What kind of registration process do I have to go through to be able to homeschool my child?

Question

Particularly in the state of Wisconsin? She is preschool age. Do I have to register her now or wait until she is 5 and ready for kindergarten? This is something I've always wanted to do and I actually have the time to do it now. I'm so excited!

Answer 1

If your child is of preschool age , you do not have to register with Wisconsin until your child is 6 years old.  It is very simple.

You contact the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and they will have a site there you can click on.  It is as simple as fillingout a State Form for the school year that you wish to home educate your child.   This form must be in the State of Wisconsin's hands by October 13th of that school year.  Once you have done this you are set.  Except, of course choosing which form of homeschooling you wish to choose.  Wisconsin also has  their own curriculum where you can actually go thru a public school and it will count as a public school education thru a school within the state.  You may also choose a homeschooling school of your choice or just do it on your own.  Wisconsin has a list of reputable home schooling sites.  I personally choose the St. Thomas Aquanis , which is out of California.  This is considered a private school according to the state of wisconsin.  They have a curriculm that is set according to your child's academic needs.  They help you with grading, teaching,etc.  They also have an option for you to report attendance, grades etc with them quarterly.  They have the school set up so your child will get a regular Diploma from the state of Wisconsin.  The price is fairly reasonable too.  I paid $247.00 dollars to have everything I need for homeschooling including grade reporting.  They customize the curriculm by doing assessment testing with your child.  They are easy to contact also.  If you call and they cant get to the phone, they call you right back and answer all your questions.  After searching the net for a homeschooling  program , I found that this one had the most to offer.   I would also like to add, they have a legal council that you can join who specifically represents parents and their homeschooling program, if by chance a county or state would give someone difficulty for homeschooling their child or children.  This fee is only 115 dollars a year, which is cheap considering the hassels you can run into for homeschooling.  You dont have to join them , its just a suggestion, but great protection considering lawyer costs these days.  They have representatives in each state.  Their main objective is to protect the rights of homeschooling parents.

Answer 2

Go to your local school superintendents office. That is were I had to register to let them know I was homeschooling. I searched the web and found regulations in Washington state.

Go on the Internet there are support groups and advocates and all kinds of information. The homeschooling movement is gaining in popularity, especially since our schools are becoming battle grounds.

This is a bunch of regulations in your state on home schooling.

Answer 3

Please do not register her unless your state requires it and do not do so until your child reaches the minimum age for compulsory education.  If parents do things early, they could set a precident in that state.  It is good for future home schoolers if we all simply comply to state laws and do no more.  Enjoy the free time you have without any hoops through which to jump.  If you would like some great encouragement, there is an active home school board full of moms with preschoolers at www.parentcenter.com  I would also encourage you to join a local home school group in your area.  The seasoned moms will benefit from your fresh enthusiasm and they can give to you some of their experience and wisdom in return.  This is always a great combination.  Some support groups even have activities or co-ops or play dates for preschoolers.  Ask your local librarian if you are not sure where to find a local support group.   Home schoolers tend to have pretty good connections with librarians and so a librarian (particularly  one in the children's department) may be able to tell you where to look to find a group.

Welcome to a wonderful lifestyle!

Answer 4

HSLDA will have an overview of homeschooling in your state, so I'd check there first.  Then check what your state organization says (HSLDA isn't always up-to-date on their info).

Then find a local support group.  The first year of homeschooling is almost universally the most difficult and it will be a big help to you if you have someone local to call on with all your questions (and concerns).  They'll also be able to clue you in on what park days, field trips, co-ops, classes, and sports and academic teams are available in your area.  A lot of homeschoolers are also willing to loan out materials they aren't currently using so you can try them out before you shell out the cash.

Answer 5

In my state, we are not supposed to register our kids for homeschooling until they are mandatory attendance age. But the laws and attendance ages vary from state to state. Check out HSLDA to find your state's requirements :)

http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/default.as...

Answer 6

Probably none at her age; you have to check what the mandatory attendance age is in your state.

Remember though that even Kindergarten is not mandatory, so many parents often times do not notify, or register until their child is 6 or 7.

Each state has different requirements in place for home schooling.

To find what your state requires, and where to send the paperwork visit the following site, and click on your state.

http://www.hslda.org/

Answer 7

The best place to look is www.hslda.org   They have all the information on what your state requires.