Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

Moving across state lines? Take homeschool with you.

One thing homeschoolers never have to worry about is starting over at a new school.  When moving, these families may pack up and take homeschool right along with them!

Homeschool families have the unique advantage of moving from place to place with no disruption in the home education program at all.  As long as they’re moving to a place where homeschooling is legal (all 50 states and many countries around the world), there isn’t so much as a hiccup in the process.  Whether families choose to keep active school going or take a short break from homeschool during the move is up to them.  But moving in itself can be a great learning experience anyway, therefore nothing is ever lost during the transition!

In some cases, a change of residence must be reported.  In states where homeschool notification is required, for example, families may be asked to terminate a home education program in one place and re-establish it in another.

Moving to another state can also mean adjusting to new procedures and requirements.  A new location may offer a less restrictive  homeschool climate, allowing families to relax record-keeping, testing and other efforts they previously used to document the homeschool process.  On the other hand, new places sometimes require more procedures than before, meaning families must learn how to comply under the new regulations.

No matter the differences from place to place, however, homeschooling across state lines is easy to do.  Researching homeschool laws prior to moving to a new place makes the transition easy.  Some families even join support groups at their new location, so that they’re familiar with people, places and activities before they even arrive!

When moving, check in to state laws in your state, and the laws of the state you’re going to.  Try these web sites to help, and then find other state-wide support groups to get started in your new home:

Homeschool Legal Advantage state by state

HSLDA state by state

A to Z Home’s Cool laws around the world

HEM state by state

Image: Source

Pulling a child out of school? List of 10 things to do right now.

Are you a parent thinking about homeschooling this fall?  Has this year just been a little bit too much for you or your student?  Did something happen?  Is school just not ‘clicking’?  Has your gut been saying your student is capable of so much more?  Or are there circumstances from this year you’d just rather not repeat?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, you need to save or print this post.  If you have friends in a similar situation, why not email them a copy, too?  Because in a minute, I’ll be sharing with you the 10 things you should do right now in case you find yourself homeschooling next year.

Why are these things important, you wonder?  Well, for starters, parents always need to remain as informed as possible about a child’s performance and activities in school.  So, if you aren’t presently as informed as you’d like to be, these tips will help you do just that.

Next, nearly everyone who has ever withdrawn a child from school in a hurry wishes they had done something differently. These tips will insure that, next year, once you’re homeschooling, you’re not kicking yourself because you forgot to do something important now.

Finally, while the truth is that some of these tips are far more important for some families than others, they’re helpful for everyone on some level.  Besides, since you’ll never know what you don’t know,  it’s always better to look deeper now than to wonder if you have done all you could once your child has left the school.  Basically — cover your bases before it’s too late.

Plus, a side benefit to being proactive is that these activities may even help you make some difficult choices right now, perhaps clarify the issues, help to put everything into perspective — instead of having these important decisions weighing on you all summer long.

So here they are, in no particular order…if you think you may be homeschooling next year, suggestions for what you need to be doing right now.

The 10 Things You Should Do Right Now

  1. Write down the names and ISBN numbers of all of the textbooks, workbooks, supplements, and other printed material your child is using in school now.  Photocopy publication information and table of contents from textbooks if you can.  If none of this is possible,  at least jot down the general topics your child studied this year. [Author’s Note, Added: This tip isn’t about using the same books next year (although you can if you want to).  It’s about being able to document (should your state require) and understand what your child already studied in order to build a homeschool year that is best for that particular student.]
  2. Write down the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of key personnel at the school, including school counselors, plus all of your child’s teachers.  If a teacher offers that you may contact him/her at home, write down that number too.
  3. Visit the school yourself and ask to view your child’s permanent record.  Using any method you wish, make a list of the documents contained in the file, and request photocopies of test scores, medical information, notes from teachers or administrators, and anything else that warrants a copy for your files at home.  Should your child have an individualized plan of instruction or receive additional services, ask for copies of that information, too.
  4. Arrange to have all student work sent home, at least by the end of the year.  This includes graded homeworks, projects, artwork, journals and anything else that may end up being left behind once your child comes home for the summer.  Don’t forget things like gym clothes stored in lockers or items that may be on display somewhere in the school.
  5. Save to computer disc or print out emails containing important information from the school web site or any email addresses to which you are currently granted access that may expire over the summer.
  6. Visit your child’s classroom for a few hours, or the entire day if you like.  Or, if you haven’t done so in a while, volunteer to assist at some event or activity requiring you to be on campus for some length of time.  If your child rides a school bus,  see if you can ride the bus for the day, too.
  7. If a parent-teacher conference has not already been scheduled for the end of the school year, request a meeting with each of your child’s teachers.  Inform teachers you’d like to discuss your child’s progress (or not), your child’s learning and study habits, special achievements, disciplinary problems or concerns, or anything else the teacher may be able to tell you about your child’s school year.
  8. Pick up a copy of the school handbook and/or student handbook used in your school district.
  9. If you do not do so regularly, attend a meeting of the School Board in your district.  After the meeting, greet members of the Board if you are so inclined.
  10. If you have not done so, attend at least one meeting of the PTA, PTO, SAC or other committees that meet on campus.

