Considering a transition to homeschooling? For beginners, there is always a debate on whether to go independent or to find a homeschool provider. 

With independent homeschooling, the Department of Education curriculum can serve as your guide when planning your lessons. But mostly, you are in full control of what happens, and when. At the end of the school year, your child would need to take a DepEd test (the Philippine Educational Placement Test, an accreditation and equivalency test) to prove that they learned sufficient knowledge to move on to the next level.

On the other hand, a homeschool provider gives your homeschooling more structure, providing accreditation, assessment assistance, and trainings, among other things. You might think it’s counterintuitive to shell out money for the services of a provider when you’re the one teaching your child, but as you will discover, there’s so much more to homeschooling than the curriculum and activities. The right homeschool provider gives you as much support, if not more, as premier conventional schools do, so your child doesn’t miss out on anything and truly gets holistic education.

Wondering who the right homeschool provider for you is? Picking out which provider to go with isn’t always a matter of budget; in the same way you discern which conventional school you want your children to be part of, you choose your provider based on how effective it is in being your ally in giving your child the best education. Consider answering these questions:

• What type of accreditation do they provide? DepEd accreditation is the basic accreditation you can get from local homeschool providers, but if you want your child to have better footing in vying for international opportunities, opt for a provider that has US accreditation. HG, with its US school partner, Wellspring Christian Family Schools, has helped many Filipino homeschoolers get into top global schools both for academics and sports. Some universities where HG alumni have been accepted to are the University of Georgia, University of California, Stanford University, University of Armenia, and New York University Shanghai, on top of premiere Philippine schools like the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University.

But be very careful with your research. Many homeschool providers widely use the terms “approved” or “recommended” to hide the fact that they are not actually accredited. If you are doubtful, contact the Department of Education for confirmation.

• Do they have a good track record? Normally, an accreditation already ensures that a homeschool provider has a good track record. According to seasoned homeschooling mom, former homeschooler, and author of Why You Should Homeschool, Joy Mendoza, the best way to know if they provide a good program is to see where their graduates go. It is also wise to see if their current students have been recognized by various organizations, or are thriving in local and national competitions. Read a lot of reviews, and most importantly, talk to parents in your trusted circle (or trusted friends of the people in your trusted circle). The Facebook group “Homeschoolers of the Philippines”, established by another seasoned homeschooling mom and Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands president Donna Pangilinan-Simpao, is a good place to hear straight from homeschooling parents themselves regarding their respective providers. There is no better proof than those from who have already taken their program.
• What curriculum do they offer? One of the main considerations you have to think through (and research on!) is the curriculum. For your child’s learning to truly be personalized, make sure that your curriculum does not merely replicate standard practices in brick-and-mortar schools.

At Homeschool Global, we believe that the core is the program and not the curriculum. From a big picture perspective, finding the right program for your child is crucial because homeschooling isn’t just about the academics or the materials but the entire experience. Depending on your family’s lifestyle and the setup that you think would help harness your child’s giftings best, choose from among our seven program offerings, which use different curricula, both print and online, that are designed to help your child learn most effectively, and to maximize his/her learning based on his/her learning style. Our seasoned team of academicians and homeschooling moms will help you understand the choices available, as well as guide you through making the most out of these materials for your child’s homeschooling.

• What kind of support do they give to families? Homeschooling should be a set-up where the parents and their children can learn and grow together. So it is important to find a homeschool provider that takes care of both. Imagine support like what a wellness accountability partner provides. She equips you with everything you need to be able to eat well, exercise well, sleep well, live well. She walks the journey with you, but doesn’t micromanage you—so you’re in charge, but you’re not alone. Your provider should be able to create a holistic learning environment for your homeschooler, and for you as the parent educator: Consultations, trainings, peer-to-peer learning, a community you can learn from and be encouraged by, enrichment activities, events where your child can showcase his/her talents. Essentially, the right homeschool provider for you is the one who can help you be the best parent-educator for your child and is intentional in helping you build the best homeschool experience for your child so he/she reaches his/her full potential.

Your child’s education is one that we know you don’t take lightly, whether you’re intro conventional schooling or opting to transition to homeschooling. It’s a matter worth researching on, analyzing, and praying about, and we hope you will take no shortcuts.