{"id":1948,"date":"2016-02-05T07:28:37","date_gmt":"2016-02-05T12:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/?p=1948"},"modified":"2024-09-18T08:34:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T12:34:52","slug":"homeschooling-101-an-introduction-to-the-laws-and-legalities-of-homeschooling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/homeschooling-101-an-introduction-to-the-laws-and-legalities-of-homeschooling.html","title":{"rendered":"Homeschooling 101: An Introduction to the Laws and Legalities of Homeschooling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/home-schooling-legalities-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/home-schooling-legalities-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"An Introduction to the Laws and Legalities of Homeschooling\" class=\"wp-image-5025\" width=\"623\" height=\"412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/home-schooling-legalities-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/home-schooling-legalities-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/home-schooling-legalities-768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/home-schooling-legalities-1536x1017.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/home-schooling-legalities-2048x1356.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 623px) 100vw, 623px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>When parents first consider homeschooling, they often start by wondering if teaching their own children is actually legal. The answer is yes. Homeschooling is legal in every state of the United States. (It is, however, outlawed in two dozen foreign countries.) That said, however, it is important to realize that homeschooling is governed by the individual states, rather than the country as a whole. The legalities of homeschooling differ widely from one state to the next.&nbsp; Some states are incredibly lenient and some are quite strict.<\/p>\n<h3>Notice of Intent<\/h3>\n<p>Commonly the first law that is referenced with homeschooling is whether or not parents have to contact the local school district to let them know they are planning to homeschool. Some states do not require this notice, while others require a simple parental notification\u2014and that is it. Some parents elect to simply turn in a letter of intent with their names, addresses, and child\u2019s name to the state and to the school district in which they live. Others may choose to include additional details about what subjects they will be covering.<\/p>\n<p>States that do not require notification of intent to homeschool:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Idaho<\/li>\n<li>Alaska<\/li>\n<li>Texas<\/li>\n<li>Oklahoma<\/li>\n<li>Missouri<\/li>\n<li>Illinois<\/li>\n<li>Indiana<\/li>\n<li>Michigan<\/li>\n<li>Connecticut<\/li>\n<li>New Jersey<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>States that require only notification of intent to homeschool:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>California<\/li>\n<li>Nevada<\/li>\n<li>Montana<\/li>\n<li>Wyoming<\/li>\n<li>Utah<\/li>\n<li>Arizona<\/li>\n<li>New Mexico<\/li>\n<li>Nebraska<\/li>\n<li>Kansas<\/li>\n<li>Wisconsin<\/li>\n<li>Kentucky<\/li>\n<li>Mississippi<\/li>\n<li>Alabama<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Beyond the Basic&nbsp;Notification<\/h3>\n<p>Many&nbsp;states go beyond requiring notification. &nbsp;In addition to a notice of intent, they want to see student test scores and expect a professional evaluation of each student\u2019s progress at the end of the year. &nbsp;The level at which these tests are administered depends on the state. Some states expect homeschooled students to be tested once at the elementary school level and once at high school. Others expect it as often as grades 4, 6, 8, and 10.<\/p>\n<p>Moderately strict states:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Washington<\/li>\n<li>Oregon<\/li>\n<li>Colorado<\/li>\n<li>South Dakota<\/li>\n<li>Minnesota<\/li>\n<li>Iowa<\/li>\n<li>Arkansas<\/li>\n<li>Louisiana<\/li>\n<li>Tennessee<\/li>\n<li>Ohio<\/li>\n<li>Georgia<\/li>\n<li>Florida<\/li>\n<li>South Carolina<\/li>\n<li>North Carolina<\/li>\n<li>Virginia<\/li>\n<li>West Virginia<\/li>\n<li>New Hampshire<\/li>\n<li>Maine<\/li>\n<li>Maryland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The strictest homeschooling states in the country are found on the east coast.&nbsp; These states require parental notification, in addition to professional evaluation (by an objective third party), and often curriculum approval from the state, parental teaching certification (minimum high school diploma or GED), and even, in extremely monitored states, home visits from state officials.<\/p>\n<p>Most <a href=\"http:\/\/www.onlinecollege.org\/the-8-strictest-states-for-homeschoolers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">restrictive states<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Vermont<\/li>\n<li>New York<\/li>\n<li>Pennsylvania<\/li>\n<li>Rhode Island<\/li>\n<li>Massachusetts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As an example, New York homeschoolers are required to submit a very detailed home instruction plan that lists the curriculum materials, textbooks, and other resources that will be used. In addition, parents must keep detailed attendance records to indicate that each student has been instructed at the legal equivalent of 180 days per year. (This breaks down to 900 hours for grades 1 through 6 and 990 for grades 7 through 12.)