High School Record Keeping

[Tidbits of Learning]

I was just wondering how everyone is keeping up with high school records-by hand or by computer program. I have tried a few computer programs and it just takes so long to get it all in then grade and I feel like I am spending a lot of time inputting data. Plus they all seem to have a yearly fee to use them. I have a 4 yr high school paper planner as well. It seems a bit more fluid and doesn't take as long and if I make an error I just need an eraser. I am just wondering which is better for records. I do have to send in a report card, test scores, and work in progress transcript each year. I thought the computer program would make things easier and print more professional reports. Is there one out there that isn't time consuming but does the bare minimum for these reports?
I will admit that I don't switch to the more strict homeschooling method until high school and for my younger kids I don't have to send anything in but a letter of intent and keep testing on file so this is new territory for me. This is my first year having to document and send in to the state these type of records. They approve our home study application based on these reports. I thought about printing out the intro/grading for the WG guide and documenting the date and grades on it and we would have the test report from the Iowa test. Does anyone else have to send in these type of records and what have you used? Have you ever had them want a computerized report over hand-written?
Thanks in advance.

[chillin'inandover]

Tidbits,
I think your idea about copying the introduction of World Geography TM seems like a simple solution. The only question I have is, if this is a violation of the copyright in the TM. As long as this is ok with Carrie than that is a solution. When your child takes the IOWA do you receive the results? If so, those would be printed.
What I have done for high school transcripts is used TranscriptPro by Igne Canon. It has plenty of directions and it looks professional. It is a bit pricey, but I am able to use it with all my kiddos. For testing I have used the CAT test (California Achievement Test). The results are computer scored, and the results are sent to me in printed format. In our state we must test annually, but we don't need to send in the results. Some people use the IOWA test, but that is offered by the school district. My understanding is that the school receives the results and forward them to you.
I did not do the formal grading or transcript until high school. Our state required quarterly report cards if you did not have a 4 year college degree. I have a 4 year college degree so I didn't need to complete a report card. Our state law changed so now we only need to fill out an initial intent to homeschool with annual updates to the simple form. Each state is different as to what they require. I have used HSLDA and my state homeschool organization for support as to how to document annually and for high school requirements. I think the more professional the high school transcripts appear the more likely colleges and businesses will accept homeschooling as a legitimate alternative that it is.

[LynnH]

I use homeschool tracker, but it does have a big learning curve. It was worth it for me since it does all the grade calculations and produced a nice transcript for my dd when she was applying to college. It does take a lot of time to input the data though. I do that over the summer. I set up lesson plans that just tell me what the general assignment was for example: history reading written narration. I only enter the things I plan to give a grade. I don't have to send anything into the state other than his yearly testing scores, but I know some colleges want to see more details on grades etc and this will give that.

[StephanieU]

Tidbits,
I think your idea about copying the introduction of World Geography TM seems like a simple solution. The only question I have is, if this is a violation of the copyright in the TM. As long as this is ok with Carrie than that is a solution. When your child takes the IOWA do you receive the results? If so, those would be printed.

I am going ot guess copying the introduction is allowed as it is a pdf on the HOD website. You can print it from there, so I don't think it is illegal to copy that. It is like th first week which they post for each guide to help you decide if the program is right for you.

[Tidbits of Learning]

Thanks everyone. I think I am going to print and keep record on the intro/gradekeeping pages as well as attempt to put everything into the pc. I do have homeschool tracker + and I had started inputting this week, but it is for 4 kids and it is taking me forever. There is a learning curve plus I can't figure out how to do the courses...whether I just need to make a lesson plan for each subject or to just make one big lesson plan for each guide that encompasses all the subjects. What do you do Lynn? Do you input as lesson plans or by assignments? Do you make a lesson plan for each subject or just make one big lesson plan for your guide with each subject inside the lesson plan by day? I will get the results from the IOWA test. We are testing with a few other homeschool families (one of which is a certified teacher in my state). They like for the test to be proctored by someone other than yourself. Crazy, huh? So we get together and proctor each other's children. I have called around to some schools locally and for her to take the PSAT I need an in progress transcript to show her GPA b/c they only let students with certain GPA's take the test and she can't take it before her junior year around here at all. I may try my old private school in my home state when I visit my parents and see if she can take it in 10th grade at least. For her to play sports with the private schools here, we also have to have a report card and such to show eligibility which is why I was leaning towards a program but I think I spent 3+ hours the other day and only got math and language arts in to the computer for the boys. Our WG guide isn't here yet. The crazy weather delayed it, but I should get it today or tomorrow. I am thinking of starting inputting a week at a time into HST+ so that we can just get started but worry that if I don't just do it all at once that I will procrastinate and have a stack of things to input at the end of the year. Any advice on a quick way to get started with HST+ that has worked with the HOD guides and where we could be running all 4 guides by next Monday would be greatly appreciated.

[LynnH]

I use lesson plans and do it by subject, but I really am very brief since the guide has the true info. I enter all the book names into the resources first so I can use the pull down menu and they are there and then I can just say things like written narration, notebook entry etc for the assignment.

That is crazy that they require a certain GPA to take the PSAT. We have several Christian schools that are good about letting homeschool kids take the PSAT and I didn't have to show a transcript, but I did have to pay for the test.

[Tidbits of Learning]

It is crazy but I think they only want stellar scores. It was a private school I called and they don't even let their own students test unless they meet this criteria. I am going to call the local high school next spring. I am pretty sure she needs to at least be a sophomore or have finished Algebra 2 to test. I may call them this spring just to find out their criteria. I thought the private school would be easier to get in to take the test with less hoops to jump through.
I think I am over complicated what I am putting into home school tracker. It is taking forever. Do you just put things like Unit 1 Lesson 1 narrating? I have been typing it all in and with 4 guides...I have barely gotten 2 subjects put in for 2 kids.
On a very happy note, my box came for WG!!! So excited. UPS brought it today.

[8arrows]

I have graduated 2. Both boys took the PSAT at the local public school. I don't think I was required to show anything, but I did need a transcript for community college. We used teascript online. There is a free version, but I paid the $5. It is so easy. I tried and failed at other record keeping, but this works. I was also complimented on it at the CC. It worked for us!