How do you go about pulling your child out of a public school and home school them? I have a 11 year old whom I wish to home school. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated :O)
Thank you all so very much for the responses! And so quickly too! I can't believe how awesome this site is...what an awesome idea :O) Kudos to whom ever started it!
I have some great information to start me out...that's for sure! You have all been such a big help, I had no clue about how to go about this home schooling plan.
My son is 11 years old and has had a tough time so far this year in his public school. He got really sick three or four times and missed a ton of school so far this year. I am having trouble with a couple of his teachers...belittling him and picking on him. Only one teacher has really helped him after absences...the others are just flat out mean and give him no encouragement what so ever. I have talked to a few different mothers that have had the same kinds of problems with the same teachers. Truthfully, I don't know how or why they became teachers at all.. My son has come home crying several times...never because of other students...only because of teachers. I am so heart broken for him...he dreads going to school every day and cries...he begs me to home school him. He has good friends in the area that I know he will continue to play with...he likes to go to the park and walk around with his buddies etc...etc....so I am not real worried about the socialization issue...although it was one of my biggest concerns when I ever thought of anyone home schooling.
I simply can not fight with his teachers....I also believe they may be a bit racist as he is half Jamacian and only one of a handful of different ethnicitys in the whole school. It makes me wonder anyway...and I don't put anything past them now. I could tell you some really heart wrenching stories...I can't get over how his teachers treat him...I am so shocked and sickened and heartbroken.
Anyway, thank you all again for the help here...I so much appreicate it
T.,
My mom's been home schooling for about 15 years. It was a tough decision, but she never regreted it. I'm the second oldest of 10 kids. She still has 3 at home she's still teaching. I'm going to homeschool my oldest for pre-school next year. If you need any advice on getting started please contact me and I'll pass on her info. My mom swears it the best thing she ever did. She has gotten many of her friends on board too.
T.
I have been homeschooling for 4 years. We pulled our oldest out of public school half way through 1st grade. The youngest has never been to public school. It was such a hard decision to make, but we have never regretted it. It is truly the best thing we have ever done for our family!
The legalities involved vary from state to state. The best thing you could do is visit the Home School Legal Defense Association website at www.hslda.org. There you can search for the specific laws for each state.
If you would like more information, please feel free to message me.
Best wishes,
L.
http://homeschooling.about.com/ Go to this site and click on getting started link on menu on left-hand side. This site gives info on laws in your state as well as your rights. It also gives you links to homeschooler support groups and what to write the school when you remove your child. I removed my daughter from a school in Texas. If you go to the Texas info link, it has a letter you can copy word for word. What will also help is http://www.home-school-inc.com/. This site helps you prepare your curriculum and keeps your records on line, password protected for your convenience. You'll love it!
First you have to go to your district office to get papers, that you will need to take and get authorized. Then you need to make schooling plans. There are set laws of which age needs what subjects. It's easy to find on the internet. You can also put in searches to find curriculum. If you don't want to do it your self, you can cyber school. Here is the link for the best one in PA: www.agora.org After you get the papers notorized (which you don't need to do if you cyber school) you take them back to the district office, and they will give you a paper that withdraws your child from the school. You can then plan your childs assignments. I home schooled for part of a year. I gave my son shows to watch for science, and history. I used some school books (which you can request from your local school). The school has to supply you curriculum if you request it. Or you can get your choice of curriculum on the internet. There are alot of good curriculum companies out there. Agora uses k-12 which you can also use for homeschooling www.k12.com At the end of the school year you will need a binder with samples of each subject that your child is required at their age. You will need to find someone that evaluates the work, they will sign the paper at the end of the year, and you take it back to the district office to be oked. I had no trouble at all, peice of cake. I didn't feel that I would be able to handle high school, that is why I decided to go to a cyber school. I love the cyber school, though, it's great. They have all kinds of outtings to zoos, bowling, resturants, museaums... We have had alot of fun with Agora, you may want to concider that. They are a great bunch of people too.
First you need to find our what your superintendents name is then you write a letter of intent to him that you wish to homeschool and if you are in Ny he or she has to reply with in 14 buisness days, if they are friendly then you will get a packet in the mail to fill out and resend out. In this packet you will tell what you are planning to teach your child . Then the school will reply and tell you if they grant you permission to home school.Hope this helps.
