Paying a Homeschool Mom

Updated on February 28, 2015
E.B. asks from Sour Lake, TX
17 answers

I will be needing to homeschool my 13 year old son who has learning as well as behavioral issues. I won't be able to do it myself. If I were to pay a retired teacher or homeschool Mom to do it, how much would be appropriate?? How much time is involved?? My understanding is that homeschool is generally self guided and that won't be the case in my circumstances. He would need to have someone right there. Thoughts??

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

it's illegal in MD. (which is really kind of wack.) you can farm out certain snippets of eddication, such as co-ops and taking enrichment classes, but the parent *has* to be the primary educator.
not that there aren't ways around it.
if i were to take on homeschooling someone else's kid, i'd probably charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500 per month.
khairete
S.

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S.M.

answers from Phoenix on

A professional will charge $35 and up. A homeschooling mom would need paid but might take as little as $1,000 per month.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

The company that I teach test prep for also does academic tutoring and has long-term private teaching assignments as well, usually for families where the children are temporarily living overseas due to a parent's job or where the child is an entertainer or an elite athlete and needs to work or train during normal school hours, often with travel. It's a very, every expensive arrangement, where the family often pays $50-$100 an hour for instruction. Private school would be more affordable. I do have a friend whose child was permanently injured in school to a degree that she never returned to school full-time (she was in 10th grade at the time of her injury). The school district had an allowance of $40 per hour for a private tutor to work with her in her home.

I suggest that you work with your school district for more information on the most appropriate placement for your child. If his learning and behavioral issues warrant a setting outside of school, the district should pay for an appropriate alternative setting for him.

Good luck!

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F.B.

answers from New York on

Assuming you will have about 20 hrs a week of home schooling ( a homeschool day is supposed to be shorter than a traditional school day because there is less "filler"). I would probably pay something more than $12-15 an hour, but not as much as $35-50 an hour.

At the upper end, it amounts to $1,000 a week, for 35 weeks of instruction, or $35K which is more than most private prep schools and as much as some state resident university tuition.

Best,
F. B.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

If there are learning and behavioral issues, I would think there should be services, counselors, and IEPs that should help you with what ever your son needs to help his education more forward.
Is the school not providing adequate help?

I'd be afraid that home schooling might isolate him and make things more difficult for him in the long run.
Ultimately he's going to grow and be an adult who'll need to be able to function, interact and work outside the home.
It's only 5 years till he's 18.
I'd be making sure I used every resource the schools have to make sure he gets all the help he can get.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Isn't there a special program thru public schools for him. Home schooling will not address behavior issues. Has he been evaluated. Did the school present a plan? Did something happen that he was expelled? I have many questions. Not sure homeschooling is the way to go. Good luck.

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G.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

As a homeschooling mom who started homeschooling because I have a child with mild to moderate learning issues that were not being adequately addressed by the school system, I can tell you that homeschooling a child who has learning issues is definitely NOT self-guided. It has taken a lot of focused attention and effort to help my daughter adapt to and overcome the learning issues she has.

Your child needs learning support, whether you are paying for it or doing it yourself. 30 years ago I provided that kind of learning support as a specialized tutor. At that time I could command $25 an hour for my services. I'm quite sure that rates have gone up since then. If your neighborhood public school isn't working for your child, and you can't homeschool him yourself, I encourage you to consider private school options.

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J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

You need to check your state laws and requirements.

Florida only allows the parents/guardians or a teacher that has a teaching degree homeschool a child. It is illegal in Florida for another family/parent to homeschool your child. Every state has different requirements so be sure to follow the laws.

I would also suggest that behavioral issues not be the only reason to homeschool. Your child will at some point need to learn proper behavior with his peers and other people.

Please don't expect someone else to parent your child that is your job. You might consider counseling before starting to homeschool.

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R.B.

answers from Dallas on

IF You're really looking for a home school experience a former teacher is not the way to go - just my two cents I would think 3-4 hours a day tops. Public school wastes a lot of time. Probably $15-$30 depending on various factors. Have you checked with the HS coops?

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

I would think that that would be a very expensive proposition. You would need an experienced teacher with experience in learning disorders. My friend changes about $35 hour for special ed tutoring (learning disorders) and usually does a max of about 1 1/2 sessions at a time for $50. Subs make about $85 or $90 a day. Have you checked with your school district to see if your son can be assigned to an alternate school or campus for those who are having problems fitting in at their regular school and are in danger of failing?? Are you voluntarily wanting to home school your son because the school is not meeting his needs or has he been expelled from his local school?

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E.B.

answers from Austin on

May I ask why you won't be able to do it yourself? That would make a difference. For example, will you be home during the day, and able to supervise homework during the evening (like, working in your home office, or taking care of any younger children at home)? Or will you be out of the house during the school day (at work, or taking care of other responsibilities)? Or are you not able to be involved in the school process at all? Your involvement will affect what you pay a teacher.

