From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: US Home Schooling Laws

29 September 2006

Carrey in VA - HomeSchooling Momma of 4 – at 10:12

I posted this information on the “top 10″ thread, but thought it was relavent enough to earn it’s on thread. Please, if you have children, look into the homeschooling laws in your state NOW. Know and understand what the regulations are, and what you need to do to stay within the law. If you need more help understand the law, google “homeschooling support groups” and your home state.

I think schools will stay open as long as possible, much longer than they should. Now will they send an officer to your house if you just take your kids home with no notice? I guess that depends on if your kids are the only ones out. If there are alot of parents keeping thier kids home, than your less likely to get a knock on the door. But why risk it?

This link is to the HSLDA site (homeschool legal defense asso.) Click on your state and and there is a nice boiled down, easy to understand, explaination of your states laws. http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

One funny thing, they have VA listed as a moderately regulated state. All we have to do is send in a “letter of intent” in the begining of the school year, and then a copy of the results of a standardized test on math and language arts in the spring. Very easy to do, no attendence laws, no mandatory hours.

Homeschooling is legal in EACH and EVERY one of the 50 states, don’t let any school offical tell you different.

Kathy in FL – at 10:21

It is also important to know the laws in your state on home education because 9 will get you 10 that public school officials don’t. They only know what they think they know. So, just like in any other situation, KNOW YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

Even the most well-meaning can be wrong. Read the actual statute. If you don’t understand it, talk to people who do.

And while the HSLDA has helped a lot of home educators they are also a bunch of busy-bodies that can cause more harm than good. Ever so often they try to come into Florida and monkey with the homeschool laws here. Usually enough homeschoolers voice their desire to be left alone and they take their efforts elsewhere. We have a fine balance here and we try and maintain that. We have some very good lobbyist types keeping an eye out on upcoming legislation that might effect home educators.

Long story short … prepare ahead of time for any eventuality and you won’t get caught with your pants down.

silversage – at 10:21

OK, Illinois is green on the chart to your link. “States requiring no notice: No state requirement for parents to initiate any contact” Does that mean I don’t HAVE to have a letter of intent?

..and yes I printed out the summary page for my prep folder. :-)

Carrey in VA – at 10:32

Kathy in FL at 10:21

Your right of coarse, the HSLDA has some other agendas. I should have stated that I don’t care for the HSLDA and I think their “service” is and un-necessary expense pawned off on new/scared homeschoolers. But they did have a really nice “outline” of the state laws, and it’s a good place to start.

Silversage - at 10.21

Go to google and look for “Homeschooling support groups Illinois” Here’s a list of groups I found on a quick search http://www.home-school.com/groups/IL.html

Pixie – at 10:34

Silversage - you need to become familiar with the laws for your state. Google for homeschooling groups in your state and they will be able to help you.

In CT, you are not required to submit a notice of intent (no matter what they tell you) so Illinois may be the same way. Leaving a public school to homeschool is no different than removing your child to have them attend a private or parochial school. Also, in CT there is no requirement that a portfolio or testing be submitted to the town or state at any time. As KathyinFla said, if these are your rights - know them.

Some states, New York is one example, have much more defined homeschooling laws, and more is required in the way of notification and testing. However, no matter how onerous the paperwork, that is the only thing that changes. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states as long as you follow the correct procedures.

BTW, I agree with KathyinFla’s comments on the HSLDA. It is important to point out too that the HSLDA’s reach is sometimes further than its grasp, and their website contains factual errors on the requirements for homeschooling in several states, including my own. The best thing is to contact homeschool groups active in your state for the latest and most accurate information.

cottontop – at 11:03

I live in upsate New York. I homeschooled my olderst child, four years. You have to send a letter of intent to the school, they will send you a package containing the laws of homeschooling, rules and regulations, what yor responsibilities are. I had to submit my curriculum agenda for each subject they require to be taught. I had to submit quartely reports, when notified, I had to take my child to the school for state testing, and they sent me the results.After each quartely reort, the princpal sent their reply, letting me know if things were acceptable, or not. I was fortunate to have the full cooperation of the principal/school. From second grade on, you have to take the child to the school to be tested(which is free), or pay a representative to come to an unbiased place, like the local library, to give the test.

