What is Gateway?
What does Gateway do?
Is Gateway accredited?
How much does it cost?
How long to register?
What info is needed on the application?
How do I get a drivers license form?
How long until I receive confirmation of enrollment?
Are there different types of home education programs?
What about adult students?
Block schedule?
When is the best time to begin home education?
When should we register?

What is Gateway?

Gateway is a Category IV, church-related school. Gateway is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

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What does Gateway do?

The state of Tennessee requires home educating families to register with either the local board of education or with a church-related school. Home educating parents/guardians may register their children with Gateway in order to comply with state law. We consider our office in Memphis to be like the main office at a private school where records are kept. As such, we keep record of registration and maintain a transcript compiled from the grade reports we receive from the parents. In additiona, we assist with transfer between public/private schools and home education programs, handle evaluations for junior and senior high school students and send about six informative mailings per year.

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Is Gateway accredited?

Gateway is a fully accredited member of the Private Schools Accreditation Alliance, but is not and does not wish to be accredited by the state of Tennessee. Schools that are accredited by the state of Tennessee may be required to use specific books and materials and to test their students in certain grades. The following, however, is an excerpt from the Tennessee Code Annotated in regard to Private Schools:

T.C.A. 49-50-801 (Church-Related Schools):

(b) The state board of education and local boards of education are prohibited from regulating the selection of faculty or textbooks or the establishment of a curriculum in church-related schools.

(c) The state board of education and local boards of education shall not prohibit or impede the transfer of a student from a church-related school to a public school of this state.

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How much does it cost?:

Gateway's Total Home Education Program registration is done on an offering basis. Suggested offering is $50 for one student and $20 for each additional student per year. Gateway Total Home Education Program does not provide books or teaching materials. Our program is designed to allow parents/guardians to choose their own teaching materials. Typically, parents can obtain books and teaching materials for one student for about $500 per year in addition to registration with Gateway. Visit our Sources page for more information on choosing materials.

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How long does it take to complete the registration process?:

We consider the student enrolled on the date that we receive the application as long as you have filled everything out correctly. (Include educational plan, church attendance, parent's educational background, sign the application, read the law concerning education in TN, etc.) To process the application, however, may take approximately two weeks. If you have an emergency situation and need a letter for proof of enrollment, please call us to discuss our procedure for emergency handling. (901) 454-1606 or email: Gateway_@bellsouth.net.

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What information is essential for filling out an application?:

Educational Plan: About 10% of the applications that we receive at Gateway are sent back to the family due to lack of an educational plan. Please be aware that you must choose your materials for teaching before you register with Gateway. This information must be listed on the application or on a page attached to the application. Church Attendance: Because Gateway is a private, Christian school, we require our teachers (a.k.a. parent/guardians) to be Christian and to meet together with other members of the body of Christ on a regular basis. Please see our Church Attendance Letter here. Educational Background: Fill out this section with the information for the enrolling parents/guardians. Read relevant state laws and Constitution to be aware of limitations/responsibilities. You can read information on relevant TN laws and Constitution here.

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How do I get an SF-1010 (drivers license) form?

Contact us by phone in order to get this form or email us a request to call you. You can reach us at: (901) 454-1606 or email us at: Gateway_@bellsouth.net. The student must be registered for the current school year and must be making satisfactory progress. Students whose enrollment has lapsed (enrolled after August 31) or are new, must wait two weeks after we receive the application to request this form. Current grades must also be received.

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When will I receive confirmation of enrollment?

Please allow 4-6 weeks from the time you send your application to the time you receive your confirmation of enrollment letter. Our data processing staff, however, requests records from the previous school when they process the application. If your applications need emergency processing, please call our office (901) 454-1606.

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Are there different types of home education programs?

Yes. In fact, Gateway has two different home education programs. Our local Extension Program allows students to come to campus (about once a week) to get materials, test, and be tutored. Click here for information on that program. Gateway's Total Home Education Program (this site) allows parents to choose their own materials and teach at home. Other programs include correspondence programs and registration with the board of education. Gateway does not encourage its students to register both with Gateway and another program like the board of education or a correspondence program.

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What about adult students?

Gateway's Total Home Education Program does not register adult students (those over 18 who would be new students, those over 18 whose registration has lapsed and married students). Our local Extension Program, however, does accept adult student. Click here for more information.

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Does Gateway allow parents to use the block system with their children?

We allow the block system, but do not recommend it.

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When is the best time to begin home education?

The smoothest time to begin home education is probably before the student has ever attended another school. If the student is transferring, the beginning of the year is ideal, but not required. We allow registration up through May 15, 2008. Please keep in mind, however, that this is not permission for home educating parents to register late in the year. The state of Tennessee requires students to be registered all year (typically August-May) and failure to register with a school could result in truancy charges and a court case.

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When should we register?

Gateway highly recommends that parents register their children at the beginning of the school year!

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