I think you're thinking of independent study charter schools, not umbrella schools. Independent study charter schools are only an option in a few states (California, Alaska, Colorado, maybe a few more) but umbrella schools are accredited private schools, and many can legally enroll students in any state. Clonlara (
www.clonlara.org) is located in, I believe, Ann Arbor Michigan, and the director (Pat Montgomery) told me that they've had homeschoolers from all 50 states as students, as well as students in many foreign countries. And they're very unschooling-friendly. Santa Fe Community School is also an unschooling-friendly umbrella school, first established in the seventies.
You do have to pay to enroll, although they're fairly reasonable, but they handle the paperwork so you don't interface with the state at all, you avoid the testing thing and the being judged thing, and you do what you chose. Some people have told me that they felt like they didn't get *enough* support from some of these schools, so if you're looking for someone to tell you how to homeschool and answer your questions this may not be the right road... but if you mostly want to be left alone it works well.
If you're unhappy with the homeschool regs in your state, do email Pat from the Clonlara website, she's very friendly and helpful...
Hi Laurie
You know, sometimes I'm not sure if Rain's theatre passion is a blessing or a curse. She often has to miss things because of show conflicts - she's missing a cool homeschool camping trip in May, for example...
Dar