Homeschooling — how to be legal

Homeschooling is now legal in all fifty states. Each state has its own particular set of rules and requirements for homeschooling.  One of the top concerns for parents on the homeschooling journey is making sure they do everything legally. One of the best websites for finding a state-by-state listing of current homeschooling laws and requirements is Home School Legal Defense Association, which can be found at: http://www.hslda.org.

This website features: lots of information, listed by state, on how to homeschool legally, legislation watches, information about your parental rights, and lots of encouragement from veteran homeschooling families around the country.

Log onto http://www.hslda.org to find out the legal requirements for your specific state. This will give you a break-down of the subjects required for your child’s academic year/level. You will also be able to find out the subject(s) required, the number of hours expected in a typical school day, the number of required days per school year, and what legal documentation is required to prove that your particular homeschool does, in fact, abide by all the laws of your state. It will also tell you if any testing is required for your child, and, if so, what test(s) are acceptable and what grade levels are required to be tested.

If, for some reason, you move to another state during the course of the school year, you should thoroughly check out the requirements for both your old state, where you started the school year, and the new state you are moving to during the school year. Some states may require you to jump through and extra “hoop” or two, so if you know what is expected of you ahead of time, it will make things easier before, during, and after your move.

Also, look for homeschooling support groups in your local area. Although these groups are not for legal purposes, they do provide all-important social and emotional support, ideas for field trips, and lots of practical advice for homeschooling families. You can almost always find veteran homeschooling families, brand-new homeschooling families, and everything in between in support groups. You’ll be able to find yourself a mentor if you need one, and, once you have enough experience to feel like a “veteran” homeschooling family, perhaps you’ll want to mentor a young homeschooling family someday!