4 Year Plan

As a traveler benefits from a roadmap to help them get from their point of origin to their destination so does a student benefit from considering where they might be headed after high school before beginning their journey into high school. A four-year plan allows a student to create such a map. After determining whether their preferred career choice requires a four-year degree, a two-year degree, the military, or the workforce following high school, a student ought to plan accordingly. If your student is unsure of what he wants to do after graduation, it is best to plan high school with the most rigorous option in view, so that doors aren't prematurely closed to him.

The state of Iowa does not dictate any high school course requirements for homeschoolers. In light of this, it can be helpful to use the AHS graduation requirements as a starting point. Also, consider the requirements for admission to any prospective colleges the student is considering. Iowa's Regent institutions (Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa), have produced a publication entitled "Building Your Future" which outlines the minimum course requirements for admission to each school. Requirements for scholarship eligibility should also be kept in mind when considering a student's four-year plan.

Once again, it can be helpful to use these requirements as a reference, but the parent decides the graduation requirements for their student because they will be issuing the diploma and transcripts. AHS, the Ames HSAP, and the state of Iowa do not issue diplomas for homeschool graduates.

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has a great publication to help put together a four-year plan. Joni Gainer has also put together a useful template that considers state law and whether a student is college-bound.