Required Home School Curriculum Often Mirrors Public Schools
Reading, writing and arithmetic are the old standards in most educational facilities and a home school curriculum often follows that of the local public schools. Some states may have little or no requirements to establish classes required for those home schooling their children, other states require they are taught the same subjects as students in public schools. State with little regulation on home schooling rarely establish a home school curriculum, leaving it up to the parents, but some require a home school taught by a private teacher or tutor to offer certain classes.
In many states there is a standard home school curriculum that closely follows the mandatory subjects in state-run public schools. There is also a minimum number of instructional hours required per year as well as the number of days. For example, a state that requires 900 hours each year and 180 days would require the home school curriculum take place within five hours every day. Some parents may attempt to skirt the requirements by offering instruction for more than the average five daily hours, but will still need to hold classes for 180 days.
Many classes outlines in a home school curriculum will include language, reading, spelling, writing and geography as well as the history of the United States and the state in which they reside along with learning how the government operates.
Standardized Testing Tracks Home School Progress
In as many as 40 states, standardized testing is required at various stages of the students' education to measure their progress as well as the teaching abilities of their instructor. Some of the more stringent requirements call for a certified teacher observing the process for at least two years, longer if the student does not fare well on the tests. All of the tests focus on the learnings of the home school curriculum, and adjustments can be made only once a student is proven proficient in a particular subject.
Other states use proficiency testing as part of the parent meeting the requirements to continue offering the home school curriculum to their children. In states with less requirement levels a parent with a high school diploma or general education diploma can teach their children at home. However, if the parent does not have either diploma they must use an instructor for their children until such time as they earn the required certification.
The use of a mandatory home school curriculum insures the students are in step with the educational opportunities available to other children in the same age group. In the event they want to extend their education to college, the standardized test scores from home school curriculum subjects can be used as part of the entry process.
