The Legality of Homeschooling
As with seemingly everything nowadays, there are rules. Homeschooling is no exception. Make sure that you are aware of the legal rules & requirements for your state (or country) before you begin. There are states that require you to be a certified teacher, others require yearly testing, some have great programs where they lend books to homeschoolers for free, and still others have very few rules at all. If you are homeschooling in another country be aware that in some countries it is illegal. Just make sure you know what is required. HSLDA State Laws
HOMESCHOOLING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN:
*F.A.Q. about state homeschooling laws...
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states.
Each state has different state homeschooling laws.
You must follow your state's homeschooling regulations or face prosecution.
**If you are a ROADSCHOOLER, you need to follow the state homeschooling laws from the state which you have your driver's license/vehicle registrations. Take proof that you have followed those laws along with you when traveling to other states.
Grandparents, parents, or family members that have been appointed by the legal guardian may homeschool the child once the legalities of homeschooling in that state have been set up.
Keep a transcript or detailed record of your students accomplishments when they begin high school. Keeping up with this is vital for your teens future. Follow the suggested course guidelines for your state, and meet or exceed their requirements.
***How do I start homeschooling?...
Check out homeschooling laws for your state and create a plan for complying with all applicable regulations.
Homeschool Laws in Your State
Homeschool by State
State by State
Homeschooling Regulations by State
The most home-school-friendly states in the U.S. (and the least)
Education and Homeschooling: State Laws
*Check with your state’s homeschooling association to find out what steps you must take to remove your child from public school. Withdrawing from public school
*Establish your homeschool budget. Decide how much you’re willing to pay for tuition, curriculum materials and all other supplies. Will you be able to teach all subjects on your own or will you hire a tutor for some classes?
****Assess your child’s learning style and your teaching style.
If you know what you have to work with and which instructional style will work best for your family, you’ll be more able to successfully select all the resources you will need. There are many curriculum formats from which to choose. Knowing your child’s needs will make it easier for you to select the curriculum most appropriate for his/her homeschooling experience.
What's the best CURRICULUM to use?
A successful homeschool curriculum program helps homeschooling parents build interesting and exciting days by combining interactive, animated activities, lessons and experiences. A quick Google search for 'homeschool curriculum' will give you more options.
**Be a good Record Keeper
Like We mentioned before, some states have requirements. So make sure to follow those closely. At a minimum, you will want to keep:
lesson plans with what you studied, resources used, fieldtrips, subjects covered, and number of days (I currently use an Excel spreadsheet which is working for now since we are not keeping grades for Elementary school)
sample work – keep a variety of your child’s work in a variety of subjects. This will not only be fun for kids to look back through later, but will also be your proof should a truancy officer ever knock at your door!
Other ideas on what to keep: report cards, standardized testing, extra curricular certificates of completion, etc.
Here are some other resources for keeping notes:
Free Homeschool Report Cards
(Most states don't require a report card until High School.)
**Find a Homeschool Support Group
Homeschooling can be one of the most rewarding and loneliest jobs out there. The reason I say it can be lonely is that you are not doing the “normal”. You will not run into neighbors at school and have that common connection. It can be time consuming to not only teach, but prepare. And you will not get paid for all your hours and hours of hard work. You cannot call in sick and have a sub take over. The majority of your time will be spent with your children – not with other adults. You have to be “on” so to speak 100% of the time!
So make sure you take the time to find some support. It could come in the form of a church group, area you live group, style of teaching group, or a coop where you teach each other’s kids once a week. Some are lucky enough to have supportive parents to encourage and lend a helping hand. Some have other homeschooling families in the neighborhood. No matter what it is – make sure you find other adults who you can use as sounding boards, to encourage you, to network with, and to laugh with.
No matter how prepared you think you are just know that you will forget something. (Trust me they forget things in public schools too!) There is also a good probability that at least one of the things you plan to do will flop royally (and that’s okay!) Some days you may not get a shower in, run the dishwasher, or feel like the perfect parent. That’s okay too. You will also probably run into a neighbor, family member, acquaintance, or nosy fellow grocery shopper that may question your schedule or choice. The choice to homeschool is not for everyone so try to be as gracious as you can, remind yourself why you chose to homeschool, and tell your hubby to prepare the ice cream for some debriefing that night.
If you have any questions please feel free to message us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Good luck on your new journey!
For More Homeschool Tips Please Follow Us On Facebook.
Commentaires