{This post is one in a series called, “Top 10 Fears”, in which I speak to the most common fears parents express about homeschooling the high school years. To see all of the topics, or start at the beginning, click HERE.}
Fear #8
Your child can’t go to the prom
To many teens, and a surprising number of parents too, prom is seen as the premiere social event of Senior year. Though proms have evolved somewhat — even generating controversy from time to time – the popularity of this graduation ritual doesn’t seem to be going away.
I encounter many homeschool families in my work. One of the things I hear from newcomers, especially those who’ve recently withdrawn their children from school, is the perceived lack of things for homeschooled teens to do. Parents and their kids want to know — will they still be able to attend activities at the high school (e.g., football games, yearbook committee, driver’s training)? Plus, they almost always ask if they can go to the prom.
Since different states have different rules about extracurriculars and after-hours events, I can’t really answer this question without looking up the laws of that state and reading through the school district’s policies. It’s a lot easier to call and ask them directly, so that’s what I usually advise the parents to do.
Where I live, for example, homeschoolers cannot go to prom on their own, but they can attend as the guest of someone else. In other areas closeby, the rules are completely different, and only the students from that specific high school are allowed to attend the prom.
With matters like these, it’s usually best to call the Principal’s office of the high school where you live. As a homeschool parent, you might want to be put in touch with the faculty member or advisor in charge of the event anyway. If it were me, I’d want to discuss the logistics, plus I might want other targeted questions answered (security, chaperones, or dress code) prior to the big day anyhow.
If your town doesn’t allow homeschoolers to attend prom, be aware that many homeschool groups and organizations hold their own proms every year. If there isn’t one being held in your area, why not organize one of your own?
To your success,
Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. The founder of many homeschool groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, or with no educational background whatsoever. A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations and a homeschool leader in Florida, Marie-Claire also mentors homeschool families nationwide. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, and many other events. She currently writes for audiences at Quick Start Homeschool, which she founded in 2010, and as a guest writer on other sites as often as she can. Her articles have appeared in CONNECT magazine, on Homefires, at Circle of Moms, and she has contributed to hundreds of other blogs nationwide. Dr. Moreau can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.
