<p>My kid applied for our state Governor's Scholarship, which in the past was given to anyone who qualified based on high SAT/ACT scores or NMF status.</p>
<p>This year, for the first time, they had more than the limit (250) of qualified applicants, so about 30 people were cut.</p>
<p>I thought my kid was a good candidate--I was stunned to find that he was in the bottom 11%, so I called the program office to see why he was cut. The applicants were ranked on a 100 point system: 40 points for test scores, 25 points for academic grades, 25 points for class rank, 10 points for leadership (ECs). The director told me that homeschoolers receive 0 (yes, ZERO!) points for class rank--though I had listed my kid's rank as 1/1. He had no explanation for this, except "His class is so small." "He hasn't earned his rank." Also, under the leadership category, 8 points were designated for "school" leadership, and 2 points for "community leadership," so, since my kid didn't do "school" activities, he lost 8 points there. After losing these 33 points, my kid was, obviously, at the bottom of the applicant pool. </p>
<p>There is no way homeschoolers can ever win this scholarship since they have a maximum possible of 67 points and are competing with others who have 100 points available to them. Just not fair. I want to do what I can to get the scoring system changed. </p>
<p>Any suggestions for a system that would be fair to all students?</p>
<p>(BTW, no sour grapes--my kid wouldn't have used the scholarship anyway since he decided on an out-of-state school, but I want to help out other homeschoolers for next year)</p>
<p>Simply don't homeschool..you have to learn to accept disadvanatages of your choice since homeschoolers are pretty prominent about the advanatages.</p>
<p>I, too, would like to see more posts in CC's homeschool section, but this isn't exactly what I had in mind. I'm looking for HELPFUL suggestions.</p>
<p>Homeschooling is legal in this state. I'm a taxpayer. Homeschoolers deserve equal opportunity in the evaluation process for state-sponsored scholarships. Say a homeschooler got 61 of 67 possible points--sounds pretty good, 91%--but under this system he'd be given a 61%! You do the math--it doesn't compute.</p>
<p>"prominent" about the "advanatages" That statement makes no sense...</p>
<p>The first thing I think I would do would be to contact the scholarship folks and share what you just told us. We ran into this with a local scholarship--when I pointed out that the wording cut out a significant number of students, they changed it! Then, I would write to my state representative and lay out my case. And lastly, I would contact HSLDA. Are you a member of your state hs organization? Alert them to this! Good luck. </p>
<p>btw--the next time someone has to list "school" activities, think of what you do at home as "school". We listed things such as the college orchestra, political campaigning, volunteering with the fire department, etc. After all, they were part of my children's school...</p>
<p>You are obviously some loser that has no life whatsoever. You are nothing more than some idiot troll that no one really cares about. I have an idea! Get a life and leave these people alone. Most people homeschool because they do not want their children to be stupid and ignorant like you. I know you are somewhat learning disabled and slow so I will try to make this as easy as possible for you. SCRAM!</p>
<p>Hey Justinian I!! Just read the post. It makes sense. If you don't go to public school, why get the public's money? It makes no sense. Plus, Justinian I is the worst CCer ever conceived. Did you ever ask your mom why she regrets having you? I think I know, but I'll let her take care of the answer.</p>
<p>I've seen your other posts and it does appear you seem to be a troll. Although, out of the kindness of my heart, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. While you're not above ad hominems, you do make some interesting points, however flawed. First of all, just because one chooses to homeschool doesn't necessarily mean that one feel's that one is "too good for public school" even though that may actually be the case in many instances (have you seen most of the public schools out there?). Second of all, just because one's public school has not offered what they ought doesn't disqualify a homeschooler from a scholarship that's public: payed for by taxpayers. Homeschoolers are taxpayers as well as everybody else, and if, as a taxpayer, they find that what they have been forced to contribute to (monetary wise) has not been able to give them what they need, then isn't it more of a hardship for homeschoolers to fund and employ themselves in the education that their tax dollars should have done? That being said, who could blame a homeschooler for getting back their tax dollars through a scholarship contest. I mean, they're obviously qualified or else they would not have been considered in the first place. Just because they have chosen a route other than bureaucracy, which is what I consider what my public school years have been, doesn't mean that they too shouldn't have a chance for that scholarship.</p>
