Five Frequently Asked Homeschooling Questions 

Families who are considering homeschooling often have many questions. Below you will find frequently asked questions posed by new homeschooling families.

1. Is homeschooling legal?

In the United States, absolutely yes! All fifty states recognize some method of educating children at home. Some states offer free public school online, others recognize church or umbrella schools. Some states do not require parents to even notify the state if they intend to homeschool. The first suggestion if you are considering homeschooling is to check with your state Department of Education and see what the regulations are for pulling a child from their existing traditional education situation and placing them in a homeschool situation. If the child has not attended traditional school it may require a different set of notifications. Homeschooling is legal, but it is extremely important that each family be in complete compliance with their state’s homeschooling laws since those laws differ from state to state.

2. Where do I find curriculum?

There are several options for finding a homeschool curriculum. One of the best ways to find out about what curricula are available is to ask other homeschooling families. Each will have their own favorite curriculum or combination of different curricula. Some families go to homeschool conventions where curriculum vendors present the best of their wares. Other families search the internet for all or parts of their instructional material. In states where a free, online public education is offered, the department of education might even provide books, materials, even use of a computer. Libraries are a great source of educational material, especially where literature and history are concerned. For early elementary students there are many sources for basic math, spelling, and penmanship worksheets that can be printed from the internet. Don’t forget to include educational games as part of the curriculum for everything from multiplication tables to spelling and keyboarding games.

3. Is homeschooling expensive?

Homeschooling does not have to be expensive. Sources of educational material are wide-spread. For families unwilling or unable to spend a lot of money there are free and low cost curricula to be found online. The other end of the spectrum are the all-in-one box curricula which may be quite costly, however they do offer many services including lesson planning and grading as well as record-keeping and an interface with the department of education. Essentially, homeschooling can be as cost effective or as expensive as a family chooses. There are many options between the two extremes that will accommodate families in all economic circumstances.

4. What if I can’t teach a subject?

Not every parent will feel comfortable teaching every subject. While most parents will feel comfortable teaching the basics to younger students, when it comes to advanced composition, calculus, or chemistry many parents feel like they are not qualified to teach their students. Other courses such as foreign languages or music instruction often require more teaching than a parent might feel comfortable with. The answer to this dilemma is to out-source. Check with local homeschool support groups to see if a co-op offers group classes. Check with the library to see if they offer courses. Many times college students earn money through tutoring so check with your closest college or university to see if tutors are available. Often checking with fellow homeschoolers will show a need and you might join with other families to fund a course. There are always people who are willing to pass on their knowledge, some for free, some for a fee. Ask around!

5. Do colleges accept homeschooled students?

In the past colleges might have been hesitant to accept homeschoolers because they were unsure of the amount of preparation homeschoolers might receive. However, that has changed for the most part. Colleges find that homeschoolers are generally well prepared for college courses, performing better on standardized tests and required less remedial work than some traditionally educated students. Colleges also find that homeschool high school students often take dual credit courses which provide both high school and college credit. Homeschool students tend to be self-starters and are accustomed to studying and preparing projects. In fact, many institutions of higher learning seek out homeschool students because they find that homeschooled students measure up very competitively with other students.

Finally…

There are, of course, many questions regarding homeschooling and how to begin the process of homeschooling. Families looking to homeschool need to be legal with their state and local department of education. Families should look for instructional materials that teach to the student in the way that the student learns.

Support is very important, online searches will provide information on local or regional support groups. Support groups are a great source both for finding curricula, and for making sure you are legal with the state. Many online curricula provide online forums or help to assist homeschooling families.

The internet and local libraries are great places to begin researching the questions new homeschooling families may have. Homeschooling is a growing trend and as more families choose this educational option there will be more people with experience to answer those questions