Well, one way to make it easy is to enroll your child in a public virtual charter school. This way, you receive all the lessons and materials and computer/printer free (we are public schools) and go from there. There is a brief enrollment period while the documents are being collected, but it's home free from there. I am a teacher at Commonwealth Connections Academy and love it. I think that this option gives parents an excellent choice in the education of their children and there are certified teachers (like myself) ready to help as needed. May I ask...why so late in the year? It might be best to wait for the beginning of next school year.
For more info, you can go do www.connectionsacademy.com
Good luck:-)
T.,
Different states have very different requirements. Begin by checking out your school districts policies. When I began homeschooling my children I had a 3 year old, a first, a third, an eighth, a tenth, and an eleventh grader. The first year was the most difficult. There were a lot of learning gaps that I was unaware of. When children are in a standard classroom there is only so much time devoted to each part. My daughter had no idea how to work fractions. She said her grades on the rest of her math covered her lack in fractions. Homeschooling keeps me on top of there abilities and able to work more in problem areas. I have heard the same worries about socialization as were expressed here. We socialize with other homeschooling families, church families, extended family and friends. There has been social activity in Scouts, community sports, homeschooling group sports, community theater, dance etc... My uncle asked me how my children would know how to interact with people. At the end of the day of our family reunion, he was totally won over. Best wishes.
You need to contact the school/district and inform them of your decision and then you need to be home school certified. The school/district will work with you from there.
Home schooling is a good option, but you should have done it before they started school. Being 11 and starting home schooling, they may not adjust well, having already made friends and learned things in school. I knew a girl who was home schooled from 3rd grade until 8th grade, then they returned to school their freshman year in high school. She had told me that being pulled out of school after already having made friends and whatever, it was hard, and that's why she returned to school. Her parents also never let her socialize with anyone, which made it even more difficult. talk to your child about it, and i know there not in school just to make friends or whatever, but social skills are just as important as math and reading skills, it makes them who they are :) also talk to teachers or administrators in the district, if this is something you really want to do, then they would be the people to talk to.... good luck! and dont forget to ask your child what they think, after all , you are making a huge move for them.
I really don't know off hand but, I am sure the school would know.
I know that you have received various responses and I want to let you know that one of the responses about you will change your mind about home schooling and that your son will be called this and that. My husband was homeschooled and I have friends and know kids who were and are being homeschooled and they loved it. More than going to school. Alot of colleges are more accepting of kids who were homeschooled because of their intelligence and great skills and hard workers and so forth. One of the girls I know is in RPI and was homeschool and is an A student. Again, you haveto look at what your child's personality is, what he will blossom in and so forth. They have soooo many curriculum out there and so many activities for kids who are homeschooled and get together with other homeschoolers and your son, nor you should haveto go through "garbage" with schools and teachers. You do what is best for your child. 8-9 kids out 10 love homeschooling. I say, "go for it and try it and see what happens and do what you know what's best for you and your child!!"
Just be careful with homeschooling the kids, parents have no idea what the kid is put through when they are out in the real world and have little or no socialization with their peers. Parents like to think they can do better for their child, and teaching-wise I am sure they can, but a kid who has been homeschooled is laughed at, called a loser, and questioned why he was not in school. Kids are mean, parents are naive, and it is your child who suffers. Don't do something drastic that will effect his life, no school dances, no proms, no trips, no lunchroom or bus stories to laugh about with his friends. Talk to some adult kids who were homeschooled, and you will change your mind.
T.,
My husband and I made the decision to homeschool our 9 yr old daughter in 2006. We started LATE in the "school year" but are done now for the 06/07 "public" school year. It's the best thing ever. I read the responses to your request before I posted.
I totally agree with Christine on the certified teacher. That's what we are doing with our daughter. She has a teacher assigned to her and we have telephonic conferences approx. every 3 weeks. Also, Lisa's response with the website.
I was very very worried about the socialization. I was NEVER a "supporter" of home schooling ... however ... it's be best thing for us now. I try to make sure that our daughter goes to the public library and goes on the virtual school field trips as much as possible. At our daughter's school, they have lots of "interest" groups ... such as reading club, chess club, art club ... etc.
Best of luck to you. It's really a GREAT thing to spend time with your children.