You will have to already have materials already bought for each child. when it’s pandemic time, and we are taking our kids out of school, that is not the time for go shopping for homeschool material. I had to supply my own books/materials, which was very expensive. The school did not supply me with anything. The are not obligated too.

Petticoat Junction – at 11:19

There is a useful page on the various homeschooling legal issues here. There are links to all the state laws down the left plus many articles on various legal considerations, several written by lawyers.

The rest of the site is worth a glance, too. It’s one of the first I encountered 10+ yrs ago when we began…a veritable grand-daddy among homeschool internet sites. <g>

(Apart from legal issues, another site we’ve used for years and LOVE is Easy Fun School …even parents who aren’t homeschooling at the moment will find lots of neat projects & activities. You might find some that look like they’d catch your child’s/family’s interest during SIP and get the directions printed & materials lined up now.)

cottontop – at 12:13

all of this is pertaining to a pre-flu pandemic. There is no way public schools are going to be able to handle the massive paper overload of parents homeschooling their kids. Especially in larger cities such as Dallas, ect. I don’t see it. Besides, if there is a quarantine, and mandartory “stay at home”, who’s going to be at the school to sort through all the paperwork, and write up all those thousands of letters?

The best thing to do, is go to your child’s school, ask your question, and don’t leave until you are satisfied with their answer. We can only sit behind this computer for so long. Websites don’t answer everthing.

I am not worried about school laws during the pandemic. Unless my child or their school releases a statement saying what is to be expected of the parents as far as maintaing contact with the school, I’m not going to worry about it, and you can bet that when the school is turned into a make shift hospital because your neighbors and friends are sick, I don’t think their going to worry about my progress report, or the thousands of other reports. If they close the schools due to a nation wide pandemic, their closed.

DebPat 12:22

Also, be aware if you have a child in special education, there may be extra hoops to jump through. It will be very hard for me to pull my child at just the right time. I have at least some of the services he needs. My school district is very vindictive and getting him back into those services will probably require me hiring a laywer from at least 3 hours away from my home.

Pixie – at 12:36

I agree with you, Cottontop. I think that some people are curious about the current laws as they may be thinking about what might happen if they, here on Fluwikie, are in the position of feeling the children should be taken out of school and the school district disagrees (at that point). Schools will probably be, unfortunately, a lagging indicator rather than a leading one, particularly so for any who read the threads here.

Kathy in FL – at 13:13

cottontop – at 12:13

Be careful with that thinking. They can and will get people on “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” It is a loophole frequently used to catch people who don’t educate themselves and keep up to date on their rights.

Water restrictions; educational laws (public, private, other); age at which children legally allowed to stay home alone and/or legally allowed to babysit; curfew hours … ad nauseum.

There are many laws pertaining to these issues on the books. Most of us will never encounter anyone enforcing them; however, if something happens at your home and your child is hurt you can bet someone is going to pull something out of their hat and back it up with a law on the book.

Authorities are notorious on picking and choosing when and how they will enforce some statutes.

Carrey in VA – at 13:33

cottontop – at 12:13

I also would be very careful about that kind of thinking. I don’t beleive schools will close soon enough. I think they will stay open till the federal or state governments issue orders otherwise.

If you decide to pull your child out of school before TPTB think you should, it only makes sense to make sure to do it correctly, and legally.

DebP – at 12:22

I’m assuming that you think taking a child with a learning disability out of school would be harder because the school gets more money for a LD child. My suggestion is to become VERY well informed on YOUR rights as a parent. Do exactly what the law says to do, and nothing more.

