ByWhat Is Required To Homeschool Your Child—The Breakdown
Many prospective homeschooling parents find it difficult to wrap their heads around the legalities of homeschooling. It can be complicated to figure out how to start homeschooling and what is required to homeschool your child.
Checking state homeschool rules and requirements is one of the first steps you should take.
What Are the Requirements for Homeschooling Parents?
The requirements for homeschooling in the United States differ from state to state. Some states have few, if any, regulations.
You don’t need to be a certified teacher to be able to homeschool your child in the U.S., but depending on your location, you may need to have a high school diploma or GED.
Common requirements a homeschooling parent may encounter in any state are:
- Withdrawing their child from public school (if they’re enrolled)
- Filing necessary paperwork
- Homeschooling for a predetermined number of days or hours a year
- Teaching certain subjects
- Keeping records and tracking the student’s progress
- Reporting to a certified teacher
Does a Parent Have To Be Present for Homeschooling?
Parents who work full-time outside of the home may find it hard to fit homeschooling into their schedules.
In some cases, laws explicitly state that homeschooling is only permitted if parents are educating their own children. Other states permit certified tutors to homeschool people’s children. This means that a parent doesn’t always have to be present for homeschooling.
Tips for Homeschooling Beginners
For a successful start of your homeschooling journey, which can be even in the middle of the school year, consider the following tips:
- Find the right teaching method
- Understand your child’s learning style
- Find or create a quality curriculum
- Look for interesting online courses
- Create a homeschool area in your house
- Stick to a timetable whenever possible
- Join a local homeschool group or a co-op
- Get in touch with other homeschooling families
- Hire someone else to teach certain subjects if you feel like you’re not competent enough (depends on your location)
What Is the Average Cost of Homeschooling in the U.S.?
Homeschooling isn’t as cheap as most people think. The average cost of homeschooling in the U.S. ranges from $700 to $1,800 per child per school year.
The usual expenses include:
- Higher home energy bills
- Tutoring—if you don’t feel comfortable teaching certain subjects
- Membership in homeschool groups
- Curriculum purchase
- Entrance fees for visits to museums, zoos, and other educational locations
- Textbooks, workbooks, and craft materials
- Educational software
Is Homeschooling Better Than a Public School?
There are various reasons why people choose homeschooling over public school. Some of the most prevalent ones are:
- Religious concerns
- Safety concerns
- Dissatisfaction with the curriculum or teaching technique
- Learning difficulties
- Peer pressure
Both homeschooling and attending public school have their pros and cons. Discover some pros and cons of homeschooling in the table below:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
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What Are the Best States for Homeschooling?
Although homeschooling is allowed in all 50 states, the path to educating your children at home will depend on where you live.
Each state has its own set of rules, and not all of them are homeschool-friendly.
The easiest states to homeschool have few requirements for homeschool teachers—they are not obligated to teach specific subjects nor homeschool for a certain number of hours each day.
The best states for homeschooling are:
What Is the Letter of Intent To Homeschool?
A homeschool letter of intent is a formal notice a parent should send to their school district to inform them that their child will be homeschooled instead of attending public school.
Submitting this document is usually the first step you need to take once you decide on homeschooling. Keep in mind that it is not mandatory in every state. Take a look at the table below to find out whether your state requires one:
Trying to write this letter by yourself can be a nightmare. If you’re not sure you can do it correctly—rely on DoNotPay!
and get a personalized letter of intent to homeschool in minutes.
Generate a Letter of Intent in Minutes With DoNotPay
Drafting any kind of formal document could give you a headache—letter of intent included. Don’t waste time on this tedious and time-consuming task when there is a much simpler option. To start the process of drafting the letter of intent to homeschool through our app, all you need to do is:
- Find the Letter of Intent to Homeschool feature
- Answer a few questions from our chatbot
Once you’ve completed all three steps, we’ll generate a personalized letter of intent to homeschool and send it directly to your school district.
Another option is to download the PDF document and send it yourself. You can also get it notarized virtually through our app.
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