Homeschooling and State Approvals

Since the last few years, homeschooling has becomeonly. The state may require that these tests be taken
the preferred way to educate children. It gives parentsonce every year. However, generally these tests are
the ability to offer tailored and individualized educationnot compulsory, but recommended and are aimed at
to their children, in the comfortable atmosphere of theirmaintaining the quality and standard of education
homes.provided via home schooling.
The child is under no pressure and the parent is freeSome states may require attendance records, since
to set the study schedule according to personalthey prescribe a minimum number of days for
preference. However, every state has certainattending the home school. Some states require
guidelines for homeschooling and it is essential for youparents to file a letter of intent with their local
to know of these legal requirements, before you startcommunity school, if they want to homeschool their
homeschooling your child. Homeschooling is legal in allchild. Some states require parents to undergo a series
the fifty states of the US, but the requirements ofof lessons organized by the school, before they can
each state may be different. Hence, it is necessary forstart with the home schooling.
you to know the legal requirements of your state.Another reason for you to find out the legal
For example, in the state of California, there are threerequirements involved in home schooling in your state
different options for home schooling. In the first option,is to make sure that the education you provide your
a homeschooling student can be a part of anychild with is recognized by the state. If there is no state
independent public home schooling program. The otherapproval, the home schooling of your child may be
option is that the student could undergo homeofficially disregarded and he may face serious set
schooling under the guidance of a certified homebacks while planning on a university or a college, later
schooling tutor. The last option is to get the childon.
admitted into a private school. In case there is a largeMany states provide the forms and guidebooks,
home schooling community in your locality, it is possibledesigned to aid in home schooling your child. In order to
for the community to form a private school forqualify for a university, a homeschooler is probably
homeschoolers.required to perform differently than a regular student.
Most states in the U S require parents to notify theA visit to the local education authority will help you to
state about their intentions to homeschool their child.find out more and also give to you detailed information
But there are some states like Alaska, Illinois, Missouri,about the state and local government scholarships for
Oklahoma and Texas that let you go ahead withwhich your child may or may not be entitled.
home schooling, without prior intimation to the state.As the home schooling requirements for each state
When you start homeschooling your child, some statesare different, it would be best to get in touch with your
may require you to submit a periodical performancelocal school authorities, before proceeding. You can
report, evaluation scores and test scores. Somealso become a part of a home school support group in
states require the tests or evaluations foryour locality.
homeschoolers to be conducted by qualified teachers