I will be homeschooling my daughter. Do I need to contact her school and let them know?

Question

I will be homeschooling my daughter this fall. She is 10. She had been in public school and it didn't work for her. So this past year we had her in a private Christian school. We weren't happy with it. We didn't like how they handled her. She clashed with her teacher. It was just two completely different personalities. Do we need to let the school know that she won't be returning? I'm not sure how homeschooling works? My husband is worried about contacting the school. We were very unhappy and how the year ended at school. We met with the staff and they wanted us to bring our daughter to a shrink and put her on medication because she got angry once in a while. My husband is worried about the school causing trouble for us because we want to pull our daughter out and homeschool her. Do they have any say? Can they make problems for us? I don't think so but my husband is concerned. I would appreciate any feedback on how we should handle things.

Answer 1

I just graduated from home school and I LOVED being home schooled, best thing my mother could have ever done for me and I'm starting college this fall, but unfortunately u do have to tell ur daughter's school that she will not be returning because they have her transcripts and ur going to need their cooperation, they have absolutely no say whether u can or can not home school ur child because it's ur money, but what they can do, is purposely take long sending her transcripts.

Answer 2

Contact HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) and they can tell you the laws for your state. You should not contact the school until you know the requirements and are a member of HSLDA, it's the cheapest insurance you can buy. They will help you if you have any trouble with the school. You need to educate yourself so that you know what you are getting into. I've just finished 20 years of schooling 5 children and I'm so glad I did. And so glad that when it was tough, that I was totally commited to my kids. Do NOT listen to people who tell you you will ruin your kids socially or otherwise.

Answer 3

Your best bet is to contact your local school board and find out what the laws in your state are concerning homeschooling. There are several websites that can be found by typing in your search engine "homeschooling laws". I homeschooled our daughter  and our state only demands that you keep accurate records of the student's work schedule and grades.

I wish you all the best of luck with your endeavor to meet your daughter's needs.

Answer 4

Hi there!

We live in NJ and have homeschooled here for 10 years. We also have an active homeschool community in NJ and great laws.  If you want to email me to find out some of the details about how to tap into this community, please do so.

NJ laws are very clear cut - yes, you should (as a courtesy) notify the school district that you are withdrawing her. They have NO RIGHT to ask for anything - no curriculum outline, no follow up. NADA !  It is just as a courtesy that you are notifying them.  

Here is feedback from a knowledgeable source (URL below)

Good luck - and please, seek me out through email!

Do I Notify Or Ask Permission From Anyone To Home School ?

    Technically, no. There is no specific law in New Jersey requiring you to contact school officials. Of course, as Christians we have a responsibility before God to be properly and responsibly educating our children. Therefore, we have nothing to hide. Not contacting school officials does not mean parents are concealing anything, but a school official may contact you, as it is their legal right to ask questions about your children's education. It is your choice whether or not you notify the local superintendent of your intentions. However, if you are withdrawing your enrolled child from a public or private school it is recommended that you do notify (in the proper way).

How Would I Notify The School About My Decision To Home School ?

    Notify your Superintendent, not the Principal, by mail stating (not asking) your intention to home school and listing your curriculum. Remember, you are merely exercising your right to home educate. One home school leader reports that she begins her annual letter with "to comply with state requirements..."

        Attach a copy of the MASSA decision and/or the 1982 Superintendent's letter from the Commissioner of Education. Send this information via registered mail to ensure its arrival. You may send in a notarized affidavit rather than a letter. ENOCH has two different forms you can use. These can be use as is or they can be modified to fit your needs.

The Superintendent's primary concern should be that you are knowlegeable and responsible. From your perspective, you want to declare that you are legally home educating and are knowlegeable and organized. We encourage you to do your notification in writing - not in person. Establish a file with copies of all correspondence to and from the Superintendent.

Answer 5

They may be loosing a lot of money but that's their tough luck really. Just tell them she won't be returning, you no longer require a place for her with them, there's no need to tell them why. For all they know you could have found her a better school couldn't you? None of their business, and under the circumstances they should hardly be surprised!

NJ seems to be a fairly relaxed state, with as far as I can see no requirements to register or anything (see link below).

