How Does Online Homeschool Work?

Online homeschooling your student often works similarly to traditional homeschooling. Your child will study the same subjects students in a public school setting learn, but in the more comfortable environment of your home. The biggest difference is often that, when using an online school, you don’t have to play the role of teacher for your student. While you can act as support, study buddy, and task manager by encouraging your child to ask for help and stay on track with their studies, you don’t have to stress about making sure you’re teaching them the right subjects. But before you are ready to sign your child up for online homeschool, here’s what you should know about how it works.

How the enrollment process works?

Enrolling in online homeschool with James Madison is a straightforward process, but you may not be sure where to start. After doing your research and deciding that online high school will be the best fit for you and your student, you can get them enrolled in two ways.

• Enroll online. If you’re interested in enrolling ASAP and have had all of your questions and concerns about the program addressed, signing your student up online can be the fastest route.
• Enroll with an Admissions Specialist. If you have a few more questions about online school or just want to make sure you don’t miss any details, you can enroll your student over the phone with an Admissions Specialist. They’ll walk you through signing up step by step, answer any additional questions, and make sure you know what your next steps are. You can reach James Madison’s expert admissions department at .

Students who are under 18 must be enrolled by a parent or legal guardian. Besides setting up your student’s account, you’ll make the first payment toward your tuition plan to get started. Once the payment is successfully processed, your next step is to understand what, if any, paperwork needs to be sent to the school.

What do you need to send to James Madison after enrolling?

Underage students need to provide proof that they’ve finished at least the 8th grade in order to make sure they’re ready for high school level coursework. This can be through an official copy of their transcripts from a previous school, a homeschooling portfolio, or standardized test scores.

If they’ve completed some high school, even better! They can potentially transfer in any work they’ve already completed at their former school and pick up where they left off. Transcripts should be sent into James Madison High School within 90 days of enrolling.

Keep in mind that any student under 18 years old is subject to truancy rules, which could vary based on your school district and state of residence. When transferring your child to an online school like JMHS, make sure to contact the school district to provide any necessary homeschooling forms.

What should you do after enrolling and logging in for the first time?

The first payment toward tuition is processed and you know where to send your student’s transcripts. What next? Taking time to help your student get familiar with their student portal will help build their confidence and make sure they are prepared for success in their studies. So, right after logging in

1. Confirm the student information is correct. Make sure your student’s name is listed and spelled correctly, and that your mailing address is accurate.
2. Have your student click around, explore, and find their lessons.
3. Set up a study plan with your student. How many lessons and exams should they finish each week? Should they make an effort to study at the same time each day or can they decide when to study based on how they feel? Since the program is self-paced, you’ll be able to adjust the study “schedule” as needed.
4. Connect with JMHS online. From our Student Community to social media, there’s always a way to connect with other students, teachers, and James Madison staff.

Don’t forget, academic advisors and teachers are available for help should your student get stuck on a subject!

How online, self-paced courses are different from a traditional school?

The benefit of online homeschool is that you and your student have control over when and how they learn. While the curriculum aligns with common core standards, students can take as much or as little time as they need to understand the material and prepare for exams. If online high school sounds like the perfect fit for you and your family, reach out to an admissions specialist for questions and information today!