Enrollment in the Home Study Program of the Santa Fe Community School provides structure and tools to help parents comply with state laws for children of compulsory school age in grades K-12. SFCS recommends curriculum resources appropriate to the teaching method used by the parents, and a course form is provided for maintaining comprehensive school records. Based on those records, SFCS issues grade placement recommendations, high school credits, transcripts, and diplomas.

*SFCS is not a "correspondence school." We ourselves do not design, issue, or distribute "canned", pre-packaged educational "courses" in various "subject areas" or "grade levels". We do try to assist people in developing / selecting their own educational program for the child(ren) involved.

For one reason or another you have chosen to have your child(ren) study at home rather than attend a school, including SFCS. You want an official record of that education maintained during this period for future use in transferring "credit" earned to another school or educational program which requires such documentation. You accept responsibility for planning, developing, and supervising an educational program for your child(ren), which will include submission of periodic reports to this school on forms designed for that purpose. The instruction you provide at home thus becomes an extension of our own curriculum used by your child(ren).

• Comparatively low-cost fees
• Year-round enrollment
• Parental choice of instructor / curriculum / schedule
• Office staff support
• Record keeping services
• K-8 Grade Placement Recommendation
• 9-12 High School credits / transcript / diploma
• HOme STudy EXchange (HOSTEX) student newspaper
• Legal information and support

1. Enroll in our program. (*WE ARE NOT A CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL.)
2. You will receive an Acceptance Packet within 10 business days following receipt of your payment.
3. You will fill out and return any necessary and applicable forms included in the Acceptance Packet.
4. To maintain your permanent record, you will fill out required "Course Report Forms" and submit them quarterly. Our fiscal year runs from July 1st of each year through June 30th of the following year. This gives enrolling families the flexibility of year-round, anytime educating.
5. After the completion of each school year / grade, we will issue a "Grade Placement Recommendation" for your child(ren) to "promote" your child (ren) to the next "grade" level if you should choose to re-enroll with us, or move to another school program. High School students will also receive and annual Credit Award report.

The SFCS requirements for one school year of home study generally include five basic subject areas: English, Math, Social Studies, Science and Physical Education.

As a general guideline for elementary grades (K-8), the lower the grade, the less time a child needs to spend doing "book work". For example, an acceptable program of study at home for a child aged 5-8 may involve no more than 1 hour / subject / week, where the educational supervisor provides a lot of opportunity for "hands on" experience.

"Play is the serious business of childhood" (Piaget), so for grades K-3, games and physical activity may become the primary curricular focus. As students move toward the upper end of the elementary grades, they increase the time spent in academic areas, say to 3 hours / subject /week, which is the minimum time required by SFCS to award credits at the secondary level.

SFCS requires twenty-four credits for graduation; or 1 elective, in addition to the five basic subject areas each school year. However, students may choose 2 areas of study to meet their elective requirement -- e. g., typing and woodworking, earning 1/2 credits in each subject. We do not award 1/4 credits. In grades 9-12 SFCS will award credits based on the standard credit system.

Information for students who seek to earn two credits for the same course in the same year and early graduation will be provided in the Acceptance Packet, in an extended version of the Stnadard Credit System, and our Advanced Placement Track.

TO APPLY:
Send vital data: (name(s); address; birthday(s) phone) on all children planning to enroll, along with a payment according to the fees listed below. For each child send the name and address of the school last attended, inclusive dates and grade level.OR: Use our secure PayPal credit card terminal on the Enrollment Page