Empowering Parents. Strengthening Homeschooling.
Want to grow your confidence as a homeschool educator and discover practical strategies to help your student thrive?
Springs Charter Schools is excited to offer the Parent Certification Program for our homeschool families. This optional program is designed to empower parents with additional training, support, and practical tools to help provide the best educational experience possible for their students.
Through the program, parents will strengthen their homeschooling skills, explore effective teaching practices, and develop strategies they can apply directly to their home education experience.
What Do Parents Receive?
Upon successful completion of the Parent Certification Program, families will receive:
- Parent/Homeschool Certification through Springs Charter Schools
- Recognition as part of a community of committed homeschool parents
- An additional $300 in instructional funding for the following school year
First-Year Participants
If this is your first year in the Parent Certification Program, you will complete:
3 Core Courses + 4 Electives + 1 Final Project
The three core courses are self-paced and completed online through Canvas.
Core Course 1: Building Your Homeschool Foundation
Explore different approaches to homeschooling while developing your educational philosophy and creating a personal vision based on your family’s goals and learning style.
Topics include:
- Discovering your HOW of home education by exploring educational philosophies
- Discovering your WHY of home education
- Developing a family vision for homeschooling
Core Course 2: Teaching the Daily Non-Negotiables
Teaching the daily non-negotiables: Reading, Writing, and Math. Topics focus on practical strategies for teaching daily essentials, including math, reading, and writing.
Core Course 3: Assessment
Explore different types of assessment and learn how assessment can help you evaluate both your teaching and your student’s learning.
Electives
After completing the three core courses, parents complete four electives.
Elective opportunities may include:
- Springs Annual Parent Ignite! Conference in August (Attendance counts as two electives.)
- Springs workshops offered throughout the year
- Outside, pre-approved conference or training
- Educational books and reviews
- Active participation in a co-op
- Springs events such as: Writing Contest, Spelling Bee, History Day, Science Fair, Talent Show, or Meet the Expert
Final Project
To complete the program, parents submit a final project that provides an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned throughout the year.
This parent-choice project should demonstrate an aspect of what you learned through the Parent Certification Program and show how you applied that learning to your own homeschooling experience. The goal of the project is to reflect on your growth as an educator and help other home educators develop as teachers.
Pre-approved projects may take a variety of forms, including:
- Poster presentation
- Brochure
- Portfolio of student work
- Year plan or outline
- Another approved format that demonstrates your learning and application
Returning Participants / Renewal
Already Parent Certified? Returning participants can continue building on what they have learned. Returning participants will:
- Attend the yearly regional SPREE event
- Complete three electives
- Submit a final project