<p>Thanks. Though I am part of the public, this is a high tax state, and I pay for public schools, I am not after "public $" for my kid. It would be nice for him to have the honor/bragging rights of this scholarship, but he is going to an out of state school so would not use it anyway. I want to help other homeschoolers to have a fair chance at this four-year, full ride scholarship in the future. I've contacted the governor and the education alliance and found that a couple other parents also expressed concern, and they are already working on changing the scoring system--they have admitted that there is a problem with the system. I asked that homeschoolers who were unfairly excluded be awarded the scholarship this year. We'll see what happens. . .</p>
<p>Its really a shame I think. I am not a homeschooler, but I have to say that I wish I was. Unfortunately, many don't understand homeschooling because they are brainwashed by the regular school system. Hopefully something will change in the future though.</p>
<p>atomom, that's a tough question. I've thought a bit about it since you posted the other day, and it's hard to think of any way to adjust the new requirements so they would be fair. What about seeing to it that they hear from homeschoolers so they are at least aware that they have been shut out? Those requirements are so heavily weighted against homeschoolers it almost looks like it was on purpose.</p>
<p>Hi Atomom ... this situation stinks ... it's not clear to me what a great solution is but I agree with you that ALL students should have a fiar shot at winning the scholarship. I would recommend stating the facts of your child's application and how homeschool kids are only eligible for 67 of 100 points to the folks who run the program and your state representatives and offer to work with them to develop an equitable system so in the future other homeschooled kids can have a fair shot at the scholarships.</p>
<p>FYI - my first thought of what could be done is to prorate the score of the home school kids ... if your child got a 60 of 67 ... on a 100 point scale that would be about a 90. There are lots of possible ways they could deal with this and all have pros and cons .. they should pick one that is fairer than the current way though!</p>
<p>I got a call from the governor's office yesterday--to say "thank you for your letter, you're absolutely right, there is a problem, and we're working on changing the scoring policy." I must say that my letter was very polite and detailed, and that was appreciated. (So important to be courteous and state the facts clearly when complaining about something). A couple other parents of homeschoolers had also complained. When I first talked to the program coordinator, he didn't seem at all concerned that the system was unfair. I don't think there was a written policy that "homeschoolers get 0/25 for class rank." I think he just decided that, in his own opinion, 1/1 indicated "bottom of class". I wonder if kids from small schools are also at a disadvantage? (rank of 1/800 gets more points than rank of 1/25? Not the kid's fault for living in a rural area. . .)
3togo--I suggested a system like that, as you said, a 60 of 67 is 90%, not 60%. They wouldn't promise anything for this year's applicants, (I was told that "the governor can't just wave a magic wand. . ." I'm thinking, "Why not?!") but I hope that homeschoolers will at least be back in the running for next year. </p>
<p>The governor is fairly pro-homeschooling.
I was told that homeschoolers are the 3rd largest "school district" in the state (and that's only counting the "registered" ones), so it's not just a few kids who are affected by a policy like this.</p>
<p>I'm glad something of a resolution is starting to roll. The scholarship judging criteria is indeed unfair and I hope everything works out for you.</p>
<p>Good News--This week my S and 5-6 other homeschoolers were offered the Governor's Distinguished Scholarship. (Not sure if they rescored the homeschoolers for this year, or just made it all the way down the waiting list). The process will be changed for next year.</p>
<p>are you'll saying the home school discrimination is only within scholarships or also acceptance. if so, change the system as you put it, but also consider CC then transfer.</p>
<p>This discrimination had to do with the scoring system for the Governor's Scholarship in our state, not acceptance at any college. (S had no problem getting accepted--even with only a homeschool transcript, parent-assigned grades, no course descriptions, booklists or portfolio, nothing extra. No questions were asked. He did have high test scores, was NMF, so that may have a lot to do with it).</p>