Good luck!

Answer 6

> No, you are not obliged to notify anyone that you will be homeschooling your daughter.

> No, the school does not get a say in your decision to homeschool.

> No, the school can't make problems for you.

Okay I took this from the New Jersey Dept of Education's own homeschooling page http://www.state.nj.us/education/genfo/o... :

Q. Is a parent/guardian of a child required to inform the local board of education of the intent to educate his/her child elsewhere than at school?

A. A parent/guardian is not required by law to notify the local board of education of the intent to educate the child elsewhere than at school.  However, they are encouraged to notify the local board of education so that questions do not arise with respect to their compliance with the compulsory education law.

Also, from hslda: Parents/Guardians are not required by law to notify their public school district of their intention to educate the child elsewhere than at school.

You might want to take a look at  http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/New_J... That sets out state requirements in more details; seems there aren't many obligations you're expected to meet as a homeschooler though - no testing, no required number of days/hours, no authorised curriculum etc.

Also you should ignore anyone who reckons you need to be a teacher in order to homeschool; you don't. The NJ Dept of Education does not even suggest you ought to be a teacher in order to educate your own child! In fact, it makes clear that there is no reason why you should be:

[quote]A parent/guardian or person(s) teaching a child elsewhere than at school is not required by law to be certified as a teacher in the State of New Jersey.[/quote]

The poster who claimed otherwise is either being disingenious or is simply misinformed.

Did you need a teaching degree in order to teach your daughter how to walk, talk, feed herself, tie her own boot laces? Presumably not.

Teaching qualifications are not about education; they are about classroom management and crowd control...and (presumably) learning how to pass on the ability to compose statements such as: 'if you homed (sic) schooled your child and she turned out to be a failor (sic)?'  

Okay, having said all that:

The school may still *think* it has a right to a say in your decision; it absolutely doesn't. The law makes it *your* responsibility as her parents (and *only* your responsibility) to educate your child as you see fit.

Taken from the Dept of Education site, cited above:

[quote]N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 requires that “every parent, guardian or other person having custody and control of a child between six and 16 to ensure that such child regularly attends the public schools of the district or a day school in which there is given instruction equivalent to that provided in the public schools for children of similar grades and attainments or to receive equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school.”

Note:  The provision, “to receive equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school” in N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, permits a parent/guardian to educate the child at home.[/quote]

In the past, you chose to send her to school - in effect, to employ the school to educate her on your behalf; now, you've decided to sack them and do the job yourself. That is your right.

No, the school can't 'cause problems' for you. Let'em try; they're the ones who're going to end up looking like idiots! They could report you to Community Services (or the local equivalent) only if they believed you were abusing your child; otherwise, zippo.

They may not like the idea of you homeschooling your daughter or, more likely, they may not like the idea of you no longer paying them to 'educate' your daughter on your behalf; but, by removing her from school and homeschooling her instead, all you are doing is exercising your legal right as her parent. There's *nothing* they (or anyone else) can do to object to that!

Btw, you're right not to pay attention to those who reckon homeschooled kids are socially inept freaks with no life, no mates and no future! I'm 15 and, along with my siblings, have been home-educated all my life...and my parents can only wish we were a whole lot less social, *grin*.

Schooled kids see home-educated kids as being 'weird' and 'freaks', not because we are, but because we're often different to them: with different outlooks on life; different priorities; different values, attitudes and beliefs about our own and others' behaviour; stronger relationships with our parents and siblings; less peer-group dependent etc etc. We haven't bought into the specific brand of socialisation (and institutionalisation) that's perpetrated by the vast majority of schools and that makes us appear to be, to those who have, weird.

Y'know, when 99% of any population is damaged, 'damaged' very quickly becomes accepted as normal; and becomes the standard by which all others are judged and the few who remain non-damaged are found to be wanting and weird.

Answer 7

Contact your State Department of Education regarding your state's laws/requirements on Home Schooling. They will send you a complete "kit" on how to address "home schooling" in your state.

Your State Department of Education controls "home schooling", not any individual school. Can the public school your child might have attended cause you problems? Yes, they could. Your child will have to be "tested" at some school, and if that school is the one your child would have attended without "home schooling", they could refuse to test your child by saying they have no one in the school qualified to test.

