The two steps to making a transcript
There are two critical steps to making a transcript.
First...
You need to make sure you've done all the coursework that needs to be done. Ideally, you haven't waited until the senior year to do this - because if you find yourself short on credits, you may not be able to pack what you need into the senior year. Then you'll be looking at an education that's extended beyond your initial expectations. That could be quite dissapointing.
Check your student's work against the minimum requirements listed on the Home Ed Resources web page under "Finishing High School" and "State of Arkansas Graduation Requirements".
Second...
You need to prepare a transcript. While you can handwrite one, you really need something with a little more professional appearance. So...that usually involves a computer and...the software to make it happen. The software is usually something like...using a word processor...or filling out a web page...or even special transcript-making software.
If you don't have a word processor, there is one available for free. It's called OpenOffice. It is available in versions for either Windows or Mac. OpenOffice is a Microsoft Office compatible program. It does Word Processing (like Word, but they call their program Write), Spreadsheets (like Excel, but they call their program Calc), presentations (like PowerPoint, but they call their program Impress), drawing, and a database. And best of all...it FREE!
OpenOffice will open the Home Ed transcript template. If you don't have Microsoft Word, get OpenOffice and then you can modify the transcript using OpenOffice. Get OpenOffice for free by clicking here.
This is Home Ed's example transcript template that you can alter to begin documenting your child's high school education. This is a Microsoft Word document and it will download when you click the link above. Once you have the document and a word processor, you can alter the sample information to match your student's studies.
As another transcript option, Education Alliance (our state-level homeschool group) offers a transcription record keeping service.