My school district has a new superintendent this year, and my “acceptance” letter stated what tests I could and COULDN’T use for the end of the year. This is something they have no say over, the law states I can use ANY nationally standardized test. Simply printing the homeschooling laws out, and highlighted the appropriate passage and mailing it in was all I did. If they wish to push the issue further, I will simply state that if they would like to continue on this path then they can have thier lawyers send me something official. I figure that any lawyer with sense will explain the law to them before it goes any further.

Don’t let the school bully you into thinking you can’t or shouldn’t bring you kids home to school. Your child just might blossom being home and being taught by someone who truely loves him/her rather than someone who gets paid to teach them. My eldest is LD and has grown so much in these 4 years of homeschooling, it’s really amazing.

crfullmoon – at 14:04

“don’t leave until you are satisfied with their answer”

(Hey, now there’s an idea to maintain forum speed… SIP: Sit In Principal’s office? Ugh.)

LauraBat 14:29

I would also double check with another resourece, such as your state’s education department, etc. That site lists CT as a “no notice” state, but a friend who started home schooling this year had to complete some paper work. Even to pull my kids from our public school to a private school I had to fill out lots of forms. Like Carrey said, if suddenly lots of people are pulling their kids out they can’t follow up on everyone. But better to have your ducks all lined up ahead of time vs a time of greater uncertainty.

Carrey in VA – at 15:50

LauraB at 14:29

Someone further up said that the site I listed had some wrong information. So yes its a great idea to look these laws up on your own. (the information was correct for VA though)

Some school districts ask for more information than the laws says is needed. Just cause the school asks for it, doesn’t mean you have to, or even should, give it too them. Giving the school more than they have a lawful right to ask for, only makes it harder on others. The schools start to expect the “extras”.

Look the laws up, and make sure you understand them completely. Then check them again just before you pull your kids out to make sure they haven’t changed.

And for school work, check ebay. If you buy used and don’t need it, your almost certian to make your money back relisting them. Thats what we do.

frankiew – at 16:20

Another good source of cheap books for curriculum is the Goodwill store. I have actually found textbooks, workbooks (not written in) and teacher editions for next to nothing, about 50 cents each.You can also use outdated history books, the public school system re-evaluates their curriculum about every 5 yrs, and orders new types of books to teach out of, since history never change,you can use the old books for that subject. I did pay full price for the math curriculum, simply because my 11 yr. old tested out advanced and there wasn’t any books that were used that he had not already used in public school. Going to your local library usually has a used book section for sale, at least my local one does, and I have purchased SAT,GED, and GRE prep books for as little as .25 cents each, this has infor that can be taught and actually be useful if and when school starts back.

30 September 2006

Muttcats – at 02:48

We are in our third year of homeschooling. My children have never attended public school. One thing I am certain of is that homeschooling will be the last thing on our minds if a pandemic hits. We may do some lessons to pass the time but it won’t be a priority and I probably won’t even bother to keep the logs for the state. Then, I live in a state that is highly unlikely to mess with me or any other homeschooler.

LauraBat 06:51

One thing I’m concnerned about, however, is my ability to home school. I love my kids to pieces, but I’m not cut out to be a teacher. They are so spread out in age (10, 6 and 3) and I can’t imagine trying to juggle different lessons, etc. I go crazy when they are doing a craft together! And if they are together for too long they start going a little crazy - okay, a lot crazy. How do you home schoolers do it?! Do the lessons for different ages (especially with a very young one around who won’t sit longer than two seconds and gets into everything his siblings are doing) and keep your sanity being home with home all day?

cottontop – at 07:42

Pixie at-12:36

I”m leaving my child in school until the absolute last minute, but what I’m saying, is once the kids are taken out, schools will close, and we will not have to worry about compling with laws about homeschooling. But as I said, talk to your school principal, or anybody else. State your case, whatever. If I have to go to the school for something, I can not afford to let someone brush me off, because they don’t know what’s going on, and it’s happened. Heck, the janator knows more at times than the people there. Sad. I generally use the dean of students. He’s not the most knoweledgable, but he tries.

