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This is the story that the teachers unions wish had never happened. This is the story that proves all their hysterical demands for more money are nothing but a sham. This is the story that makes the unions and education bureaucrats sick to their stomachs. This is the personal story of my daughter Dakota Root.

In each of the books I’ve written, I’ve taken great care to acknowledge my beautiful and brilliant little girl, Dakota. I often noted that Dakota and her parents were aiming for her acceptance at either Harvard or Stanford and would accept nothing less. The easy part is aiming for gold. The hard part is achieving it. “Homeschool to Harvard” is a story about turning dreams into reality.

Dakota has been home-schooled since birth. While other kids spent their school days being indoctrinated to believe competition and winning are unimportant, and that others are to blame for their shortcomings and failures, Dakota was learning the value of work ethic, discipline, sacrifice and personal responsibility. While other kids were becoming experts at partying, Dakota and her dad debated current events at the dinner table. While other kids shopped and gossiped, Dakota was devouring books on science, math, history, literature, politics and business. I often traveled to business events and political speeches with my home-schooled daughter in tow. While other kids came home to empty homes, Dakota’s mom, dad, or both were there every day to share meals and a bedtime kiss and prayer. Despite a crazy schedule of business and politics, I’m proud to report that I’ve missed very few bedtime kisses with my four home-schooled kids.

While others were out learning to drive so they could attend more parties, or experimenting with alcohol and drugs, Dakota was practicing the sport she loves with dedication, intensity and passion- fencing. The result? She became one of the elite junior fencers in America- winning the Pacific Coast Championship and representing the United States at World Cup events in Germany and Austria.

Was all the discipline and sacrifice worth it? A few days ago, Dakota Root achieved her lifelong dream. She was accepted at both Harvard and Stanford. She was also accepted at Columbia, Penn, Brown, Duke, Chicago, Cal-Berkeley, USC and several more of the elite schools in America, an unheard of record for a home-school kid. She actually had the confidence to turn down an offer from the Yale fencing coach before she had gotten her other acceptances. The kid turned down Yale!

Here is the most amazing part of the story: The first classroom of Dakota’s life will be inside the hallowed halls of Harvard. This fall she will fence for the Harvard team- one of America’s best. Only an elite 1% (30,000) of the best of the best high school seniors dared apply to Harvard. Virtually every one was #1 in their class, or a world-class scholar/athlete, or had perfect S.A.T. scores. Out of 3 million high school seniors headed to college, and those 30,000 applicants, only 1500 or so will attend Harvard. That is the lowest acceptance rate in college history. To be accepted at one or two Ivy League colleges is rare- to all, an almost impossible feat!

At a time of educational free-fall, it is a remarkable story. With America’s public school system ranked at or near the bottom of the industrialized world (and Nevada near the bottom of that), with record dropout rates, grade inflation, violence, gangs, drugs, teen pregnancies, and the scandal of graduating high school seniors requiring remedial math and reading before starting at college, Dakota’s story offers hope. Dakota proves the American Dream is alive, if only we’d stop depending on government to save us.

There is no one answer for education- our choice of homeschooling melded parental education with tutoring by hand-picked retired teachers and college professors, combined with a personally-chosen curriculum. It’s called parental freedom. The power to decide how to best educate children belongs with the parents, not teachers unions. School choice, encouraging competition for our failing public school system, and offering vouchers on the state level to give parents the power (and money) to choose among charter schools, private schools, parochial schools or home-schooling is the way to force public schools to improve. Competition works. If it’s good enough for Coke and Pepsi, why not public schools?

The sad reality is that teachers unions and government aren’t the solution – they are the problem. Our public schools get worse every year, yet teachers unions demand more and more money. They get their money, it gets worse yet, and they demand even MORE. That is the definition of insanity. This is “Groundhog Day.” It isn’t working- and hasn’t since the day that government took over education in this country.

Dakota Root proves it doesn’t take a state certified teacher, or a teachers union, or a village to raise a child- it only takes two loving parents who give a damn. One home-schooled girl has driven a stake through the heart of the public school education sham. “Homeschool to Harvard” is a powerful story that every parent should be allowed to offer their children.

You can read the original article from Wayne Allyn Root here.

I recently received the following email with questions about accreditation for both colleges and home schools. Sarah writes:

Thank you so much for all the information. I am currently homeschooling my 7th grader through CAVA (California Virtual Academy)…just thinking ahead!!!!

I hear so much about WASC (Western Association of Schools & Colleges) accreditation in our state.

