hardest/easiest states
Moderators: Theodore, elliemaejune
hardest/easiest states
which are the hardest/easiest states to homeschool?
~Angie~
wife to Wayne
Mom to Dylan(6) and Alayna(2)
wife to Wayne
Mom to Dylan(6) and Alayna(2)
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elliemaejune
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Let's define what "easiest" and "hardest"
In my mind "easy" means no interaction/accountability with any government official.
New Jersey, Oklahoma (which has homeschooling written into its constitution), Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Connecticut, and Alaska don't require any accountability (other than possibly notifying someone that hsing will be taking place). They have specific laws about hsing (except OK, as noted).
Missouri doesn't have requirements for testing, but people are supposed to keep logs: "Maintain records of subjects taught, activities engaged in, samples of the child's academic work and evaluations or a credible equivalent, and a written log showing the hours required under "attendance." This brings it down a notch IMHO, especially as I've read comments on many discussion boards about counting those hours.
Texas has a court case deciding that homeschoolers are the equivalent of private schools, and private schools are not regulated at all. Woohoo!
California doesn't have a court case or any laws. It does, however, have a very vague private school law, which only requires that private schools file an annual notice that a private school is in existence. This is the option that most hsers take. (Some enroll their dc in private schools which only enroll hsed students, sort of umbrella school.) There is some language about subjects and teacher requirements and whatnot, but since people would have to work really hard *not* to cover the "required" subjects, they're not even worth talking about, lol. I include California with the easy states.
These are the states that top my list of "easy."
The hardest states: New York, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. They all require some combination of testing, lots of record keeping, and approval. Now, there are many hsers in those states, and they manage to deal with it; but I have often thought that if I had lived and hsed in one of those, I'd have been the first test case, lol.
All the other states have varying, middle-of-the-road requirements, some of which make you scratch your head but which are not nearly as invasive and restrictive as the hardest states.
New Jersey, Oklahoma (which has homeschooling written into its constitution), Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Connecticut, and Alaska don't require any accountability (other than possibly notifying someone that hsing will be taking place). They have specific laws about hsing (except OK, as noted).
Missouri doesn't have requirements for testing, but people are supposed to keep logs: "Maintain records of subjects taught, activities engaged in, samples of the child's academic work and evaluations or a credible equivalent, and a written log showing the hours required under "attendance." This brings it down a notch IMHO, especially as I've read comments on many discussion boards about counting those hours.
Texas has a court case deciding that homeschoolers are the equivalent of private schools, and private schools are not regulated at all. Woohoo!
California doesn't have a court case or any laws. It does, however, have a very vague private school law, which only requires that private schools file an annual notice that a private school is in existence. This is the option that most hsers take. (Some enroll their dc in private schools which only enroll hsed students, sort of umbrella school.) There is some language about subjects and teacher requirements and whatnot, but since people would have to work really hard *not* to cover the "required" subjects, they're not even worth talking about, lol. I include California with the easy states.
These are the states that top my list of "easy."
The hardest states: New York, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. They all require some combination of testing, lots of record keeping, and approval. Now, there are many hsers in those states, and they manage to deal with it; but I have often thought that if I had lived and hsed in one of those, I'd have been the first test case, lol.
All the other states have varying, middle-of-the-road requirements, some of which make you scratch your head but which are not nearly as invasive and restrictive as the hardest states.
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arewethereyet
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I have homeschooled in Missouri and now in Louisiana. Missouri can be a bookkeeping nightmare, especially if you are as precise as I am. I was keeping track of hours during summer vacations. UGH! We moved to Louisiana where you must notify the state each year you hs. There are two options here. We are doing the private school option where there is no testing, only 180 days per year. This has easied my paperwork tremendously. You can check out www.hslda.org which will give you an overview of state requirements.
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Calla_Dragon
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groovyhsmama
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CT is easy. If your child has never been in school you do not have to tell anyone anything. You may "CHOOSE" to file a notice of intent but it is not required. Other than that they leave you alone and they have a bill that should hopefully be passed this summer making it easier to withdraw kids from school.
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