Hi all,

I'm from New York, anyone else?  Where do you all live and how are your homeschooling laws?  We keep talking about moving and want to go to an easier state as far as rules and paperwork.  We've not had any troubles with the school, but just are tired of all the rules and regulations and forms they make us fill out every year.  So I was just wondering how the laws are out there.

Jenny

I'm in Washington. The only paper we have to fill out is the Declaration of Intent to Homeschool at the beginning of the year and turn it in to the Superintendent's office.

They are required to be tested at the end of the year but we can opt out of it. We really have no one check up on anything. It's actually pretty easy.

We're in IL but formally were in KS also HS'ing there.  They are two of the easiest states (TX is another) to HS in.  In both states we are considered a private, non-accredited school.  KS had non-mandatory one time reporting of the private school.  IL doesn't have that.  In KS we were to teach a "substantially equivalent to 1116 hrs or 186 days per year" (year being July-June).  That was not hard at all.  I didn't have to keep records, but I did.  Same in IL - no need but I do.  In IL we are just to teach in English and teach the core subjects.

KS had statewide virtual public school options.  This, of course, is not pure HS'ing, it's public school at home.  However it's a great option for many families and a bridge between both types of schooling.

Before our move, whenever the head hunter had a new interview for DH, I first checked into the state HS laws.  Then I checked into the local HS environment (mostly on Yahoo Groups).

JCC 

We're in AZ, and the only thing required of us is to fill out a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool.  Other than that, their curriculum, testing... is all undocumented.  Which sort of freaks me out, so my kids attend a home based public school.  They’re full-time, tuition-free, public schools that use K-12 materials.  They also offer a superb support system for the parents and students.  I don't know what I would have done if I'd had to take on the responisibility of teaching all on my own.

In VA all we need to do is send in a letter of intent to homeschool every year. They do have to test at the end of the year or be evaluated by someone to say they are able to go on to the next grade. I'm not exactly sure how that works yet since this is my first yr homeschooling, but I have friends to help me out when the time comes. Other than that  there is no paperwork or records that you have to keep.

We're in California.  It sounds hard if you read the law, but it is actually easy.  All you have to do is file a Private School Affidavit once a year, and keep attendance records plus a few other peices of paper that you print out once and then file (which you never have to show anyone).  Technically there is no homeschooling in CA --  we are all running small private schools!!

rebecca

Texas!  "good faith effort" to teach the standard educational goals of reading, writing, mathematics and good citizenship.  No reporting, tests, letters to anyone or rules about when or how much (x number of hours/days).

Wow, I guess NY really IS one of the hardest states.  We have to submit a letter of intent, an IHIP (our plan for the year), quarterly reports and test every other year from 4th through 8th grade and every year from 9th through 12th.  The off years from testing need an evaluation.  Talk about strict.

We were considering VA but the requirements looked so confusing.  I guess it's not as bad if you know what you are doing!  :)

Hi... I'm in Texas also and agree with another post - it is definitely one of the easiest states in which to homeschool.  Come on down y'all we'd love to have you!

Ange

I'm in Texas too - God bless Texas!  We've lived here for less than 3 years and absolutely love it!  We're in Far West Texas, close to Big Bend National Park - in the mountains, in the desert.  Enough for the commercial.  It really IS a great state to homeschool in!

Tennessee is in the house.  We have to fill an intent to homeschool form. This year started where we had to show our diploma from HS.  You can do all that or go through a cover school.

Not too bad.

I have my fingers crossed that my huabnd gets stationed in Texas for the homeschooling! :)

We're in Colorado. We have to let the school board know we're homeschooling, declare our hours and # of days, submit test scores or evaluation results.

I've homeschooled in MO and now LA.  Both are easy states. MO does require you keep track of hours which can be a pain, but there is no state notification.  In LA I take the option to be declared a private school.  We send a letter to the state every year and do 180 days. 

I live in CT and they honestly don't give a flying fig about you if you're homeschooling.  I don't have to file any paperwork, there's no testing, and an Intent to Homeschool is completely optional.  It's a little scary actually.  How do they know what I'm doing with my child?  He/she could be watching Jerry Springer for all they know.  The only time they would test would be if my child was going to enter public they would test to see what level she was at.