Umbrella/Cover Schools
An umbrella or cover school provides an alternative way for parents to fulfill governmental educational guidelines and requirements. Most offer a variety of services, which can include curricula, social activities, field trips, standardized testing, portfolio reviews, evaluations, and graduation materials, including diplomas. While umbrella schools do tend to the needs of homeschoolers, they are considered a type of private school in most states.
What is an Umbrella or Cover School?
The Perks of an Umbrella School vs. Remaining Independent

At one time or another, many homeschool families examine the possibility of enrolling in an umbrella or cyber school. An umbrella school is a homeschool program operated by public charter schools or directly by regular public schools. 

What is an Umbrella School?

There is no universal definition for an umbrella (or cover) school because home education laws vary from state to state. In some states, homeschoolers can get some level of support and legal protection for their home education program. Umbrella schools typically provide legal legitimacy to a family's home education program, maintain attendance records, host field trips and activities, and more. 

Learn How a Homeschool Umbrella School Works: Is It Right For You?

A homeschool umbrella school is an independent school that offers enrolled families a way to comply with state laws. In most circumstances, these schools offer families a chance to homeschool under private school laws, where they may find much more freedom from intervention than following homeschooling regulations individually. These types of schools can be set up as a local organization, or as a distance or online school. In some states, legal homeschooling may only be done through an umbrella or cover school, while in other states, umbrella schools can offer benefits to homeschooling families, but are not required by state law.

What is an Umbrella School?

An umbrella school is an entity, typically considered a private school, which serves to oversee homeschooling families and help them meet the requirements of their state’s homeschooling laws. Sometimes the umbrella school is an actual physical private school with which homeschooling families can partner. In other cases, an umbrella school is more of an organization established to help homeschoolers comply with the law.

Tennessee Homeschool Umbrella Schools

According to the Tennessee education code, homeschoolers have three ways to follow Tennessee homeschool laws. The most popular of these options with homeschool families is to enroll their child in a church-related umbrella school. These schools are operated by denominational, parochial or other church organizations and are required to meet specific standards of accreditation. Umbrella schools in Tennessee are free to choose their own operational procedures. Each school will vary on curriculum options, standardized testing, minimum graduation requirements, parent education levels, and other details of homeschooling.

Umbrella Schools - Pros and Cons

This forum discussion goes over the pros and cons of using an umbrella school. In some states, there is a requirement for homeschoolers to register with an organization, and umbrella or cover schools offer this. 

What Are Homeschool Umbrella Schools?

An umbrella school is a homeschooling “school” that oversees the high schoolers’ education. Different states have different names for umbrella schools.

Why an Umbrella School?

This forum discussion gives reasons why some families choose the option of a homeschool umbrella school. 

Umbrella School: Why You Should Homeschool with an Umbrella School

An umbrella school is generally a private school which has an option available for homeschooling. An umbrella school has students which actually attend the private school, as well as students who are registered as homeschoolers.

Umbrella and Cover Schools in Alabama
Atrium School
Phone: 561-496-3044

Atrium School exists to support and facilitate family based learning as an educational choice. Atrium School is a private school offering two distinct enrollment programs so that families can select the level of support and guidance that's right for them.
East Lake United Methodist Church Academy
6206 Whippoorwill Dr.
Pinson, AL 35126
Phone: 205-680-6881

East Lake United Methodist Church Academy is an inclusive church school for the home educated in Birmingham, Alabama.
Tennessee Valley Homeschool Center
661 Jeff Road
Huntsville, AL 35806
Phone: 256-830-2720

Tennessee Valley Homeschool Center is a resource center for home educators sponsored by Franklin School.
DaySpring Academy
1293 County Road 524
Verbena, AL 36091
Phone: 205-755-8112

DaySpring Academy is a church school in Alabama offering a family-based educational program for grades K-12.
Contemporary Education Academy
Provides curriculum support and more.
Calvary School
PO Box 672
Madison, AL 35758
Phone: 256-922-0779

Calvary is an umbrella or cover school that provides parents a legal avenue to homeschool their children in the State of Alabama. Calvary School was established because most Alabama Churches only provide for their own members homeschooling. Calvary believes that parents should be able to educate their children and choose the curriculum that best fits their children. They accept homeschool students from all over the state of Alabama regardless of religion, culture or race.
Pathways Academy
P. O. Box 5273
Glencoe, Alabama 35905-0273
Phone: 256-494-1600

Pathways Academy is a ministry of Pathways Family Fellowship, an association of churches, ministers and lay persons, and acts as an Alabama church school.
Sunshine Learning Center
1703 North State Rd. 7
Margate, FL 33063
Phone: 954-971-7370
Looking for Another State?
Featured Resources

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The Outdoor Life of Children: The Importance of Nature Study and Outside Activities (Charlotte Mason Topics - Volume 2
The methods of Charlotte Mason are popular among homeschoolers. She includes nature study as a crucial element. This work explores the idea of the outdoors as a classroom for children, and gives tips on ways of teaching the sciences, history, literature, music, and art through the use of outdoor space. 
The Way They Learn
The learning-styles expert, Cynthia Ulrich Tobias,  gives parents a better understanding of the types of learning approaches that will help their children do better in school and at home. She offers practical advice for teaching in response to your child's strengths, even if his or her learning style is different from yours. 
First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind
Includes scripted lessons and lovely illustrations to offer encouragement and understanding to children in grammar, copywork, narration, picture study, and other classical technique. These lessons will help develop the student's language ability and skills in oral composition. 
When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy for Today
Children want to learn and one of the best approaches to homeschooling is to meet their natural curiosity with support and understanding. Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy does just that. This book offers explanations of how to incorporate Mason's ideas into your teaching, leading to more success in learning and less frustration in the home education environment. This book is a great resource for those embarking on the homeschool journey, as well as being an invaluable resource for those ...
A Catholic Homeschool Treasury: Nurturing Children's Love for Learning
This book reviews different approaches to learning and different homeschooling methods. Read parents' perspectives and learn more about homeschooling issues.