Indiana Homeschool Laws
Compulsory Attendance Ages: "... earlier of the date on which the student officially enrolls in a school or,except as provided in section 8 of this chapter, the beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the student becomes seven (7) years of age until the date on which the student:
(1) graduates;
(2) becomes eighteen (18) years of age; or
(3) becomes sixteen (16) years of age but is less that eighteen (18) years of age and the requirements under section 9 of this chapter concerning an exit interview are met enabling the student to withdraw from school before graduation; whichever occurs first."
IC 20-33-2-6
Required Days of Attendance: "... for the number of days public schools are in session: (1) in the school corporation in which the student is enrolled in Indiana; or where the student is enrolled if the student is enrolled outside Indiana." (generally, 180 days)
IC 20-33-2-5
Required Subjects: "... instruction equivalent to that given in public schools." IC 20-33-2-28
"A school that is:
(1) nonpublic;
(2) non-accredited; and
(3) not otherwise approved by the state board; is not bound by any requirement set forth in IC 20 or IC 21 with regards to curriculum or the content of educational programs offered by the school"
IC 20-33-2-12
Homeschool Statutes: None
Alternative Statues Allowing for Homeschools: A child may attend "another school taught in the English language." IC 20-33-2-4
1. The child must be "provided with instruction equivalent to that given in public schools.
IC 20-33-2-28
However, IC 20-33-2-12 has removed all subject requirements (see above). Furthermore, the Indiana Department of Education has not been given the authority to define "equivalent instruction", nor to approve homeschools.
2. The Indiana Appellate Court has held the Indiana compulsory attendance law allows the operation of homeschools. State v. Peterman, 32 Ind. App. 665, 70 N.E. 550 (1905) Essentially, the court said a school at home is a private school.
The court defined a school as "a place where instruction is imparted to the young... We do not think that the number of person, whether one or many, makes a place where instruction is imparted any less or more a school." Peterman, 70 NE at 551. The court explained further: "Under a law very similar to ours, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts has held that the object and purpose of a compulsory educational law are that all the children shall be educated, not that they shall be educated in any particular way." Peterman, at 551.
3. In Mazanee v. North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation, 614 F. Supp. 1152 (N.D. Ind. 1985) (affd. By 798 F. 2nd 230), a federal district court recognized that parents have the constitutional right to educate their children in a home environment (at page 1160). The court wrote concerning the qualifications of homeschool parents that "... it is now doubtful that the requirements of a formally licensed or certified teacher... would pass constitutional muster." (at page 1160) On appeal, the circuit court ruled that a school corporation is not immune from a 1983 action for improper enforcement of compulsory attendance.
4. Parents must keep attendance records "... solely to verify the enrollment and attendance of a student upon request of the:
(1) state superintendent; or
(2) superintendent of the school corporation in which the nonpublic school is located."
IC 20-33-2-20
5. "Each principal or school administrator in a nonpublic school that is attended by a student who is subject to the compulsory school attendance law under this chapter shall furnish, on request of the state superintendent, the number of students by grade level attending the school."
IC 20-33-2-21
Teacher Qualifications: None
Standardized Tests: Not required by statute.
Indiana Core 40
These are the courses and credits required for a high school diploma.
English/Language Arts: 8 credits
Including a balance of literature, composition and speech.
Mathematics: 6 credits
2 credits: Algebra I
2 credits Geometry
2 credits: Algebra II
Or complete Integrated Math I, II and III for 6 credits
All students must complete a math or physics course in the junior or senior year.
Science: 6 credits
2 credits: Biology I
2 credits: Chemistry I or Physics I or Integrated Chemistry-Physics
2 credits: any Core 40 science course
Social Studies: 6 credits
2 credits: US History
1 credit: US Government
1 credit: Economics
2 credits: World History/Civilization or Geography/History of the World
Directed Electives: 5 credits
World Languages
Fine Arts
Career-Technical
Physical Education: 2 credits
Health and Wellness: 2 credits
Electives: 6 credits
Schools may have additional local graduation requirements that apply to all students.
Making a Transcript
1. Student Information
At the top of your transcript, you will include your student's name - last name first, then first name, their full address, gender, social security number, date of birth and phone number.
2. Student Academic History
You will list all your student's courses they took for their high school diploma in this section. List them by year: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior. Include the course title, grade, unit/credit (one unit = one year), and your student's grade point. You will want to include the totals and averages for each year, as well.
3. Summary of Academic Record
In this section, you will put your student's graduation date, attendance for each year, total graduation units/credits and final GPA.
4. Additional Student Information
Post secondary institutions look at a wide array of factors when considering applications. Most colleges consider academic performance as most important but they also like to see what other activities and community service projects your student has participated in. Colleges also look at transcripts to determine what kind of student your teen will potentially be... colleges like well-rounded students.
5. Standardized Test Scores
Your transcript should include your high school student's standardized test scores. Record the test name, the year the test was taken, the type of test, and your student's test scores.
6. Previous Secondary Schools Attended
If your homeschool high school student has attended secondary schools previously, you will want to include that on your homeschool transcript. Include the school's name, address and years your student attended.
7. Grade Scales
Include on your transcript, the grading scales used to determine your students grades. Typical grading scales are:
Grading System
A+ = 97-100
A = 93-96
A- = 90-92
B+ = 87-89
B = 83-86
B- = 80-82
C+ = 77-79
C = 73-76
C- = 70-72
D+ = 67-69
D = 63-66
D- = 60-62
GPA Scale
A+ = 4.00
A = 3.75
A- = 3.50
B+ = 3.25
B = 3.00
B- = 2.75
C+ = 2.50
C = 2.25
C- = 2.00
D+ = 1.75
D = 1.50
D- = 1.25
8. Homeschool Officials
At the bottom of your transcript, you will want to include an area for the signatures and titles of your homeschool officials - that would be you, and your spouse, if applicable. If you haven't already done so, assign one person to be the principal... in our homeschool, my husband takes on that role. And the other person would be the Teacher/Administrator or whatever you officially call yourself!
There you have it! You are on your way to creating professional homeschool transcripts for college applications... easy and hassle-free!
