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reporting homeschooling to district~help!
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I just called my dd’s public school and told them she will not be returning and we will be homeschooling. They told me I had to get that approved and gave me the the number of the county educational service center. I live in Ohio.What do I do? I don’t think I need to be “approved”.I don’t want to get in trouble but homeschooling is legal in this state. Help!
If you can’t figure out what your state’s requirements are for homeschooling , you can start to search at the Homeschool Legal Defense Fund – they have a short assessment of each state’s laws which can help get you on the right track. Good luck!
Here is a link for Ohio
You just need to notify the state of your intent to homeschool. Escpecially since our dd was already in the school system, they want to know why the child stopped showing up. It usually just invalves writing a letter that you will be homeschooling.
Check with HSLDA about the laws. Seriously consider joining. School districsts LOVE to give out false information to newbie homeschoolers to intimidate them and make them either put their kids back in school, or operate under the district’s thumb, if they can possibly manage it–whether it’s legal or not. Find out the facts, get competent legal help to cover your back, and then stand your ground. Sometimes just saying the magic words “I’ll have my attorney at the Home School Legal Defense Association call you” will get them to back off. When I first pulled my oldest out of kindgergarten long, long ago, the district called us and told us our child was receiving “therapeutic services” (he was getting a weekly session with a counselor and one or two other children to help them talk more) and that they would initiate legal proceedings to take custody of him if we persisted in removing him from school. This was a total load of, um, natural compost, LOL, and nothing ever came of it, but they sure love to try and intimidate new folks that don’t know their rights yet.
One thing I found out, is that HSLDA recommends sending no more than is required by law in your notifications and assessments to the government.
I’d also find out if there are any homeschool associations/support groups where you live… not necessarily one that is for a specific type of homeschool, but a more general one…. that can be a great place to get information on reporting to the government.
And yes, sometimes school areas try to intimidate you… sigh.
Don’t just look up HSLDA! Go ahead and call them now! Get the ball rolling just in case! I don’t think anymore will happen..but you never know! They definately do love to harass/stir up trouble by scaring you or asking for more than required!
They are very nice people at HSLDA. Let them know what your district is asking for. Even if you are not a member now, they will are willing to help everyone! Good Luck!
In glancing at the link for the HSLDA, you are going to have to write a letter stating that you are homeschooling her, with a brief but clear outline (for informational purposes) of the Ohio required subjects that you are planning to teach her. The superindent will decide if it is in compliance with the laws reguarding those laws within 14 days of getting the letter. Required subjects are listed at the top of the document. Be sure to read the whole thing, though.
If you are doing CM, it is nothing to be intimidated by. Just make sure that you use the current “lingo” for the subjects, ie: dictation=spelling! =)
Use the HSLDA if you are nervous. I love the HSLDA – it makes it much easier to know what is required of you!
You can do this!!
We live in Ohio, and it’s really not complicated. Take whatever the school district tells you with a grain of salt, and if they ask for additional information (other than what is in the Ohio code), do not give it to them. For example, your phone number is optional. You can use the form on CHEO’s website, which you can access here, (notification pdf when you click on “homeschool laws”); in fact, you can basically print their form (it follows the stated laws almost verbatim) and write in your information on it. If the space is too small, just write “see attached page” and type out the info on a separate sheet.
Be very general in your outline of what you’ll teach and your list of “textbooks” (for us, living books count) and where it asks you to check off items, just check them off–don’t provide an explanation for things when they don’t ask for it. You are NOT required to use the school district’s form (if they send you one) and as for a letter, I simply included a cover letter of sorts that simply stated I was notifying them of my intent to homeschool my children and that the information required by law was attached. If they use the words “approved” or “approval” in their communications with you, just smile, roll your eyes, and ignore it. If they are insistent about something that is not required (or you’re not sure), contact HSLDA and they can intervene if necessary. Usually it doesn’t come down to that, just in instances where a school official is not fully knowledgeable about the law, or occasionally where an administrator does not like the idea of homeschooling at all. Most superintendents we’ve dealt with have been cordial and professional towards us.
Unless the school district is pressuring you about something, I would not mention to anyone at the school that your daughter won’t be returning. You do not have to notify the school district until the day school begins in the fall, although I usually mail it to them (certified mail, return receipt requested) a few days before the first day of school just to make sure they have it. Protect your privacy–it will actually protect the homeschool freedoms for other people in the long-run.
If you have any other Ohio-specific questions, feel free to PM me. I would be willing to send you a copy of what my notification for this year looked like.
Sue
I live in Ohio too, and it really is just a matter of notifying. They can’t “approve” you. I talked to the state several years ago about that word–approve, and they said the school does not do that. I’ve never had any trouble here, but I’ve always been in the same district. They just file my notification and leave me alone.
You shouldn’t have to call anyone. Just send your notification in and wait for the letter excusing your children from “compulsory attendance”. You’re supposed to get the letter in a couple weeks, but ours is always late. I send it in a couple months before school starts.
Each year, with your notification, you will have to send an evaluation–either standardized testing results or a teacher evaluation–for the previous year. It really is no big deal. I hope they don’t give you trouble!!
By the way, they really do like to use the word approve, like they are granting you the honor of your constitutional right. Just ignore that.
You know, after 13 years of homeschooling in Ohio, I just found out I don’t have to tell them what grade my kids are in, so I don’t think I will next time. That’s pretty funny since I thought I had to test them on their grade level with the Iowa test. But I’ve always just used the form the district sent me. Oh well–live and learn.
Just wanted to say there is another homeschool legal association. CLA that is a great org. We have used them for several years now and have had to use theirs services several times. The great thing about them is they not only provide legal help with homeschool matters but with any matter that interfers with your constitutional rights being violated b/c your a Christian… There annual fee is $69 and that includes a will. The Gibbs law firm is the one that represented the Terri Schiavo case pro bono… Wonderful org…
blessings
KK
BTW, although you will have to send in either a portfolio evaluation or standardized test results every year, you will not have to do that with your initial notification prior to the upcoming academic year. At the bottom of whatever notification you look at (CHEO’s form, HSLDA’s form, etc.) you will see the evaluation/test scores mentioned. Since your dd was enrolled in public school in your district this year, you can just state where she was enrolled and the fact that they already have her test scores/progress reports/etc.
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