Do child labor laws apply to home schoolers?

Question

I'm 16 and home schooled, so I obviously have different hours than someone that is going to public school. I know that in some states child labor laws don't apply to children 16 and up being home schooled, but I haven't been able to find out much about California's decision on the matter. Child labor laws say at my age, when school is in session, I can only work 4 hours a day, which kind of cripples employment chances, because no one really wants an employee thats limited to 4 hours a day on weekdays. Since I'm home schooled, do these laws still apply?

Answer 1

In many states there are exemptions, like in ours home schooled students are exempt, since by home schooling they are also exempt from the mandatory attendance laws as long as they receive the required amount of hours of instruction.

When these hours are to be provided is up to the parents.

In California, as I understand it home schools are considered private schools so this may not apply in your state.

Some states also require a work permit, ours does not, but if home schools are private schools having "your principal" sign the work permit should be no problem.

I would contact the Home School Legal Defense Association and pose the question to them

I am not sure if you'd find that information on their web site, but it is worth a look see.

http://www.hslda.org/

You can also call the California home school association and see if they can help you find the information you require.

http://www.hsc.org/

Answer 2

I have spend the last half hour  researching and reading online concerning this subject, and so far it seems to me you will be bound by the California Child Labor Laws restricting your working hours to four hours a day Monday through Thursday.

Through my research I discovered this lay had been on the books for four years now...and yes, it affects homeschoolers greatly, much more so than conventionally schooled peers.

As a homeschooling graduate, I understand/sympathize   and hope you can work through this.

Answer 3

Yes, the laws still apply. It doesn't matter if you are schooled or homeschooled, they don't want minors being taken advantage of. Labour laws started way back in the industrial revolution as a means of protecting kids. It might seem unfortunate since you've got more time you'd like to fill up, but the law is there to protect you.

High school students don't usually have trouble finding part-time employment, so I'm not sure how the law would hurt you since it's the same law public schooled students have to follow. You've got a certain advantage in that you could do a shift over a lunch hour, for example, at a restaurant, or an afternoon shift before the public schooled student comes in for his shift. Keep looking and keep spreading the word--there's bound to be something out there.

Answer 4

I don't know why you think a part-time job as a teen would be hard to get.  I was "handed" a job at 15 in a restaurant (and I worked there through college).  The labor laws don't limit your hours on weekends, although there is probably a maximum number of hours per *week* you can work.

There are *many* jobs for teens.  Since you *are* available during school hours when B&M kids are in school, I'm sure someone would love to have you work, say, 8-Noon or Noon-4.

Answer 5

Ask the department of labor.

Answer 6

Yes, the labor laws do apply to homeschoolers.