HOME AND DISTANCE EDUCATION
LEARNING FROM A DISTANCE
WELCOME TOHDE
The Home & Distance Education Division provides educational support and encourages academic excellence for Christian families serving throughout Thailand who are educating their children at home. HDE can provide support with curriculum resources, library, and consultations about your home education needs.
HDE SERVICES
Consultation
We love to hear from parents about the successes and challenges they’re experiencing with their children’s education. We can do this through email, phone calls, or face to face meetings in the HDE library. HDE staff can then give recommendations regarding curriculum and supplemental materials available in our library, referral for potential testing for educational support, and planning and record keeping.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
As a benefit of HDE membership, students in grades 3-12 are given the opportunity to take remote MAP tests once each year (November or March) at a discounted rate, proctored by our HDE staff. HDE students who are taking at least one GIS class may be permitted to take the PSAT test at GIS on a space-available basis. AP exams are currently available only to HDE students who are taking the relevant class at GIS; additional fees apply.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
HDE field trips, parent/family gatherings, and other activities are offered based on member interest and staff availability. We will also arrange to visit remote families at their request.
LIBRARY ACCESS
HDE families can use both the Home & Distance Education library and the GIS elementary and secondary libraries to check out a wide variety of materials, such as:
- Complete curriculum - for all grades and subject areas in a variety of educational styles (traditional, classical, literature-based, etc.), which can be checked out a semester at a time
- Curriculum-related books - books suggested or required by Sonlight, My Father’s World, and other literature-based curricula as well as other quality readers
- Ancillary materials - science kits, manipulatives like Unifix cubes, gram-centimeter cubes, scales, microscopes, flashcards, posters, games, puzzles, and many other items
- General reading books - fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults
For families living outside Chiang Mai, HDE staff will mail HDE library materials at no additional cost!
GIS CONNECTIONS
Families living in Chiang Mai may want to take advantage of the extra-curricular opportunities available to their students at GIS. This includes after-school sports, after-school clubs, chapel, educational support services (at an additional cost), and taking up to 3 classes at GIS (grades 7-12 only). *Subject to availability and approval.*
Elementary after-school clubs are open to 3rd through 6th grade and may not be open to HDE students. For teams where tryouts are required, the student must be enrolled in HDE before the tryout date. Classes can be requested only after students are enrolled in HDE, and placement is not guaranteed.
ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS
All HDE students must meet the same health requirements as full-time GIS students, even if they are not planning to participate in on-campus activities. Please read the following documents before beginning the application process.
For more information about GIS health policies, check out our Health Services.
You may also find it helpful to review the HDE PSMO Handbook before beginning the application process, Upon enrollment, you will be required to sign a document stating your understanding of and agreement with the handbook.
HDE FEES
FIRST TIME APPLICANTS
The HDE New Student Application is online. Contact the HDE office (hde@gisthailand.org) to request the application link. A non-refundable, non-transferable 1000 baht application fee will be assessed when the application is submitted. The application will not be processed until payment is received.
RETURNING HDE STUDENTS
Families of students who are currently enrolled in HDE will receive re-enrollment instructions via email. Families of students who are not currently enrolled but were HDE members within the past two years should contact HDE to request re-enrollment information.
Students who were HDE members more than two years ago must go through the new student application process. Students who are transitioning from full-time GIS enrollment to HDE must also complete the new student application process.
COURSE REQUEST
Families of students in grades 7–12 who are interested in requesting classes at GIS should click here for information about the process and requirements.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers. We understand you may have questions beyond this. If you don't find your answer below please email us and we'll respond ASAP!
For 2023–2024 HDE fees, click here
HDE students in grades 7–12 can take up to three classes per semester. These students are not considered full-time enrolled students at GIS. Report cards and transcripts will be given for the classes taken, but HDE students do not receive a GIS diploma. Students in grades K–6 cannot take GIS classes through HDE.
Helping students get into GIS is not the goal of HDE. HDE exists to help families who are educating their children at home to do so successfully by offering curriculum resources to the families and connections.
HDE provides curriculum resources to parents who are teaching their children at home, including teaching books, supplementaries, and access to extracurricular activities. HDE does not provide classes or one-on-one instruction for students.
HDE provides curriculum resources. Families define their educational philosophy for homeschooling, and HDE can support that vision with access to curriculum. The HDE library has a wide range of curriculum that can be checked out and used.
While we can provide books and other materials, we do not offer ESL tutoring services. Our curriculum library is designed for parents who are teaching their children at home in the English language.
HDE primarily serves families while they are in Thailand and all HDE library materials must remain in Thailand.
