| More and more parents are choosing alternate | | | | from parents. These states may request a letter |
| educations paths for their children. For some | | | | of intent from parents who desire to home |
| parents, that means sending their children to | | | | school. They may have to report attendance and |
| charter, private, or religious schools. Other parents | | | | or grades to the school district. However, the |
| choose to teach their children at home. This | | | | parents are usually still allowed to teach their |
| practice is called homeschooling. | | | | children whatever curriculum they wish to use. |
| Parents who wish to home school do so for | | | | Other states allow parents to home school, but |
| several reasons. Military families who move around | | | | they require families to join an "umbrella school" or |
| a lot often home school, as do missionaries in | | | | a "church school." These schools act as a |
| foreign countries. Families choose to home school | | | | go-between with the parents and the state. The |
| because they want to teach their children | | | | parents report attendance, grades, and curriculum |
| according to their individual learning style. They | | | | choices to the school, and the school gives the |
| want to avoid the violence and negative influence | | | | required information to the state. Umbrella and |
| children are exposed to in public schools. In | | | | church schools often help the parents with more |
| addition, they want to make sure their children | | | | difficult subjects and offer activities. |
| are competitive academically and have a firm | | | | A few states do not allow parents a lot of |
| foundation in their faith. | | | | freedom to home school as they wish. Even |
| Many prospective homeschoolers wonder: What | | | | though it is legal to home school in these states, it |
| are the qualifications for teaching home schooling? | | | | is only allowed to be done under the watchful eye |
| You will be glad to hear that homeschooling is legal | | | | of the state and local school district. Parents in |
| in all fifty states. However, the qualifications | | | | these states may be required to meet with a |
| required for teaching home schooling do vary | | | | certified teacher or hire a professional tutor. |
| from state to state. | | | | Curriculum choices may be limited, and attendance |
| There are a few states where parents are given | | | | and/or grades are usually closely monitored. Some |
| full freedom to teach their children as they see fit. | | | | states do not feel that parents have the |
| Homeschooling parents in these states are not | | | | qualifications for teaching home schooling. |
| required to report attendance, grades, or use of | | | | If you as a parent are interested in home |
| curriculum to their school district. Usually, however, | | | | schooling your child, it is not difficult to find out |
| if a child was formerly a part of the public school | | | | what the laws are in your state. Use your |
| system, they must formally withdraw their child | | | | favorite Internet search engine, and type in |
| from the school district. This process usually | | | | "homeschooling laws ." You may also contact the |
| involves a simple letter or phone call. These states | | | | Home School Legal Defense Association. Both of |
| require no special qualifications for teaching home | | | | these are great ways to find out the qualifications |
| schooling. | | | | for teaching home schooling. Good luck! |
| Some states require a little more information | | | | |