Homeschooling 101
Part 2- The Laws
(Click here for Part 1- The Decision)
(Click here for Part 1- The Decision)
So, you've made the decision to homeschool and now you are beginning to research your homeschooling options. First on your list must be to find out about the homeschooling laws in your state. Fortunately there are many states that have a very relaxed approach to homeschooling, however there are a few sticklers and if you know what is expected of you before hand then you are sure to avoid any legal difficulties.
A good place to start your search is the Homeschool Legal Defence Association (HSLDA). They are a wealth of knowledge about all things homeschool related and they have links to the laws for every state in the US. They also created the map below showing the differences in regulations for each state.
LEGEND
States requiring no notice: No state requirement for parents to initiate any contact.
States with low regulation: State requires parental notification only.
States with moderate regulation: State requires parents to send notification, test scores, and/or professional evaluation of student progress.
State with high regulation: State requires parents to send notification or achievement test scores and/or professional evaluation, plus other requirements (e.g. curriculum approval by the state, teacher qualification of parents, or home visits by state officials). As you can see there are many states with little to no regulations, however there are a few that require much more of homeschooling families. Once you know exactly what your state requires, you are then equipped to handle any legal situation that may arise. You can also join the HSLDA for a small fee per month and if you ever were to encounter any difficulties, they will walk you through it and even provide legal counsel if needed.
I have been a homeschooler for many years and I have lots of friends who also homeschool. We have never had an issues legally although we lived in a "moderate" state for many years. Unfortunately there are some people who think that homeschooling is wrong or that the extreme homeschooling situations you may see in the media are the norm for all homeschooling families. We know that is not the case for the majority of us, but we always want to follow the laws of our states closely and keep very good records so we can be a good example of homeschooling if we are ever questioned.
There are a few other places you can find good information about homeschooling laws:
Homeschooling Laws by State
A quick synopsis of each state's laws
and I would recommend searching for your state's laws directly as there are many sites pertaining to individual state laws that could be helpful.
I do not spend much time worrying about the legal aspect of homeschooling- I make sure that I am following the laws of my state and keeping records as needed. I believe the best approach is to be prepared.
Up Next- Homeschooling 101- Part 3- The Curriculum
We have many years of homeschooling experience and we are hoping to be able to share our trials and our triumphs here in our Homeschooling 101 series. We will walk you through the basics and answer our most commonly asked questions. We hope this will be a good resource for those just beginning their journey and an encouragement to the more experience homeschoolers.
