| Each state has its own general | | | | states general requirements for |
| requirements for homeschoooling | | | | homeschooling stipulate parents have to |
| students. There are four categories of | | | | send notification or achievement test |
| legal options for homeschooling. The | | | | scores, provide professional evaluations |
| four categories are: states requiring no | | | | of student progress as well as provide a |
| notice, states with low regulation, | | | | written curriculum that needs to be |
| moderate regulation and high regulation. | | | | approved by the state, teacher |
| Many of the regulations include parental | | | | qualification of the parents and on some |
| notification, test scores, professional | | | | occasions visits by state officials to |
| evaluation of student progress and | | | | check the student's progress. These |
| curriculum approval. Families shouldn't | | | | states include Washington, Utah, North |
| be scared off by the general | | | | Dakota, Minnesota, West Virginia, |
| requirements for homeschooling. There | | | | Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Maine, |
| may be some initial paperwork to handle | | | | Rhode Island and Massachusetts. These |
| but as long as the teaching parent can | | | | states have few requirements for the |
| keep good records there shouldn't be | | | | Kindergarten level but the regulations |
| andy fear of the state stepping in and | | | | become stricter at each subsequent grade |
| ordering your child back to public | | | | level. |
| school. | | | | A parent is considered competent to |
| The states that have no requirements for | | | | operate a homeschool if they follow the |
| homeschooling do not require the parents | | | | individual state's regulations; they do |
| to initiate any contact. These states | | | | not need to have teacher certification. |
| include Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, | | | | The parents need to file a notice at |
| Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, | | | | their local school that they intend to |
| Connecticut, New Jersey and the | | | | homeschool in the low to highly |
| territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. | | | | regulated states. Those that fall |
| Parents are not obligated to contact the | | | | within the medium to highly regulated |
| school districts to notify them that | | | | states will also need to keep attendance |
| they will be homeschooling their | | | | records, file quarterly reports and a |
| children. | | | | grade narrative for each of the subjects |
| States that have low general | | | | taught. Highly regulated states may |
| requirements for homeschooling require | | | | require an annual assessment at the end |
| the parents to notify the school | | | | of the school year. |
| district that they are homeschooling | | | | The general requirements for homeschool |
| their children and nothing else. These | | | | vary greatly from state to state. The |
| states include California, Nevada, | | | | parents should be well versed in the |
| Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, | | | | legal aspects of homeschooling before |
| Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, | | | | they decide to attempt it. Most parents |
| Mississippi, Alabama, Delaware, | | | | will find that the red tape at the |
| Washington D.C. and the territory of the | | | | beginning is well worth it. |
| Virgin Islands. | | | | To stay abreast of the current trends, |
| Moderately regulated states require | | | | information and resources available for |
| parents to send notification, test | | | | homeschool parents, teachers and |
| scores and provide a professional | | | | students subscribe to Homeschool Success |
| evaluation of the student's progress. | | | | News. |
| The states in this category include | | | | If you need an online tutor, courseware |
| Oregon, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, | | | | or wish to offer your services as a paid |
| Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, | | | | online tutor contact our website. Magic |
| Virginia, North Carolina, South | | | | Learning Systems also provides excellent |
| Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Maryland and | | | | products to enhance the homeschool |
| the territories of American Samoa and | | | | experience for teachers and students. |
| Northern Mariana Islands. | | | | For additional information visit the |
| States with the highest regulations may | | | | Homeschool Success News website. |
| be the most troublesome to parents | | | | Dr. J. |
| contemplating homeschooling. These | | | | |