HOW GATEWAY WORKS

1. General Principles

A. Parental Responsibility

We recognize the God-given authority and responsibility of parents/guardians over the education of their children. Gateway's Total Home Education Program enables Christian parents/guardians to teach and to direct the education of their children. You must administer your "school," choose and obtain curriculum/teaching materials appropriate for your children, and evaluate their progress. Home education should be a generally enjoyable aspect of a well-ordered Christian home. We recognize, however, that proper education must include learning important information that some will find tedious, as well as the necessary disciplines of obedience, endurance, hard work, and self-mastery. Perseverance and determination are required of both parent and child.

As teachers in our Christian school, parents/guardians should be Christians who assemble with other believers, and abide by the laws of God and man - as well as Gateway's policies, guidelines, terms, and conditions (see HERE).

B. Role of Gateway

Gateway is recognized by the Tennessee Department of Education as a Category IV, church-related school (CRS). In addition to matters of legality, we help parents/guardians with counseling, advice, administration, paperwork, and record keeping. You can help us serve you better by providing information and cooperation with our office in a timely and efficient manner.

Grades and credits are subject to our approval. Please note that, though we do not enroll students retroactively, with appropriate documentation we may be able to record information from previous years of home education. Gateway reserves the right to dismiss students when necessary.

2. Teaching Materials

A. Choosing Materials

Please note that Gateway does not provide curriculum/teaching materials. Please visit our Curriculum & Resources page HERE for more information on choosing materials.

The most effective education cultivates a love of learning while stimulating spiritual growth and an ever-increasing relationship with God. Parents/Guardians have control of many factors in their children's academic, moral, and spiritual training. When possible, teaching materials should be practical, real, relevant, and interesting. Nevertheless, they must also accomplish the serious work of preparing children for their responsibilities in life.

Traditional grade-level materials do not necessarily fit every child or situation. It is best to meet students where they are in reading levels, math skills, writing abilities, etc. While home education does allow for educational creativity and mid-course adjustments, we ask that you keep us informed of any significant curriculum changes.

B. Education Plan

You, as the parent/teacher, must choose and obtain teaching materials appropriate for you and your students, and create an Education Plan. This plan should include the individual subjects and the curriculum/materials you will use to teach each subject. We must review and approve the Education Plan, which you submit as part of the application process.

3. Protection

A. Laws

It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all applicable laws of God and the state, as well as the dictates of your own conscience. Enrollment with Gateway complies with the TN compulsory school attendance law.

Click HERE to read pertinent excerpts from the TN Constitution and State Statutes Concerning Education.
Click HERE for information regarding Mississippi state laws concerning home education.

B. Truancy, Transfers, & Withdrawals

To avoid truancy issues, do not leave school-age children unenrolled when local schools are in session. Gateway is required to give lists of names, ages, and addresses of enrolled students to local counties (in Tennessee). It is, therefore, important to enroll at the beginning of each school year to ensure that your students are properly accounted for. Parents who have not enrolled students by August 1 may face legal issues with local authorities.

During peak seasons it can take up to two weeks to process an application. When we receive your online registration, we will email a confirmation that we have received it, after which a counselor will review your submission. Once your application is approved, you will receive another email officially confirming the student's enrollment, and a records request will be sent to the student's previous school using the contact information you provided. This also serves as official notice that the student has been transferred to Gateway.

We will consider the student to have been enrolled on the date that we received the application and payment, even if the official approval and records request occur on a later date. However, schools may count students absent until they receive a records request. Many consider a student truant after five days of unexcused absences. Thus, timeliness makes for smoother transitions. We recommend that you give written notice of withdrawal to the previous school. Click HERE for a sample withdrawal letter.

Gateway students transferring to public or private schools may be required to take grade-level-placement or end-of-course tests.

C. Legal Help

Gateway does not assume legal responsibility for your family, though we will try to help if problems arise. Families registered with Gateway may use our group discount number #291054 to join (or renew membership in) the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). Click HERE for more information.

4. Reporting

A. Timing

A school year consists of 180 educational days. A typical school year is divided into two 90-day semesters, Fall and Spring, followed by a summer break or a summer session of continued schooling if desired. Typically, we require Grade/Attendance Reports twice each academic year, at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters.

B. Information Needed

Remember that you are the teacher and primary record keeper. Please submit grades as soon as feasible after the semester is complete (typically in both January and June), using letter grades. Include the number of days of attendance and the date the semester ended.

(100-93 = A, 92-85 = B, 84-76 = C, 75-70 = D, below 70 = F)

C. Method of Reporting

You may report grades online by logging onto your Parent Portal and selecting "Grading & Attendance” (“Grades” on a smartphone). If you require paper grade reports, please contact our office.

5. Required Fees

Enrollment fees are $100 for one student, $20 for each additional student. There are no hidden fees or additional charges for enrollment. Payment is required at the time of enrollment. Payment by credit card is easily done at the end of the online enrollment process. Paper applications received without payment (or evidence of payment) will be returned. If you have a financial hardship, please contact our office.

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