…AND, pick up a copy of “Suddenly Homeschooling“, a book that will help you get started right and keep going strong.

If these steps sound paranoid, ridiculous or excessive, they’re not.  Talk to parents who have been in your shoes, and you’ll hear over and over about the surprise or regret they experienced by:  1) not staying informed; or, 2) by leaving a school hastily/impulsively.  No parent may ever be criticized for staying involved in a child’s education, thus no parent should ever be worried about asking too many questions.

Taking these steps now creates a win-win.  Should you make the decision to homeschool, you’ll be happy you took the steps to close out your child’s experience in the district armed with any information that could be necessary in the future.  On the other hand, if your child remains in school, that’s okay, too.  It only means you’ve become a more active/informed parent.  And — the best part – it will probably translate into greater success for your student next year, too!

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a teacher who has homeschooled her children all of their lives.  As a speaker, mentor and a coach to homeschooling families all over the country, she demystifies the process and helps make homeschooling accessible to everyone.  Her newest book explains it all:  “Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in 2 Weeks” (available at Amazon and most other online booksellers).

Image 2: Wikimedia Commons

 

Legal changes can affect you

As if there wasn’t already enough to do while homeschooling, staying abreast of new legislation should be added to the list.  Although homeschool laws don’t change very often, sometimes state requirements for homeschoolers are reinvented, reinterpreted or renegotiated over the years.   And while major changes are relatively rare, sometimes even the slightest tweak or update can affect the way that families must homeschool in a particular region.

As an example, the laws that govern homeschooling in Florida have remained unchanged for many years.  On the other hand, subtle changes resulting from new legislation last year changed the way that Florida homeschoolers now meet eligibility requirements for the state’s largest college scholarship program.  While this may not seem like a big deal to many people, to the graduating homeschool Seniors affected by the change, it has significantly impacted their ability to apply for state aid and attend college.  Other states routinely make similar tweaks — and even larger changes, too.

So, how can homeschooling families remain on top of homeschool laws AND stay informed about changes that could affect them directly?

There are several ways to stay informed, which can be used alone or in combination:

1. Belong to a statewide homeschooling organization

Membership or affiliation with a statewide group almost always results in hearing about news that may impact you.  But just joining a state group is not enough — it is important to visit the web site regularly, attend at least one annual meeting, and read all mailings and newsletters sent to you, too.

2. Join a legal group

Some homeschool parents opt to join legal organizations created especially for homeschoolers.  Several of these exist nationwide and there are some that serve individual states, as well.  Though membership in these groups is not required to homeschool, many families like the peace of mind they get from knowing they will be alerted to any changes made to homeschooling procedures and laws where they live.  Legal groups often publish headlines and case studies, too, making timely and relevant information available to members on a moment’s notice.

3. Stay in touch with other homeschoolers

Apart from the many other benefits, staying in contact with other homeschoolers in the area is a good way to hear about legislative changes going on in your state.  Though you might want to verify this word-of-mouth type of information, it is a great way to learn about the possibility of changes made in your state or district.

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Can grandparents homeschool?

As more and more grandparents are raising grandchildren in this country, a natural question to ask is if grandparents may also homeschool these children.  The answer to this question lies in first understanding the legal status of the grandparent in relation to the children, followed by thoroughly researching the homeschool laws of the state.  Sources in this area (below) add that there are a number of other factors that should be considered as well.

Grandparents helping homeschooling families

Before answering the question, it is important first to note that there are already many grandparents that participate in helping homeschool families.  Just like any other friend or family member may assist with certain aspects of the homeschooling or managing the family or the home, grandparents too may  assist homeschoolers by offering anything from academics to child-care and beyond.  Families lucky enough to have grandparents nearby may benefit from this relationship in a number of ways, like receiving help with driving children to and from activities, getting help with a child’s schoolwork,  or receiving help with some of the household chores. Some grandparents may take on the teaching of individual subjects almost entirely by themselves, like reading to younger children or introducing a foreign language to high schoolers  In some areas, grandparents may offer informal chats — even lectures – for larger groups of homeschoolers, telling about experiences or sharing specific talents or hobbies.  And though the primary direction will always come from a child’s parent or supervising school entity, grandparents can be wonderfully helpful plus offer knowledge and experience often not available anywhere else.

