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Frequently Asked Questions

GCHE questions - GA Dept of Education questions

 

What is Gwinnett Christian Home Educators (GCHE)?

 GCHE is a Christian support organization for homeschoolers: the children as well as the parents.  We offer activities for the children, such as field trips, service projects, family events, weekly park/gym day, monthly skating, bowling, swim days, Fun Friday Presentation days, monthly prayer meetins, Spelling Bee, Geography Bee, Science/Academic/Fine Arts Fairs, Field Day, etc.  For the parents, we provide support in the areas of Mom’s Nights Out with outside speakers, desired topical discussions, e-mails and website for upcoming activities, information on seminars, encouragement, and a library consisting of morally pure books, videos, and audiotapes for the children and the parents to enjoy.

Can anyone join GCHE?

 To join, you must agree with the GCHE Statement of Faith and affirm your agreement by signing the GCHE Statement of Faith on your Application.  In addition, you must be willing to sign the activity commitment statement and other agreements on the Application.

Can I be a member of another home school organization?

 Yes.  We do not restrict you from joining other organizations to join our group.  However, we do have an activity commitment that we expect you to fulfill in order to be a member of our organization.  Therefore, you must decide if it would be too much involvement to be a member of more than one group.

How is GCHE organized? 

 GCHE was started about 1985 by four families who desired to get together to encourage one another as Christians willing to sacrifice to teach their children at home.  For many years the group grew and lost much of the intimate fellowship that was desired and found it difficult to find buildings large enough in which to meet.  It was decided to keep the large group, but break into smaller, more localized Care Groups that were based on zip codes.  In 2006, we are back to one basic group that is mainly operating out of Southern and Eastern Gwinnett County.
 
 

How are positions of leadership filled in GCHE?

 Existing Executive Board Officers appoint GCHE members to the Executive Board Officers positions through much prayer.  They are usually chosen from those who stand out as having leadership qualities and who have both husband and wife committed to the group and to home schooling.  Board members must be home schooling all of their children.  Other positions on the Mini-Boards for each Care Group are filled through volunteers or through the Care Group Leaders’ asking members to fill the positions.  We always encourage wives to seek their husbands’ counsel before agreeing to fill a position.  When you agree to a position, we expect you to fulfill the duties involved in that position; “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches…”  (Proverbs 22:1).

What benefits does my membership have? 

 Your family will have the opportunity to build relationships with other Christian, homeschooling families.  Your children will be able to participate in many group activities  (e.g. Field Trips, Park Days, service projects, Science Fairs, Field Day, plus much more).  Other benefits include: GCHE Web Announcement Board (informs you of all activities), GCHE Library (extensive collection of books, videos, audio tapes, and more), GCHE Directory (including family info & ages of children), and GCHE Name Tag(s) (allowing you admittance to GCHE activities).  Your membership also allows you to receive discounts on many services and activities (i.e., HSLDA)

What are the immediate steps I need to take to join?

 You must read the GCHE Handbook.  Fill out the Application (including the questions sheet) and sign the Statement of Faith, Activity Commitment, and all other agreements.  Send in your completed & signed application along with your check for the required amount (see the Application for breakdown according to dates).  If you do not enclose a fully completed & signed application along with your check, your application will be returned to you for completion.

After everything is sent in, then what? 

 You may periodically receive e-mails from GCHE leaders and group members concerning GCHE activities.   Access the GCHE website at www.GCHEGA.com  for the GCHE Newsletter, GCHE Directory, and updated information on GCHE activities and business.  If you don’t have internet access (and you have checked the box on your application to say so), you are assigned someone in the group to call periodically to get that information.  Most of the info is now on the website.

(from Georgia Dept of Education)

What are the basic provisions of the compulsory attendance law? Every parent, guardian or other person residing within this state having control or charge of any child(ren) between their sixth and sixteenth birthdays must enroll and send such child(ren) to a public school, a private school or a home study program that meets requirements.
Who can operate a home study program? Parents or guardians may operate a home study program for their child(ren) only, provided the parents or guardians meet specific requirements of the law.
Who is responsible for the enforcement of the law? It is the duty of the local board of education and each local school superintendent to enforce the law.
According to the law, what is the first step in establishing a home study program? Within 30 days after a program is established and by September 1 annually thereafter, the parents or guardians must file a Declaration of Intent with the local school superintendent. This Declaration must include the names and ages of the students, the address where the program is located and the dates of the school year. Upon request, the local school superintendent should provide the parent with the proper form
Are there any qualifications required for the parent who teaches the child? Yes. If the teacher is a parent or guardian, s/he must have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (G.E.D.).
Can the parents or guardians employ someone else to teach in a home school program? Yes, any employed tutor must have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED).
Must the tutor's college degree be in a specific field or area? No. The law specifies only a college degree.
Does the law address curriculum requirements for home study programs? Yes. The program must provide a basic academic educational program which includes (but is not limited to) instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science.
Is a home study program required by law to be operated within specified hours? No. The law only requires the program to operate the equivalent of 180 days or at least 4.5 (four and one-half) hours of instruction per day unless the child is physically unable to comply with this requirement.
Does the law specify any promotion requirements, testing or record keeping by the home study program? The law does not specify any promotion requirements. However, it does stipulate that an "appropriate" nationally standardized testing program be administered in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm-referenced tests. The law further states that the student must be evaluated at least every three years. National-norm assessments must be given at the end of grades 3, 6, 9, and 12. Additionally, the records of such tests must be retained for three years.
Are progress reports or report cards required of home study programs? The law states that the instructor must write an annual progress assessment report in each required subject area for each student and that the reports must be retained for at least three years.
Are home study programs required to keep attendance records? Yes. The law requires that monthly attendance reports be submitted to the local school superintendent at the end of each month. Forms are available from your local school superintendent.
Should officials of the local public school system attempt to monitor the curriculum, the test program, student assessment process, student records or instruction time of home study programs? No.
Are there any requirements in the law pertaining to facilities or health and safety standards? No.
Are public school systems required by law to furnish for home study programs instructional materials, textbooks or services such as testing? No.
Are there any state rules, regulations or guidelines concerning the grade placement of students or validation of credits earned by students in home study programs who are entering or returning to the public schools? Local boards of education are required to adopt policies and procedures for validating credit for courses taken in a home study program. The procedures at a minimum must include the following:
bullet probationary placement and satisfactory performance for one or more grading periods or
bullet acceptable scores on tests focused on group placement, subject area and/or grade level.
Will high school students entering the public schools from home study programs be required to meet all state board rules concerning graduation requirements? Yes. All students graduating from any state-supported Georgia high schools must meet all state requirements in regard to attendance, Carnegie Units and passing scores on the state assessment requirements.
What is the penalty for being violation of this law? Any person in violation of this law is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100 (one hundred dollars).
What steps should a local school superintendent take when a violation occurs? The law requires the local school superintendent to notify the parent or guardian of the child and then to report to the juvenile or other court having jurisdiction.