Who do I have to register my son with to home school him?

Question

We live in Texas. He's 5 years old. I heard I have to e-mail the state superentendant but I couldn't find where to do that online. If anyone else knows what I'm suppose to do please let me know. I don't want to get in trouble for not having him in public school.

Answer 1

I'm not so sure that you need to (In Texas, homeschoolers are considered to be running a private school):

> From HSLDA:

As a result of the Leeper decision, home schools do not have to initiate contact with a school district, submit to home visits, have curriculum approved or have any specific teacher certification. Home schools need only have a written curriculum, conduct it in a bona fide manner and teach math, reading, spelling, grammar, and good citizenship.

Source: http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Texas...

> From the Texas Education Agency:

The Texas Education Agency does not regulate, index, monitor, approve, register, or accredit the programs available to parents who choose to home school.

For most of this century, Texas has exempted children enrolled in a private or parochial school from compulsory school attendance.  In the case of Leeper et al. v. Arlington ISD et al., the Supreme Court of Texas affirmed a decision by District Judge Charles J. Murray holding that a school age child residing in Texas who is pursuing, under direct supervision of his/her parents, a curriculum designed to meet basic education goals is attending a private school within the meaning of Section 25.086(a)(1) of the Texas Education Code and is therefore exempt from compulsory school attendance.

Source: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/home.school/h...

Anyway, the Texas Education Agency offers up 806.744.4441. as a 'phone number for more info about home-education in Texas. Maybe you could give them a call?

Answer 2

Call the board of Education in texas to get proper forms

Answer 3

You need to call the local school board.  They will have an office closer to you home, and they will also be able to tell you what you need to know about this process.  Good luck!

Answer 4

You don't have to register him with anyone - you don't have to notify the state, unless he's ever been in a public school program.  (Then, you only have to notify that you're pulling him so that truancy officers don't show up on your doorstep.)

In TX, homeschools are automatically considered private schools and are treated as such.  Unless you openly prevent him from learning anything and let him run wild in the streets, causing neighbors to call Child Services, nobody will give you any trouble.  Homeschooling, in any form, is completely legal in TX.

Here is a link to the regs and requirements: http://hslda.org/laws/analysis/Texas.pdf

Hope that helps!  I know it seems odd, but homeschooling in TX is very easy...I'm just over the border in OK, and we have similar laws.  (Ours are a bit different because our state constitution specifically protects homeschooling, while TX considers homeschools to be private schools.)  Good luck!

Answer 5

http://www.hslda.org Read the laws for yourself Texas does not require notification!

Legal Homeschooling Options:  1  



Option: 1



Legal Option:

Establish and operate a home school as a private school



Attendance:

None



Subjects:

Reading, spelling, grammar, math, good citizenship



Qualifications:

None



Notice:

None



Recordkeeping:

None



Testing:

None

Answer 6

http://homeschool.consumerhelpweb.com/ba...

"Texas has very few requirements for homeschoolers. All children between the ages of 6 and 18 must be enrolled in school of some kind; home schools are considered unaccredited private schools. There are no notifications required if your child has never been in public school, however, if they have been in school then you must send a letter of withdrawal to the child's school so as to avoid truancy claims. No other paperwork is needed. (The Texas Homeschool Coalition has a sample letter that you may want to use as a template.)

There are no teacher qualifications or minimum number of days of attendance required. No records must be kept, and there are no standardized tests required. The only thing that home schools are required to do is have a curriculum that covers 5 subjects: math, reading, spelling, grammar and good citizenship.

State-wide homeschool associations: Texas Home Educators, Home School Texas and the Texas Home School Coalition"

Answer 7

Whoever has told you that you have to email the superintendent should hear back from you that there is no registration process in Texas. Others have already shared where to find the legal info; I'd also recommend finding some local or nearby support groups who will make your journey more enjoyable and help clarify things like the laws that people are obviously making mistakes with!

Answer 8

go to the state's department of education.  

Either email or call the agency - they should be able to give you step-by-step directions.

Below are links to the Texas Education Agency as well as the Home School page for the same.

Answer 9

See if your state has Virtual Academy; if they do, after you enroll him, they will take care of everything else. I live in Georgia and just registered my 11 son for the Public online school thats sponsored by the state (Georgia Virtual Academy) This is my first time trying this out, I hope it works out really well. Good Luck