| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Homeschooling Basics Getting Started Before You Begin -- Know your State or Provincial Homeschool Regulations and your School District Policies! by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Homeschooling is legal in the United States and Canada, and in many other countries, including Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, South Africa, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Some of these countries struggle with very restrictive laws and policies... but at least they have the option. In many other countries, such as Germany, potential homeschool parents are struggling to gain the right to educate at home. My heart goes out to them! I am not a lawyer, and cannot possibly keep up with the ever-changing laws and policies for each school district, state, province, and country... but the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has given it a try! Visit the US HSLDA website to see summaries of the regulations for each US state, and visit the HSLDA of Canada website for summaries of provincial regulations. The HSLDA also has summaries of homeschooling regulations for various countries worldwide. (Please note that the HSLDA is a Christian-focused organization.) The National Home Education Network (NHEN) also keeps a database of summaries, which are (sometimes) easier to "follow" than the HSLDA summaries. Don't take anyone else's word for it -- read it for yourself! You need to personally read and become familiar with the actual laws that apply to your homeschool family... Your state homeschool organization probably has a link to the relevant statutes at their website... if they don't, post a question to a local or state online homeschool group, or find your US state education department at ED.gov and search for statutes that apply to homeschooling, such as ""compulsory attendance", "truancy", "home based programs", and "private schools". (Each state has different wording and terms, so it is often easier to begin by asking an established homeschooler from your state where to look for the regulations.) Here is a place to start for homeschooling laws in Canadian provinces. Don't jump thru needless hoops -- ask homeschoolers in your area what is actually expected in the way of reporting, and what are the is the easiest ways to comply with the regulations! You need to discuss the regulations with other homeschool parents in your area to see how the laws are actually interpreted and implemented... It's important to talk to established homeschoolers about the requirements, because many times the legal wording is vague, and could mean different things to different people. Also, requirements that seem very "scary" when you read about them may be, in real life, quite easy to manage. If you don't ask, you won't know. Do you know your state's "Compulsory Age of Attendance"? The school entrance age varies by state, so be sure to check your own state regulations to find out when you need to begin meeting homeschool requirements. In some states it is as late as age 8! So... before you begin homeschooling: Additional Resources National Home Education Legal Defense -- "believes in an informed, empowered citizenry, who is able to fight for freedom effectively when necessary, ... also acts with and on behalf of its members to resolve conflicts with government officials" Homeschool Legal Defense Association -- "a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms", Christian fosused "Do We Need a Homeschool Legal "Insurance" Organization?" from the Homeschooling is Legal website, in opposition of the HSLDA AHSA-USA -- an online support group for homeschoolers to contact homeschooling attorneys and experts about homeschooling legal and litigation issues, also, an informal network of attorneys and legal experts that are concerned with litigation pending and threatened against homeschoolers, its primary purpose is to exchange legal information within the profession, and to educate and support attorneys and experts involved in homeschool litigation. Related Issues Homeschooling, Divorce and Custody Issues |
1. Read the laws yourself.
2. Speak with established homeschoolers in your area to find
out what other families have done to meet the requirements.
3. Ask established homeschoolers for any tips on notification
procedures, reporting, dealing with school district personnel
(where needed), and on successfully meeting the state and
(if there are any) your district requirements.
2. Speak with established homeschoolers in your area to find
out what other families have done to meet the requirements.
3. Ask established homeschoolers for any tips on notification
procedures, reporting, dealing with school district personnel
(where needed), and on successfully meeting the state and
(if there are any) your district requirements.