HOME SCHOOLING LAWS AND THEY EFFECT ON YOU

Home schooling may seem like a personal choice but in many ways it is one that must meet specific legal guidelines. As you consider home schooling, or start to plan for it, one of the first steps you have is to understand the legal requirements you will need to meet.

Why So Much Legal Concern?

Some parents wonder why the government gets so involved in the process of home schooling. But, under the United States Constitution, it is the right of every citizen to receive a quality education. While your intentions may be stellar, other parent's intentions may not be and this is where the policing of home schooling comes into play.

The fact is, the government wants to ensure that students are being educated in such a way, as they will become protective, respectable parts of society. If children receive an inferior education, they may struggle the rest of their lives because of this. As you commit to educating your child at home, realize that most of the laws in place regarding home school are specifically designed to help you and to help your children to stay on course.

The amount of educational laws regarding home schooling differs on a state-by-state basis. Some states require far more involvement than others do. Take a look at the following.

In the following states, there is no requirement for notice to be given. That means that these states allow home schooling but parents do not need to report on how well the child is doing or what is being taught. This includes the states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey Missouri, Oklahoma, Alaska, Texas and Idaho.

In the following states, there is the requirement for parents to send in notification stating the education of the child. Here, parents simply provide the information. This applies to the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California and Delaware.

The next step is for those states that have more strict requirements. In these states there is moderate regulation. Here, the state does require for parents to send in notifications as well as test scores and at some points there is the need for professional evaluation of the student and where his or her progress is. This is the type of requirement found in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.

The final level is for those states providing the most rigid requirements. Here, high regulation states, there is the requirement for parents to send in proper notification, test scores from achievement testing, professional evaluation may be required, plus there are other requirements. For example, the curriculum may need to be approved by the state. Teachers and/or parents must meet specific requirements. Some states also require home visits by state officials at some points. States that have these higher levels of regulation include the states of Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and North Dakota.

To learn more about the home schooling laws and requirements, you can visit the educational department of the state you live in. Alternatively, you can find resources like HSLDA at www.hslda.org/ that can help you to research these requirements.

These laws effect each person who is home schooling within the United States. Also, keep in mind that these laws change! Do not count on the information you find online to be fully updated. Instead, check with the local authorities to ensure that you are meeting or exceeding these requirements.