Umbrella/Cover Schools
An umbrella or cover school provides an alternative way for parents to fulfill governmental educational guidelines and requirements. Most offer a variety of services, which can include curricula, social activities, field trips, standardized testing, portfolio reviews, evaluations, and graduation materials, including diplomas. While umbrella schools do tend to the needs of homeschoolers, they are considered a type of private school in most states.
What is an Umbrella or Cover School?
Umbrella and Cover Schools in South Carolina
What is an Umbrella or Cover School?
What Are Homeschool Umbrella Schools?

An umbrella school is a homeschooling “school” that oversees the high schoolers’ education. Different states have different names for umbrella schools.

Learn How a Homeschool Umbrella School Works: Is It Right For You?

A homeschool umbrella school is an independent school that offers enrolled families a way to comply with state laws. In most circumstances, these schools offer families a chance to homeschool under private school laws, where they may find much more freedom from intervention than following homeschooling regulations individually. These types of schools can be set up as a local organization, or as a distance or online school. In some states, legal homeschooling may only be done through an umbrella or cover school, while in other states, umbrella schools can offer benefits to homeschooling families, but are not required by state law.

Umbrella Schools - Pros and Cons

This forum discussion goes over the pros and cons of using an umbrella school. In some states, there is a requirement for homeschoolers to register with an organization, and umbrella or cover schools offer this. 

The Perks of an Umbrella School vs. Remaining Independent

At one time or another, many homeschool families examine the possibility of enrolling in an umbrella or cyber school. An umbrella school is a homeschool program operated by public charter schools or directly by regular public schools. 

Umbrella School: Why You Should Homeschool with an Umbrella School

An umbrella school is generally a private school which has an option available for homeschooling. An umbrella school has students which actually attend the private school, as well as students who are registered as homeschoolers.

Why an Umbrella School?

This forum discussion gives reasons why some families choose the option of a homeschool umbrella school. 

What is an Umbrella School?

There is no universal definition for an umbrella (or cover) school because home education laws vary from state to state. In some states, homeschoolers can get some level of support and legal protection for their home education program. Umbrella schools typically provide legal legitimacy to a family's home education program, maintain attendance records, host field trips and activities, and more. 

What is an Umbrella School?

An umbrella school is an entity, typically considered a private school, which serves to oversee homeschooling families and help them meet the requirements of their state’s homeschooling laws. Sometimes the umbrella school is an actual physical private school with which homeschooling families can partner. In other cases, an umbrella school is more of an organization established to help homeschoolers comply with the law.

Umbrella and Cover Schools in South Carolina
Alliance Homeschool Accountability Association
Alliance Homeschool Accountability Association (AHAA) is open to everyone in South Carolina who wants to homeschool their children, regardless of your religious creed, church denomination, or the city you live. They run the accountability association under a non-profit model, with a combination of paid staff and a large network of volunteers, which helps us keep membership fees as low as possible. Its task is to give homeschool families an affordable and engaging opportunity to educate their children under Section 59-65-47, which is also known as "Option 3" or "Third Option" home school accountability, of South Carolina's educations laws detailed in "Title 59 - Eduction". In just a few short years, that ministry quickly grew into a network of over 1,500 families in virtually every county of South Carolina. In 2014, AHAA had grown to such a degree that it had to become its own entity with a formal organizational structure including a President, Membership Operations, and a Board.
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