom instruction” portion of driver’s education at home. The Driver and Vehicle Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety explains what you need to do on its Home School Driver Education Classes page.
Preparing for College: It’s no secret that homeschoolers are now gaining admission to colleges all across the country. Our Annual Conference always features a session on college preparation. This is a great source for sound, practical advice on how to get your child ready for the college admissions process and college itself. Additional information can be found on our Interested in College? page.
Minnesota Homeschooling Teens (MHT): MHA sponsors many social activities and outings for homeschooled teens through its teen group, MHT. This group meets regularly and plans its own events, working with an adult coordinator. If you have a teen that would like to connect with other homeschooled teens in Minnesota, have them join MHT. Information on how to join MHT can be found on our Contact Us page.
Not Back To School Camp (NBTSC): This exuberant and inspiring week-long camp for homeschooled teens was started by Grace Llewellyn in 1996. Dozens of Minnesota teens have attended NBTSC since then, many of them traveling on Amtrak’s Empire Builder to and from the camp in Oregon. Grace has strong ties to the Minnesota homeschooling community. She is a graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, and was a featured speaker at MHA’s 2005 Annual Conference.