No doubt schooling will have to continue at home. But as I stated earlier, I’m waiting until the very last minute, when it is announced the schools will be closing. As this flu becomes more widespread, the school systems will pick up their preparing, and notified us, (it’s unfortunate they wait until the last minute). I’m just not going to panic and pull my child from school. I’m keeping things as is for my child, until her school gives me information about closing. That’s why I”m not worried about laws, and rules. For parents who want to take their child out “before closing”, then yes comply with all the laws, and regulations. Homeschooling is a challenge for any parent. Be prepard with this mentally.

Carrey in VA – at 09:03

Cottontop

I sure hope your thoughts are right, and that the schools will close early. I just don’t see it happening. There’s too much money involved to send them home “too early”.

You said you’ll wait till the flu is more wide spread does that mean when h2h become effective? Or when people in the US start dieing? Or when people in your town start dieing? If you wait too long after confirmed effective h2h your playing games with your lives.

What if the father of that kid that sits next to yours in math class just came back from China on business? And while he was there he thought it would be neat to see one of those village market places. Then he came home and shed virus all over his family. That kid likes to chew on his/her pencil, and your kid forgot theirs and asks to borrow one.

I’m so glad I don’t have to worry about when to pull my children out of school. One less thing to keep me up at night.

cottontop – at 09:50

Carrey in VAat−09:03

We’ve all stated the when TSHTF we are pulling our kids out of school. Don’t you think that is too late as well? At what point does TSHTF?

Carrey in VA – at 10:14

I think that when effective H2H transmission is achieved ANYWHERE in the world, that is the time to pull kiddo’s out of schools. If you want to call them in sick for a few days to watch and see what the virus is doing it would better than letting them sit there next to Suzy, who’s dad just came home from China.

At what point does TSHTF? I think everyone has their on TS has now HTF point. And I don’t think those points are the same for everyone.

My TS has HTF point is when the virus starts killing people here in the US. Watching H2H become effective in China or Indonesia will be the equivalent of watching the sh*t fly through the air on a collision coarse with the fan. I would want my kids home save before it actually hits.

crfullmoon – at 10:24

When people start coming down sick/dying of a similar-sounding thing, same time, few different locations, that we can hopefully connect the dots about before the officals will want to announce anything, let alone school systems that don’t seen to get that this may be a flu that might be killing the ammounts of staff/kids their plans talk about being absent before they will close schools…

Believe me, people travel; they don’t cancel vacations or business trips just because a few human cases of H5N1 just popped up there - and no offical tells them not to go, nor not to go right back to school/business, after returning home, either.

A survey of where everyone has been in the last week in any given town might turn up some surprises, (for people who think “bird” flu is something that will take weeks or months to get “over here”). Just afraid so many people travel, and mingle so much regionally, that one of those first spots might be right around here, and all over, before we know to get out of the way.

Eduk8or – at 10:58

IOWA

I’ve put a link in the Iowa Preppers thread on Sept 30th, detailing more information about the requirements for homeschooling in Iowa.

KimTat 11:28

Eduk8or – at 10:58 Thanks

05 October 2006

Edna Mode – at 09:04

Carrey in VA – at 10:14

Agree 100%.

crfullmoon – at 10:24

Every point you make is absolutely valid.

The dad of one of my daughter’s classmates is in Mumbai, India on business right now.

My son’s 2nd grade teacher (from last year) is going to Japan on a Fullbright Scholarship in November.

My own sister announced (despite her deep knowledge of the threat posed by H5N1) that she’s taking a trip to a “protected place” in India in December. Haven’t heard from her since I pointed out that 24-hour roundtrip on an airplane with international strangers breathing recirculated air ain’t what I’d call “protected.”

My husband’s doctor is going to China in December.

And these are the ones off the top of my head. Our town has so many people who travel to Southern Asia it’s crazy.

My kids are coming out as soon as I see a pattern of efficient H2H anywhere, and DH won’t be too far behind.

crfullmoon – at 10:12

I only hope we can know when in time.