And regarding your son's issues: are these issues documented by a doctor and therapist, with some kind of plan that a teacher would have to implement? For example, would a teacher have to follow doctor's instructions in order to help your son behave or sit or anything like that? Is there a plan for helping his learning delays and behavior issues? A teacher would need to know these issues, be able to comply with a therapist's or doctor's orders and be comfortable implementing them. Not all teachers or mothers have experience with that.

Homeschooling is usually not self-guided, for the most part. Of course, there are some types of homeschooling that are called "un-schooling", and some kinds of curriculum are more relaxed, and some children are able to function pretty independently. However, most homeschooling parents are very involved - they teach, test, tutor, encourage, support, and guide.

There are some free online public schools, where the child attends classes virtually, take tests and do their work with access to teachers and tutors. You can look online to see if these are available in your county, town, or state. Also, you can seek your doctor's help in getting your son a 504 plan if he needs that, and the online school would be able to adjust his education plan.

And even if you won't be teaching your son, you'll have to plan on meeting with the teacher periodically.

You'd have to inform any potential teacher or homeschooling mother of your son's needs, and what your requirements are, and get some hourly rate quotes.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

It sounds like you would need someone that not only can teach him, but also has experience with his learning and behavioral issues. I would frankly expect to be paid more if it wasn't a straight up tutoring situation. A friend had Sylvan tutoring her stepdaughter and I think at the time it was $35 an hour. I know it wasn't exactly cheap.

IMO, I would see what resources you had through the district or what options you had with a private school. It might actually be more benefit and less cost. If he was expelled, for example, you should be able to enroll him in another school or district, even if they don't provide transportation. You should also address the reasons behind changing his schooling, re: his learning and behavioral concerns.

I also agree that you need to find out the guidelines in your state re: homeschooling by a non-guardian.

ETA: some states like Georgia have online school. My friend is going that route when her family travels, so that they are able to re-integrate with the district when they return. But even then I would still think you'd need someone to work on his other concerns as well.

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A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

I used to homeschool. Once in my homeschool network someone made the comment, "Can I pay you to teach my kids?" sort of as a joke, and another mom chimed in "It's actually not allowed, the law says...." and I forgot what the rule was. But make sure it's allowed where you are, and then I guess discuss it with the person qualified and willing to teach your child. Sort of a massive private tutor type thing? Homeschooling is very difficult, hands on, and lots of hours, multiple subjects.. Or would you just have them guide and supervise your child through cyber school? That's less work than actually pursuing various curriculums for various subjects while monitoring difficult behavior...but again, seems like family would be the only ones allowed accountable for that? Not sure. Plus it has the child care element for breaks, snacks, lunch whatnot.. I wouldn't do it for cheap!! Nor would I hire someone cheap. A couple years ago I had Mennonite friends who would take the kids on their farm once per week and guide them through their homeschool lessons. They were actually Mennonite school teachers so they were used to teaching and I provided the curriculums, but they chose lots of free reading. They taught them farm chores after school and saw them through their music lessons too. I would pick them up at dinner time. I paid them $85/day. I would have paid them more and used them full time if I could have!!

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R.S.

answers from Denver on

Could you give us a little more information on why you need to homeschool. Have you looked into other options with your district, such as getting some services with them in combination with homeschool. I would start by researching locally as different states have different funding for children with learning disabilities.
I would probably avoid paying a homeschool mom unless she has specific training in behavior and learning issues. Unfortunately, I have seen kids brought back into the school system with various disabilities who homeschooling didn't work. During the time they were home, the gaps between them and peers became much larger. It is just so tremendously difficult to educate a special needs child without lots of support and resources.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I would think it would be less expensive to have him go to a smaller private school instead actually, have you considered inpatient care for the rest of the school semester? Or a military style school? They both might help him with the issues he's having plug give him structure.

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C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Teachers here who do tutoring during after school hours charge $45 - $50 an hour. I do not know how much time is involved, but I do know a little about how my neighbor homeschools her kids. She is a busy woman and is gone much of the day to the ice rink, museums, errands, and other kid activities. She carves out little times here and there where her kids must sit down and do specific assignments/readings. The way she does it, there is no specific time another child could just come over unless he could drop everything spontaneously and head over right as she was about to start a lesson. And then do it again another time or two during the day. I think it would be difficult to find a homeschool mom who would be willing to take on your son. BUT maybe I'm wrong and you will be able to find someone. Good luck!

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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Someone with a teaching degree, I would say to figure out their hourly wage based on experience and education (steps and lanes) for the area that you're in and start there. You could adjust up or down.
For another homeschool mom without the degree, I'd find out what the average tutor makes.

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