Do colleges “really” care if High Schools are accredited? Obviously, if I “independently” home school him for 9th-12th it would not be accredited. It almost seems like a “scare tactic” rumor spreading through our state? Please advise.

Sarah, it is more important for colleges and universities to have a regional accreditation than for high schools.

There are six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. They are the following: Western Association of Schools & Colleges; Southern Association of Colleges & Schools; Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; New England Association of Schools and Colleges; North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; and lastly, the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.

Regionally accredited schools are predominantly non-profit institutions whose main objective is academic. Most nationally accredited schools are for-profit and are more geared toward vocational, career or technical programs.

If a student transfers from one regionally accredited college to another, the likelihood of his coursework transferring is high. However, if transferring from a nationally accredited school to a regionally accredited one, seldom will his completed courses transfer.

Play it safe and stick with a regionally accredited college or university.

Now, regarding high school accreditation, it is really a non-issue. Most colleges will not ask to see a high school accreditation, just the student’s high school transcripts. There are so many high schools throughout the country, with so many different components , that to add one more requirement would be burdensome on the collegiate admissions office.

So, I wouldn’t worry about your student’s high school accreditation. Concentrate on his grades and test scores!

a. How early is it realistically possible to attend college?
b. How early is best for my student to attend college?

There have been numerous documented cases of students attending college before they’ve reached double-digits in age, but these are rare cases, and certainly not the norm. If a student has completed the necessary requirements to graduate high school, there is nothing to keep him from attending the local university, unless they have a minimum age requirement. (Always check with the admissions department of the intended school to verify their specific requirements.)

So the answer to the first part of the question, “how early is it realistically possible to attend college?” is as soon as the student has met the necessary academic requirements for high school graduation, as opposed to a certain age.

Now, just because a student can attend at such an early age doesn’t necessarily mean that he should. The college years are a time of growth and maturation, a time when most students are on their own for the very first time, away from mom and dad, and the rules and regulations that go along with living at home. Because of this, and also because the majority of their peers will be in the traditional college age range of 18-24, I would recommend against it before age 16 or so.

Statistically, few students below this age can handle the many pressures and influences thrust upon them for the first time in college, especially if living on campus in a dormitory environment. Although many students at this age can handle the academic rigors of college, psychologically it’s not recommend, as they will have missed out on the high school developmental years that play a huge part in college preparation.

All of this aside, every student is different, and you’ll need to make the decision based upon your own child’s needs and abilities. If your student is on pace to graduate early, have him take dual enrollment courses to get a feel for the college environment before making the jump to a four-year university with on-campus living. Part-time work in conjunction with online courses are another option. Finally, remember that the high school years are a great time to volunteer or cultivate a hobby that can provide enjoyment for years to come, as well as possible business ideas for a future career.

A rigorous homeschool curriculum is always recommended, but make sure to balance it with extra-curriculars that will round out your student. Balance is the name of the game. A well rounded student will be the most prepared for college along with whatever else life can throw at him!

I just found a website that lists their top 100 reference tools for homeschoolers, ranging in categories from General Reference, Reading, Writing & Research, Math, Science, History & Government, Geography, and Search Engines for specific topics. This is a great list. One that I wish was available when I was being homeschooled. You can view the whole list of resources here.

Another excellent resource is College Confidential, a forum for high school college preparation.  They have one section specifically for homeschoolers that offers sound advice on many topics homeschoolers have questions about.

I downloaded the material and although it was good, it was all things I had heard before. The questions I am asking now are is it better to take AP classes or Honors? Does it look better on a college transcript to have attended a junior college for credits the junior and/or senior year or is it just as good to have taken Honors classes?

It is good information and useful for some I am sure. We have done so many of the steps that I am looking for more details. Merry Christmas!

As with most things when it comes to what colleges prefer, it really depends on the college. Some schools will accept Honors/AP credits, but will not accept high school dual enrollment courses taken at another school, whether community college or state university. (These are generally your top tier/Ivy League schools.) Even though that could be the case, your student will not be looked at adversely if he has taken dual enrollment courses, since these are college level classes that “prove” he can make the grade in college. (Assuming of course that he did “make the grade” that was required to pass the course.)

As far as which looks better on a transcript, that would depend on if the student has taken the AP test and passed it along with taking the course(s). If a student has taken the class but not the test, or if his scores are below the requirements for college credit (usually a minimum of a 3 or 4 needs to be achieved), then his transcripts will not be as well received as the student who has excellent dual enrollment scores on his transcript.

My final recommendation as always is to check with your student’s potential school(s) to see which they prefer, as it can and will vary from university to university.