Carrey in VA – at 16:02

Crfullmoon - at 10:12

me too

11 October 2006

BUMP – at 13:11

06 November 2006

crfullmoon – at 09:35

If the schools won’t close pre-emptively, maybe parents will have to pre-emptively homeschool…

Carrey in VA – at 16:08

like now! ;-) lol

Carrey in VA – at 16:08

like now! ;-) lol

Kathy in FL – at 16:25

While I am a huge homeschool proponent, it is important to remember that homeschooling does not fit every childs’ needs. That is the beauty of having multiple opportunities for your child’s education … whether that be a traditional classroom setting, magnet school, private school, montessori, independent study, and all the various methodologies associated with homeschooling from school-at-home to unschooling.

What will be difficult will be when parents are forced to make those kinds of choices with no real warning or preparation and research.

The school systems need to be more open to alternatives and not so fearful that they will lose all their students, funding, reason for existence by making those alternatives public and readily available.

I dislike the NEA’s stance on parents not being the best teacher for their children … and that is actually a kind interpretation of their remarks … but we may all have no choice in the event of a pandemic if we want to retain educational continuity for our children.

The question to me is will such organizations at the NEA refuse to recognize what continuity we have tried to create or will the kids have to suffer such organization’s overt stance against home education.

07 November 2006

LauraBat 22:00

Kathy - I support the right to homeschool 100%. I don’t do it myself because I KNOW I am not a good enough teacher for my kids. I don’t have the ability, patience or tolerance to do it. Obviously things would change if TSHTF, but hopefully that would be a temporary need. I have seen lots of great cases where homeschooling was a unqualified success. But there are examples out there where it is not. That is probably part of the reasoning behind NEA’s stance - how many homeschooling failures are acceptable to them? If they encourage it there may be more failures. And, obviously, three’ the fear of loss of control, loss of jobs, etc. Of course, if public ed continues its slippery slope downward I’ll bet more and more parents will at least consider it as an option.

08 November 2006

Kathy in FL – at 11:59

LauraB – at 22:00

Oh definitely. There are failures at all levels of education … and in all institutions of education. Some failures occur when parents try and duplicate school at home … when it was that type of methodology that was problematic for the child to begin with. The child might need less structure and more creativity/challenge in addressing education.

You also have parents that really believe and personally thrive at the other end of the spectrum … “unschooling” … but they fail to recognize that their child needs more structure.

Then you have all of the different learning styles … auditory, visual, kinectic. Addressing some of these issues is very challenging. I know, I have five children and each one of them are different. I have one that was reading full Dr. Suess books when she was barely four and one that is mildly dyslexic. I have one that has no trouble with math, and another than is completely frustrated by the concepts of fractions.

Some parents just kind of give up … not any different than many classroom teachers used to do when they would label a child.

The thing that strikes me is that I’ve been doing this about 12 years. If I can forsee the challenge of homeschooling during a pandemic setting, even with all of my resources and experience, how much more difficult will it be in homes without the knowledge or desire to plan ahead for such an eventuality.

Education will be one medium to use to keep the kids’ lives approaching “normal” during a pandemic. It will provide structure for those who need it. It will also take discipline … both on the part of the student and on the part of the parents … to maintain this structure.

I also worry about crediting the children with the work that they do while “organized” education grinds to a hault.

Minneapolis Mom – at 13:01

As a third year homeschooling mother, I believe IMHO it will be too difficult to pull school kids just before a pandemic hits (whenever that is). Here’s why: the biggest change in your house will be for you as the parent(s). Your paradigm will shift drastically and you will have an enormous adjustment (but worth it!)Sifting through curriculums takes time, so does setting up materials for muliple age children. So does establishing “normalcy”. In the face of a pandemic, the effort is too much too late. Everyone will be trying to top out bank accounts to lay away more supplies. And most children will remain in school so that parents can accomplish this.

 Like other prep items, the smart will want to “try out” the prep of homeschooling before they really need it.  By the way, eveyone should seriously examine the moxy it will take to pull your children from school.  If you truely believe a pandemic will come, good grief, or any other rocky times we may be in for, one would be smart to do their “homework” now.
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