When homeschoolers take classes outside the home, or use a tutor, the transcript can seem a little complicated. You can make it easily understandable by simply using acronyms for outside classes.
Should you show the use of a tutor on a homeschool transcript?
There are some very intense homeschoolers that don't feel confident in homeschool classes that are taught independently. That's not me. But, if you are feeling pressured to list your tutor on a homeschool transcript, relax. It's not even really necessary.
Some homeschoolers say that you "should" do classes outside the home or that you "should" indicate the location of each class. I disagree - there is plenty of research showing that homeschoolers provide a good outcome without outside classes, we don't need to prove anything by having our children take classes with a tutor.
But for classes that are taught outside the home, perhaps by a tutor, I suggest only making a note of that in the course descriptions, and only if you want to. I recommend keeping the teacher, or tutor, information to a simple statement on the course description - perhaps like this.
English: Literature and Composition
Resources used:
Primary Text: IEW Live Online Writing Class
Supplemental Text: Excellence in Literature: American Literature
Tutor: Laura House, IEW Live Online Writing Class Instructor
How do I show outside classes on the homeschool transcript?
On the other hand, some homeschoolers take classes at a brick and mortar school, a high school or college. Sometimes those classes are taken as an "extra resource" class and sometimes the student may take those classes with a dual enrollment purpose. For classes at a school or college, you do need to indicate those classes on the homeschool transcript.
You can set up your transcript to represent outside classes like this:
Choose an acronym for each location where your child took classes. Here are some examples:
DHS = Denver High School
HCC = Highline Community College
FHC = Family Homeschool Cooperative
Once you have chosen an acronym, use it on your child's homeschool transcript. This will help colleges figure out where each class was taken, and where they can expect other transcripts to come from.
Place the acronym by class title on the transcript. For example:
DHS: Algebra 1
HCC: SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology
FHC: Latin 1
Then, in key or legend toward the bottom of your transcript, define what each acronym means. It might look like this:
DHS: Classes taken at Denver High School
HCC: Dual enrollment classes at Highline Community College
FHC: Homeschool co-op classes taken at Family Homeschool Cooperative
If the outside classes were taken at a brick and mortar school or college, your homeschool transcript grade should look exactly like the transcript grade that comes from that school. Homeschool co-ops are not schools, so if they give you a grade it's really just a "serving suggestion" based on their interactions with your student. If your student took classes at a community college, high school, alt ed program, or accredited online school, you must use their grades, and have them each send a transcript directly to the college. In fact, if your child has withdrawn from public school, classes taken there can be listed on the homeschool transcript as well.
If you have many questions about making a transcript, this article may help: How to Make a Homeschool Transcript.
I hope this helps to put your mind at ease. The homeschool transcript can be done a variety of ways, but I chose to make it reflect our homeschool in the simplest, truest way possible.
