Lesson 1: Before You Begin
Learn all of the steps you need to take to get started with your homeschooling adventure!
Is Homeschooling Legal?
The legal requirements for homeschooling vary from state to state and can change from year to year. Currently, homeschooling is legal in all states and provinces, but some are more homeschool friendly than others. Homeschool regulation is a result of compulsory school attendance laws, and creating the laws that govern homeschooling was (and should be) left up to each individual state. As a result, some are confusing and vague. Others may be essentially nonexistent, and still more might even be unrealistic and burdensome.
It is important to know your state’s laws thoroughly, and follow them exactly. It is best to not rely on just one source of the law, or even someone’s interpretation. Often, laws are interpreted incorrectly, causing you to break the law in an otherwise legal activity. Your best sources of information are usually your local library (where you will find the law, as written) and veteran homeschoolers in your area, who can inform you of what your local school district might ask for. This is where knowing the law will come in very handy. After many years of people “volunteering” more information than is required by law, many school districts have become so accustomed to the extra information, they now “require” it. Stand firm. Explain that you know exactly what is required per your state law, and you will provide just that. Nothing more, nothing less. To provide more than that, while it might seem easier, will only make homeschooling harder in the long run.
