Different States Establish Their Own Home School Requirements
As parents become more frustrated with the public and private schooling options for their children, many are turning to home schooling to educate their children. There are varieties of reasons parents are taking this step, and they still must meet the home schooling requirements established by the state in which they live. Some states are considerably more strict than others on the subject of teaching at home, but most states have some types of home schooling requirements before parents can pull their children out of public or private schools.
In ten states there are virtually no rules for educating children at home, depending on the type of home school being established. For instance, if a family chooses to establish and operate a home schooling requirements for all aspects of their education are not required. There is no reporting to the state about the child's progress, not state-mandated curriculum and no attendance needs to be taken and reporter.
However, should this same family hire a private tutor, the state's home schooling requirements require the tutor have the proper teaching credentials, the school be in session for 180 days each year and the courses covered be comparable to those in the state's public schools.
Some States Have More Rigid Rules
At least six states have home schooling requirements that nearly mirror those of traditional schools. They require 175 days of education each year, four hours each day as well as have a teaching certificate or college degree. Parents with a high school diploma or general education degree can teach their children at home, but for the first two years it has to be under the supervision of a certified teacher.
Some of the state's home schooling requirements include recordkeeping similar to those required by public and private schools such as maintaining a record of the classes taught, the student's proficiency in those classes as well as attendance records. Standardized tests may also be required throughout the school years, administered by a certified teacher with the results shared with the superintendent of the local public school system. Parents must also notify the school prior to start of the school year of their intent to home school their children.
Some proponents claim that home schooling requirements are merely a veiled attempt to dissuade parents from the establishing their legal right to teach their children in their own way in their own home. Opponents claim the home schooling requirements are designed to insure the child has the best educational opportunities available.
