Homeschooling Question.?

Question

I am an upcoming sophomore student in Hawaii and I wanted to be homeschooled. My parents were okay with it so we contacted the counselor. The counselor told us that I will not be able to be homeschooled because I passed the freshman year successfully and I am not seriously ILL. Does this mean that only seriously iLLed people who did not pass the previous school year are the only one that are available for homeschooling?

It doesn't sound reasonable to me because I know a few people who are homeschooled that are perfectly fine not illed or anything. I don't understand. Do you think my counselor is right? or maybe there's something fishy about what they told us?

Answer 1

The counsellor has confused home-education ('homeschooling') with homebound education.

Homebound education is the publicly funded programme for kids who are unable to regularly attend a normal school because of illness etc.

Home-education (homeschooling) operates independently of your local school, school district and dept of education. Your parents remove you from school and from then on, accept full responsibility for your education, incl. the financing, organising & delivery of it.

Homebound education (what the counsellor thought you were asking about doing) is where the school provides you with the books, reources, assignments, teaching support etc needed for you to get an education; it is essentially the same product as you're currently getting at school, is provided to you free of charge (at the point of delivery), is planned, delivered, assessed etc by the school's own teachers etc etc. The only difference between doing that and going to school is that you study at home. Such programmes are typically only available to people who can't otherwise attend school because of illness etc.

Being homeschooled is no different from you leaving your current school in order to go to a private school - in some states, homeschools *are* private schools in the eyes of the law; the only difference is that you'd be attending a private school which is owned and run by your parents.

Neither you nor your education would any longer be the responsibility of your local school district. The school, education department etc is not entitled to a say in whether or not you can homeschool (as long as your parents agree, you can be homeschooled) as you and your parents would be severing all ties with them. In return, you won't be entitled to any help or support from your current school, local school district, dept of education etc. As a homeschooler, you and your parents'd effectively be going it alone - emotionally, intellectually and financially - with your education.

EDIT: No, you don't need the school's permission (only your parents' permission); No, don't talk to the counsellor (or anyone else from the school).

Instead, check out http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Hawai...  as well as http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/HI/default...  for the *real* picture on homeschooling in Hawaii and accurate details of how to go about becoming a homeschooler in Hawaii.

Answer 2

Here is another supportive reply.  All the replies here are correct.  Your parents can homeschool you anytime they choose.  I have known parents that have pulled their kids out in the junior year of school for their child because of academic situations.  Usually the public high school wasn't up to snuff and they needed advanced teachings for their child and it was only possible to do that  through homeschooling.

Even homeschool evaluators in my county don't know the legal rights of homeschoolers and I have to bring copies from HSLDA to show them.  They usually are the typical

"Hmm... didn't know that".. answers.

You and your parents should go for it!

Answer 3

Not true.  

Here is a link stating information about Hawaii's laws on homeschooling.

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/laws...

Answer 4

That is a lie! I am not ill and passed school and was able to be home schooled except I didn't do it through the school. You need to talk to someone else at your school or if you know any homeschooling programs to take a look at them. Try and talk to different teachers and such. Good luck. Sorry i can't be anymore help.

Answer 5

I wonder if your school counsellor wasn't thinking about the school's homebound program. S/he may not even be aware that there's another way to do your schooling at home. You'd be surprised at how many people will ask, "You're allowed to do that?" when it comes to parents educating their kids at home.

For actual homeschooling, you NEVER talk to the school. Check out some websites for homeschooling in Hawaii and get the correct information you need.

Answer 6

No your counselors are not correct. Home schooling is legal in all 50 states. Many schools will tell you it isn't or that you don't qualify because they get money from the government for each child who is in attendance in the public school system. They don't want to loose the money, therefore they don't want to loose the students. If you and your parents feel you can make the commitment to home school it can be a good option

Answer 7

You were right to think there was something wrong with her explanation.

1. Homeschooling is legal-you may just not qualify for their program

2. To see Hawaii's laws...  http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Hawai...

Best of Luck!

jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com

http://www.summerhouseliving.com

Answer 8

My first thought was the same as glurpy's - that your school counselor assumed you meant you wanted to be on the school's homebound program.  Talk to the people you know who are hs'd, not the school itself.  You won't get good answers or encouragement or help from them...

Answer 9

I have to wonder if your counselor honestly thinks that or he was just lying through his teeth.  Oooo, these public school people make me so mad.  They don't even know what the laws are concerning education!  That would be like doctor not knowing the names of body parts!  Completely unacceptable.  

You need to go to this site

www.hslda.com

and look up your state's laws regarding homeschooling and then talk to homeschool families in your area.  Just Google your city and 'homeschool' and something should pop up.  Good luck!

This is what popped up when I Googled 'hawaii' and 'homeschool':

http://www.hawaiihomeschoolassociation.o...

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regi...

http://www.homeschoolinginhawaii.com/

And that was just the first three.  Obviously there were more, but you can check those out!

Answer 10

Your counselor is misinformed.  Look up the sight homeschooling in Hawaii.  It lists all the laws and what your parents need to do to pull you out.  I hope it works out for you.