Homeschooling laws vary regarding where you live. There a some states that require no form, auditing, testing or review and then there are others at the opposite end which require vast amounts of paper work and reviews.
Is it Legal to Homeschool?
Yes in every state it is legal. However the regulation in each state are different. It is important that you comply by the regulations set out as per your residential state.
Every year the number on homeschooled children is increasing. The support and acknowledgment that homeschooling is a legitimate path to education is becoming more and more prominent also.
There are some countries however where it is illegal to homeschool. The most well known one is Germany. The only exclusion to this law is if you are stationed in Germany as a part of military service.
What Age Do I Start Homeschooling?
The legal age in most states where you need to be resigisterd for homeschool (if that is a requirement of your state) is the school year in which your child turns six.
Just because this is the legal educational age that does not mean you need to start formal lessons then. You can start homeschooling earlier or later. The benefit of homeschooling is the freedom to work to the best level and timetable of the child and family.
If your child is ready to start learning to read at four then by all means start, but if they are showing no interest or desire until seven that is okay too. Many homeschoolers don’t follow a traditional school curriculum. There are actually a multitude of different ways to homeschool. Some of the most popular ones include:
States With the Least Restrictions
Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Texas.
If you live in these states you are not required to notify the state or the school district.
However if your child is already enrolled in a school then you will still need to notify the school so as they aren’t marked as absent or truant.
States with Some Regulations
California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Delaware.
These states require that you file a letter of intent or affidavit with the governing school district which you live in. There is no testing or reporting necessary.
States with Moderate Regulations
Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Maine, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
If you live in one of these states you will be required to provide some type of evidence that you are providing your children with an education.
You may also be required to hold a certain level of education or provide evidence that you are proficient enough to teach.
Testing is require in these states and usually submitted to the school district annually.
Work hours are also expected to be logged and a certain number completed each school year.
States with High Level Regulations
Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
These states have the most strict homeschooling laws in the country. You will need to comply with all the aforementioned requirements along with several more.
These extra requirements include reporting quarterly, submitting a education plan for approval, and abiding by set subject requirements, hours and days for instruction.
If you want to find out all the specific laws pertaining to each state visit HSLDA.
What is HSLDA?
HSLDA stands for “Homeschool Legal Defence Association”. It was founded in 1983 by two homeschooling dads who also happened to be attorneys. Back in the 1980’s homeschooling was very much unheard of. As with many things that are out of the normal, homeschooling families often found themselves facing backlash sometimes making it’s way to the courtrooms.
So HSLDA was born as a way to help homeschooling families fight court battles pertaining to their rights to educate their children at home. HSLDA is a non-profit organisation that members can opt to join. Once you have paid your once off membership fee there is no further fee required should you need defending the the legal system. HSLDA will paid all the legal fees in full for you.
HSLDA is also a wealth of knowledge of all things legal regarding homeschooling. If you are ever questioning anything in this area of homeschooling they can be your first port of call.
Should I keep Homeschooling Records?
It is always a wise choice to keep records even if your state does not require it. These can come in handy for many situations.
- Returning to the school system: If you decide to enrol your child in the school system they may want to have some idea about where your child is academically. You can use your records to show how your child performs at each level. This will help the school place your child in the correct grade and to provide them with any extra classes they may require. Extra classes could be remedial classes or accelerated learning classes. If they have a good picture of where your child is at the will be able to place them where they will be most successful.
- Court Cases: It is not unheard of for people to call children’s services on homeschooling families. In the majority of cases these cases are all dismissed. They are often called in by people who are concerned why children aren’t in school during school hours. In an area where homeschooling is high these reports are far less likely.
Having records of your children’s work will reassure the case worker that there is nothing amiss. As much as it is scary and unnerving to have someone call children’s services on you it is important to remember that they are just doing their job too. If you have any questions though, give HSLDA a call on the 24/7 call line.
As unfortunate as it is there are homeschooling families that abuse their right to homeschool and are not safe places for children, just the same as there are public school children who are in unsafe homes also.
You may also find records useful to have if you need to go to court to fight to homeschool your children against the child’s other parent. - Memories: More than anything it is a wonderful pleasure to look back and see how far your child has come over the years. Sometimes when you are in the thick of it you don’t see how much progress has been made.
Homeschooling has come a long way over the years and will continue to grow and evolve. No doubt that as these evolutions happen homeschooling laws will change alongside them. Be sure to keep on top of what is required in your state so as to not be caught out.