Many articles have been written about the fulfillment of helping in this way and the special bond that can be formed with grandchildren through homeschooling.  (Read just one account HERE)

Grandparents that homeschool

When grandparents have custody, full legal guardianship, or have adopted the children, homeschooling becomes a different matter altogether.  Here, the laws of the state will prevail and determine who may homeschool a child in that state.  Since homeschooling is legal in all states, it is safe to assume that under many circumstances grandparents may homeschool children, too.  However this is a matter where consulting the laws and the appropriate authorities is very important.  Speaking to the family attorney, a  child services representative, any counselors or case supervisors that may be involved, national homeschool legal organizations, or the local school district may be necessary.  If children are being withdrawn from school in order to homeschool, consulting a teacher or principal may be recommended, as well.  Overall, since every situation is different, following the advice of a trusted legal advisor is paramount.

Once grandparents receive the green light to homeschool, the literature points to additional factors that grandparents should consider before making a final decision to homeschool a child.  A grandparent’s health and ability to continue, whether short- or long-term is important to assess.  Any health concerns for the child must also be considered, too, being certain that grandparents have the willingness, ability and resources to care for children with energy levels that may exceed their own, or who have additional needs or challenges.

Financial ability to raise and school a child is important, too.  And though homeschooling can occur on a budget, grandparents must have access to any necessary curriculum, materials and outside experiences that will inevitably become necessary down the road.  In addition, access to helpful homeschooling resources can be particularly important for grandparents who feel they cannot teach some subjects or do not know what is required to educate a child all the way through graduation.

Finally, the literature reminds that when grandparents start parenting again, with or without homeschooling, external support can be very helpful.  There are many parenting and grandparenting organizations which are already operational and ready to assist, plus these number are growing as the number of children raised by grandparents only increases.

There is more to learn about this topic, thus it is important for grandparents thoroughly familiarize themselves with the legalities, benefits and pitfalls of homeschooling grandchildren before moving ahead.  Several links are provided below which may be of assistance; however, families are strongly advised to consult the proper authorities and to find the level of support they need before making important educational decisions.

Sources:

May a Grandmother homeschool? by Ann Zeise

“Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” from USA.gov

“Grandparents play a bigger role in child-rearing” from AARP

US Department of Education

Grandparents Groups

Adoption

Grandparents Meetups

National Home Education Legal Defense

Homeschool Legal Advantage

Homeschool Legal Defense Association

Attorneys for Homeschooling

[Photo: Free Digital]

Legal vs. actual homeschool age

Homeschooling laws are generally quite clear.  Every state explains, in no uncertain terms, at what age homeschooling may begin.

In some states, the legal homeschooling age might be 5.  In other states, it could be 6 or 7.

Some states write the age of eligibility as it relates to some calendar date, like Florida, where children must be 6 years old by February 1 of a given year.  In states like Kansas, the range is broader, stating only that children have reached the age of 7 but are still under 18.

It is a parent’s responsibility to know the legal age of commencement and to comply with anything that may be required to begin homeschooling a child in that state.  (Don’t know your laws?  Read THIS POST.)

On the other hand, when homeschooling actually begins in a given family is a different matter altogether.  Though the legal homeschooling age may not be until 5, 6, or 7, parents are certainly not precluded from starting sooner, if it seems like the right thing for that child.  Some children (and their parents) are more eager and ready for schooling than others, thus parents needn’t wait until state laws say they can begin.

On the flip side, although states may require homeschool notification or registration by a certain age, there are children who are not ready for formal sit-down instruction yet.  Fortunately with homeschooling, there are many relaxed teaching (and lifestyle) models that can be used during those early years, and even longer if the family chooses.

Ultimately, there is no universal right or wrong time to begin homeschooling a child.  In fact, this discussion is really about a given family’s philosophy and definition of homeschooling anyway.   In a legal sense, homeschooling must begin when state requirements for instruction, record-keeping, evaluations, and anything else say so.   In a practical sense, however, homeschooling may begin at any time, and could even be viewed as something that has been taking place all along — since birth or even in the womb.  Some people look at it differently from others, making the definition of early learning a very individual thing.

In summary, parents must separate the idea of being their child’s first (and best) teacher with their need to satisy state legal requirements.  When the time comes to get legal, parents must absolutely do so.  When homeschooling actually begins, however, is entirely up to them.