State Law Compliant

The Texas Alternative-Home School is not accredited by TEA or TEPSAC but is Texas state law compliant, recognized by the state of Texas as a nontraditional, nonprofit, secondary education home school and files to the federal government as a 501(c)(3). Graduates are considered equivalent to public high school and GED graduates per Texas state law.

TAHS is not required to be governed by TEA or TEPSAC. The High School Diploma and Official Transcript are equivalent to a public high school diploma and transcript or GED in Texas. Students complete ACE curriculum to graduate and have the right to enroll in higher education, enlist in any military branch, and participate in other opportunities throughout the United States.

Texas State Law Requirements

Three requirements to home school legally in Texas:

(a) Instruction must be bona fide

TAHS programs are facilitated and monitored at state law compliant home school settings throughout Texas.

(b) Curriculum must be in visual form

TAHS students complete ACE and Money Smart for Small Business curriculum for full credit.

(c) Curriculum must include reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship

TAHS students complete all core credits in Math, English, Science, Social Studies, and good citizenship and receive an official transcript and diploma including transferred credits from previous public school.

Curriculum

TAHS uses ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) and Money Smart for Small Business. ACE provides a solid mastery-based back-to-basics education, diagnostically individualized to meet each student’s needs, incorporating Scripture, Godly character building, and wisdom principles.

Each core subject consists of 12 PACEs per level. Students complete at least 70 PACEs per year.

Learn more about ACE Curriculum

College Enrollment & FAFSA

TAHS graduates can enroll and apply for FAFSA at any Texas college or university as nontraditional, nonprofit, private, secondary home school graduates without discrimination.

Graduates apply for FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov as a Home School graduate. TAHS does not have a CETC code and does not need one.

Military

TAHS graduates have the right to enlist in any US military branch pending successful completion of 15 college credit hours at the 1000 level and successful completion of the ASVAB test.

Resources available at www.March2Success.com

DACA

TAHS exceeds DACA Education Guidelines as a Texas state law compliant nontraditional private secondary school. Upon enrollment, students receive a VOE (Verification of Enrollment).

DACA Eligibility Guidelines

• Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012
• Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday
• Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time
• Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS
• Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012
• Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States
• Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety

Education / Military Service Guidelines

Category	Meets DACA Requirements
Currently enrolled in school	Yes
Graduated from high school	Yes
Obtained a GED certificate	Yes
Obtained a certificate of completion from high school	Yes
Honorably discharged veteran (Coast Guard or Armed Forces)	Yes
Currently enrolled in an education program assisting to obtain a regular diploma or its recognized equivalent (e.g., GED)	Yes
Currently enrolled in an education program assisting to pass a GED exam or other state-authorized exam	Yes
Enrolled in a literacy or career training program	Case-by-case basis

Texas Education Code Section 51.9241

Admission of Student with Nontraditional Secondary Education

(a)
Each institution of higher education shall establish and publish in the institution’s admission materials a policy that treats applicants who present evidence that they have successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education equivalent to the requirements of completion of a secondary education in a public high school, including successful completion of a course of study that meets the curriculum requirements specified under Section 28.025 or its equivalent, in the same manner as other applicants for admission to the institution and does not impose any additional requirements on those applicants that are not also imposed on other applicants for admission to the institution.

(b)
As part of the policy required under Subsection (a), the institution of higher education may require an applicant who presents evidence of successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education to submit the results of an assessment instrument to the institution for admission purposes.

(c)
For purposes of this section, “nontraditional secondary education” includes a home school education.

Summary of Higher Education Legislation

Institutions of higher education cannot have different admissions requirements for students who present evidence of successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education, including home school education, than for other applicants for admission. No additional requirements may be imposed on nontraditional education graduates that are not also imposed on traditional graduates.

The Leeper Decision

The Leeper Decision is a landmark ruling in Texas home education law. In Leeper v. Arlington ISD, the Texas Supreme Court held that home schools are private schools for purposes of the compulsory attendance law.

“A school-age child who is pursuing a course of study in a bona fide manner, including the basic curriculum of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship, at or through the child’s home, is in attendance upon a private or parochial school within the meaning of the compulsory school attendance law and is exempt from the requirement of compulsory attendance at a public school.”

Read full explanation of the Leeper Decision

Have questions about your rights as a TAHS graduate? Contact Us at (817) 920-7622