Home schooling is a commitment--a commitment by those who want to home school their children, and a commitment by those children who want to be home schooled.

Answer 8

Try this web site:

http://www.state.nj.us/education/genfo/o...

I homeschool in Vermont and we do not have to contact the schools; the homeschool office at the Department of Education notifies the schools of any children who are enlisted in homeschool programs. I know the laws vary quite a bit in different states, but the link I gave you looks like the best place to start.

Good luck!

Answer 9

It will depend on the state you are in. HSLDA has a great area on their website that gives you lots of info on state laws. In IL it is not required - some districts will be stupid about it though. In FL, you have the option - but you lose some benefits if you don't register with them - like scholarships for college. Our district in FL had a homeschool liasion and she was awesome! What state are you in?

Answer 10

You don't have to tell the private school anything other than she won't be returning.  Tell them you are looking into other educational options... that you are not satisfied with your experience at the school and don't think its worth what they charge for tuition.

You need to find out the laws about homeschooling in your state, that is your first step.  Go to http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp and click on your state.

Depending on the law, you may be required to file a letter  of intent, or register your home as a private school, or you may not be required to do anything.

The school has no say about it.  The only way they could cause trouble is if they accused you of abuse.  I would probably contact them with a letter withdrawing my daughter.  Say nothing about the counselor, just that you are looking into different educational options this year.

As far as whether to contact the school, you have to find out the law.  In some states you have to officially withdraw her, and in others you do not.  So we can't really answer better without knowing where you live.

According to the law in New Jersey, you are not required to tell the school district.  So it goes without saying you don't have to tell a private school.

http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/New_J...

Answer 11

I live in Arizona, and I am homeschooling my 10 year old this coming fall. I had to withdraw her from 5th, (even though she would have been going to a different school for 6th grade). There is a lot of information for each state. The only place that is probably having issues is California. Check out http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

You can click on the state you want to find out about. Oh, I also had to fill out an affidavit and get it notarized to send along with their birth certificate. I was hestitant too, because it seemed so easy. I hope that is the case with you. HTH

Oh if you are looking for curriculum and like to be "really" involved with reading and everything, checkout Sonlight www.sonlight.com

They have everything done for you too. And it is christian based, they use secular books so you can talk with your kids about the wrongs and rights.

No school has any say in your kid's education. Don't be worried about that at all. Because if you wanted to put her back in public school or another private school, what could they do, nothing.

Answer 12

yeah.....stop sheltering your kids from society.....school's not that bad.

And I think the Board of Education should be the ones who can clear homeschooling....assuming you still want to ruin your kid's social development.

Answer 13

Are you a credited teacher? If not, you really don't have the right to teach your own children. Just try a diffent public school or perhaps private.  Could you live you with your self if you homed schooled  your child and she turned out to be a failor? At least if she is at a decent school, you  can help her along the way,.. instead of being the way.

at the age of 10 she will be needed to be developing social skills. they will be badly underdeveloped if you are to keep her all "locked up" in home school.

whould  you really want your mom to teach you? and do you really want to just know everything she does?

Do right by your kid, take her back to school.

Answer 14

Don't contact your current school, or if you do, send a letter that states "According to our rights under state law § 18A:38-25, we are providing our daughter with an equivalent education outside of public facilities. She will not be returning to Name of Academy for school year 2008-2009. Thank you"

In that case, you are not having to talk to them, and if they try to call, you can just remind them that you are following state law and hang up.

I homeschool several children with disabilities in a state with legislation similar to yours (Oklahoma) No one has ever given us trouble, although we did pull them out of public education. I wrote a nice letter stating that I released them from their legal obligations under special education law.

Homeschooling sounds like it will work wonderfully for your child. There are good groups in NJ for support and play, our boyscout leader, who also homeschools, is moving to NJ in the fall. They have five kids, and his wife was relieved that the statutes are so relaxed. Home schooling has been especially beneficial to our children and learning social skills (contrary to what Mitch and Diana state) It has also built a stronger family, one in which we respect each other and enjoy time together, without the media aspect that children have learned that families are worthless.