{Day 26} Advice For Pulling Kids Out Of School

{For an overview of the 31 Days of Homeschooling program, click HERE}

I am not an attorney. For specific answers to legal questions, always consult a legal professional.

As a lifelong educator, I meet many parents thinking of withdrawing their children from school. Sometimes there is a situation taking place that requires immediate action. Other times, families have just been thinking about homeschooling for a long time and are finally ready to do it. When making these choices, parents need to feel they are not alone. Moms and dads look for confirmation that their choices are valid. Most seek advice about how to do it.

There are many, many factors that can lead to homeschooling. This is a major focus of MY BOOK, Suddenly Homeschooling, and one of the main reasons I wrote it. In the book, I talk in great detail the kinds of situations that can lead up to the very important decision to homeschool. You can PREVIEW a CHAPTER of the book HERE.

Families have different concerns when withdrawing children from schools. Some worry about student learning, others with behavioral issues. Some are concerned about access to events and about socialization. Still other parents want advice about returning children to school, either after a situation has resolved, or if homeschooling just doesn’t work out.

Advice is different in every case. Several things remain constant, however.

When withdrawing children from school, consider the following:

Legal requirements for homeschoolers in your area. Some states (not all) require notification of homeschooling, a curriculum plan, establishing a private school, making arrangements for testing, or something else. Check state laws to be sure any paperwork is completed, or authorities notified, if necessary.
Staying in contact with school authorities, or not. Some situations (like temporary homeschooling for travel or illness) may require routine contact with a teacher or school counselor. If this is the case, gather important data and phone numbers before withdrawing the child.
Gathering important documents prior to withdrawing, or not. While school experiences can be exactly the reason some families withdraw children in the first place, others like to access student records before saying good-bye. Specifically, some parents want to see test scores or progress reports, IEP documents, or other things they may have never seen before. Viewing and photocopying documents in a permanent student record is not required, but make some parents feel better, knowing no stone has been left unturned.
Picking up student work and supplies prior to withdrawing. Though many homeschoolers try hard NOT to duplicate the same kinds of curriculum and projects found in schools, it can still be helpful to know where students left off. Once a school year has ended, it may be difficult to contact a teacher and gather a personal items or outstanding work. It is always best to do it sooner, than risk loosing track of meaningful items later.
Burning bridges. Making a favorable exit is something to consider. Some parents, particularly those who admire their child’s teacher and have had positive experiences at the school, may want to explain why their child will be leaving. Some even bring snacks on the child’s last day as a way of thanking the teacher, and saying good-bye. Other parents may feel the need to sound off about a situation before making an exit. Consider the effect of leaving a school in a disgruntled or adversarial manner, and how it may affect the family’s standing in the community or reputation in the district later on.
The temptation to educate school authorities. In my experience, most schools have very little understanding of homeschooling and believe only that “schools know best”. Depending on the situation, explaining homeschooling or how it is better suited for a particular student is certainly warranted in some cases. Then again, gauging each situation carefully, sometimes saying nothing is more prudent overall.

I meet privately with families and offer telephone consultations, too. Visit THIS page for details and pricing.

Further reading:

Learning from your kids

Uncovering hidden clues in what children say

Eliminating boredom by what it tells you

Pulling a child out of school? 10 Things You Should do Right Now