FAQs

Find answers to your questions about the CHEC Independent School right here. Don’t see your question listed? Contact us.

What’s the difference between filing an NOI and enrolling in the CHEC Independent School?

In Colorado, you have three options to homeschool (see illustration below or learn more about all three on CHEC's website).

When you enroll in the CHEC Independent School for a school year, your homeschool program is governed by our policies as we operate under the Non-Public School Law. You’re still responsible for all aspects of homeschooling—curriculum, teaching, record keeping, and assessments. You just report to the CHEC Independent School as a private school student instead of to the local public school district as a homeschool student.

Additionally, there are different assessment requirements between these two options (see illustration below).

Do I need to submit a Notice of Intent to the school district if I enroll?

No. If you enroll in the CHEC Independent School, you are NOT subject to the requirements of the Homeschool Law and should not submit a Notice of Intent. You've essentially gone through "door number two" (see picture below).

Oops! I already submitted a Notice of Intent, but I’d rather enroll in the CHEC Independent School. What can I do?

If you intend to join the CHEC Independent School and have already filed a Notice of Intent, you must withdraw your Notice of Intent by sending a letter to the school district.

If I filed a Notice of Intent (under Homeschool Law), can I file test scores with you?

Yes! The CHEC Independent School is able to hold test scores for those families who have filed a Notice of Intent under the Home-Based Education Law and are looking for a place to file their assessments. Go here to submit the assessment(s) electronically through our form, or download the Hold Test Scores form and mail it in with your payment and assessment(s).

How do I enroll?

We’re glad you asked! You can enroll here.

Who can enroll?

Enrollment applications are accepted from all students and families. In the event of truancy, suspension, parents with disputed educational authority, or other similar situations, the application may need to be reviewed by CHEC’s Executive Director.

When is enrollment open?

The CHEC Independent School year runs from August through July, but enrollment is typically open from June through April 30th. Enrollments are good from the date noted on the enrollment confirmation letter through July 31st.

Is there a deadline to enroll?

Enrollment for the current school year closes after April 30th.

There is not a summer deadline for enrollment, however make sure you are following the compulsory education law and have enrollment in place before you begin to homeschool in August/September.

Things to note:

If you apply to enroll after your school year has begun, you will be considered a transfer/partial-year enrollment.
Attendance days completed prior to accepted enrollment cannot be counted as CHEC IS attendance days. You will need to notate any legal attendance days completed prior to enrollment in the appropriate fields of our attendance record.
Enrollments do not run on a 12 month period based on when you enroll, but start on the date you are accepted and end on July 31st of that school year.

How much does it cost to enroll?

Enrollment fees are per family, not per student. Enrollment for a year typically opens in mid-June, and if you enroll online by August 31st for the upcoming year it costs $85 (save $10!); or, regular enrollment from September–April is $95. (No internet access? You can also submit a paper application, but please note that online access to benefits is unavailable for paper application enrollments.)

Enrollments are good from the date noted on the enrollment confirmation letter through July 31st. These fees are not prorated for partial year enrollment.

Please note: The CHEC Independent School does not receive any government funding.

What are the benefits of enrolling?

When you enroll as a family with the CHEC Independent School to homeschool in Colorado, you’ll enjoy security, privacy, and a terrific lineup of All-Access benefits. Learn more here.

What is required of enrolled families?

Check out the policies of the CHEC Independent School for more information.

Where are my student’s records stored?

All records are stored electronically on our private secure network.

How can I submit my student’s records?

You may upload your records directly here or mail them to us and we’ll upload them for you (include a check for the $15 document handling fee).

(Please note: our post office has been known to misplace mail, and families records that were mailed never made it to us. The free and safe option is to upload.)

What do I need to know about assessments? When are they due?

Click here for more information about assessment options & requirements for families enrolled in the CHEC Independent School. Assessments are due in odd-ending school years (i.e. for the 2022/2023 school year).

How do I know which grade I should enroll my student in? (Click to view the Age/Grade Chart)

When you submit an application, you will select a grade for your student either according to our listed Age/Grade Chart (included below) or as a modified grade. (More information about the modified grades is located on the p olicies page; scroll down to “Grade Level Assignment or Changes”).

Here is the chart for the 2022-2023 school year. (Click to view a larger image.)

My family is currently enrolled. How can I update my records with a new address, etc.?

To update your contact info, log into your account, and then click on the menu tab that says "Manage Account."

If you are wanting to add an additional student to your enrollment for this school year, you can do so by using this form.

How can I add a new student to my family enrollment? Does it cost?

Enrollment in the CHEC Independent School is based on family, so additional students within the same family are included in the registration fee. To add a new student, go here to complete the form.

Does the CHEC Independent School provide curriculum for enrolled families?

No, the CHEC Independent School does not provide curriculum.

This gives parent the freedom to select and use the curriculum of their choice. Most curriculum suppliers have websites to sell their curriculum. Check out CHEC's curriculum resources page for more information.

Can my student participate in public school classes, extracurricular activities, or sports?

Students taught at home under the CHEC Independent School are considered private school students, but they are still eligible to participate in public school extracurricular activities if the public school district allows. Read below for details, and for more information, view our policies.

Public School Classes: Contact your school of residence to see if they allow private schooled students to take classes on a part-time basis.

Extracurricular Activities: These are non-academic activities like Chess Club. Contact your school of residence to see if they allow private schooled students to take participate in extracurricular activities.

Sports: CHSSA governs high school sports and they have stated that, as a private school enrollee, your student can play for their school of residence (district authorities can determine which high school within that district) or their school of “attendance” (the district where the independent school is located).

Read the full policies from CHSSA in their handbook.

How do I withdraw my student from the CHEC Independent School?

Complete this form to withdraw your student. Near the bottom of the form you’ll find a list of what is required at withdrawal (including attendance for the school year up to the withdrawal date).

Help! I’m not very computer-savvy. What are my options?

No problem! You can download hard copies of the application or attendance forms, then print and mail to us. (Please note: mailed forms incur a separate $15 document handling fee. Also, our post office has been known to lose mail, and families' records that were mailed never reached us. Uploading is the safest option.). Check out the forms here.

Can I enroll if I am out-of-state or out-of-country?

You must follow the homeschool laws for the state or country that you live in.

If your state or country allows for a family to be enrolled in a private school located in Colorado/the U.S. and teach their children at home, then you can enroll in the CHEC Independent School.

Click here for the International Application form to begin your enrollment process.

HSLDA has all homeschool laws on its website:

United States homeschool laws
International homeschool laws (for countries in which it is legal to homeschool)

If your family is US military and living on base, then U.S. laws apply.

Is support offered for single homeschooling moms?

Yes! The Casterline Scholarship is offered for your enrollment in the CHEC Independent School (select “Yes” to the Casterline Fund under the “Donations and Misc” section). You can learn about more ways our parent ministry, CHEC, supports single homeschooling moms by clicking here.

What if a biological parent lives outside the home?

In cases where biological parents share educational authority, but one lives outside the home (e.g. due to separation or divorce), a Shared Educational Authority Form must be filled out by the party who resides outside the home. Then you must include the completed form when you submit your enrollment application. (Your application will not be processed without this completed form on file with the CHEC Independent School.)

If sole educational authority is claimed by the enrolling parent, but the other party professes to share educational authority, we will require the official parenting plan (signed by the judge) to be submitted.