&nbsp; New Yorkers are also expected to submit annual homeschooling plans, plus quarterly reports with grades in all subjects. Here, standardized tests are administered in grades 4, 6, and 8, as well as every year of high school.<\/p>\n<p>It is important to note that state homeschooling laws are not written in stone. They can\u2014and often do\u2014change with enough parental and organizational involvement. In recent years, Utah, Iowa, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota have significantly reduced their requirements for homeschoolers.<\/p>\n<h3>Finding Additional Resources<\/h3>\n<p>Knowing what rules each state has in place to govern homeschooling is essential for all new homeschoolers, as well as for teachers whose students are leaving the system to be homeschooled. There are many online sites with this information, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hslda.org\/laws\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Homeschooling Legal Defense Association<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/a2zhomeschooling.com\/laws\/homeschool_laws_legalities_overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A to Z Home\u2019s Cool<\/a>&nbsp;and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.responsiblehomeschooling.org\/policy-issues\/current-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Coalition for Responsible Home Education<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to researching online, parents should connect with local and state homeschooling support groups and associations. Attend conferences. Go to the library and ask about homeschooling resources. All of these places can help parents and teachers better understand the laws in place and what they do and do not entail.<\/p>\n<p>Deborah Stevenson, Executive Director of National Home Education Legal Defense (NHELD) stated in an interview with Home Education Magazine, \u201cIf citizens are not informed about the law and the facts affecting their rights under the law, they cannot effectively retain their freedom.\u201d Stevenson encourages parents to not only read their state laws regarding homeschooling, but also read the U.S. and state Constitutions, and all state Department of Education and local Board of Education policies that focus on the right to homeschool. The key is being informed, so that if any family is questioned, they know their rights.<\/p>\n<p>Larry and Susan Kaseman, authors and columnists for <em>Home Education Magazine<\/em>, write about how parents can maintain their homeschooling freedoms. In one column, they advocated having copies of state homeschooling statutes and regulations, but to rely heavily on speaking with experienced homeschoolers as well. \u201cThe best source of information is knowledgeable, experienced homeschoolers who live in the state you\u2019re interested in,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The right to homeschool is one that is upheld in every state of this country. What parents need to do to keep and fulfill this right varies, however, so taking the time to do \u201chome-school homework\u201d is essential.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about homeschooling, check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/homeschooling-101-most-important-questions-to-ask-before-deciding-to-homeschool.html\">Homeschooling 101: Most Important Questions to Ask Before Deciding to Homeschool<\/a>&nbsp;and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/homeschooling-101-sports-and-other-extracurricular-activities-2.html\">Sports and Other Extracurricular Activities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Tamra Orr is the author of six books on the topic of homeschooling, including <u>Homeschooling FAQs: 101 Questions Every Parent Should Ask, The Parent\u2019s Guide to Homeschooling,<\/u> and <u>After Homeschool: Fifteen Homeschoolers Out in the Real World. <\/u>In addition, she homeschooled her four children from Kindergarten through high school graduation.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freepik.com\/free-photo\/happy-african-american-family-greeting-teacher-during-video-call-laptop_26824224.htm\">Image source<\/a><\/p><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When parents first consider homeschooling, they often start by wondering if teaching their own children is actually legal. The answer is yes. Homeschooling is legal in every state of the United States. (It is, however, outlawed in two dozen foreign [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[191],"tags":[33,29,27],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The laws and legalities of homeschooling can be daunting to navigate. 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