Home School Options
How you homeschool is depends on your families needs.
We have many options when it comes to homeschool. It is up to each family to decide which method is best for them. You must find the one that fits your family needs best at the time. Depending on what state you live in the laws may vary, some states are very flexible while others not so flexible. You will have to check with your state to see if all or some of these options apply to you and the state you live.
When it comes to homeschooling you can be as relaxed or as strict as you want to. Find out what is best for you family, and each individual child. Some children do best with a structured schedule, while others are self motivated and have no problems finding stuff to learn.
What are your child's strengths? Build on those. What are their weaknesses? You will have to be a bit more flexible with them. Not all kids learn the same at the same time. It is important to know what helps your kids learn, what they like and what motivates them to learn. Some kids respond well to a reward system while others do not. Homeschooling has a lot to do with parental involvement and attentiveness.
How you homeschool is entirely up to you!
Types of homeschool options
Filing a Private School Affidavit with your state
Option 1. Under state law the individual home school could qualify as a private school by filing an annual private school affidavit: This is a private homeschool option available in most states with little regulation. In the state of California where I live we are able to file once a year in October the private school affidavit which allows my home to be a private school for my own children.
With this option you are a private school and must meet your state guidelines. You are also responsible for your own curriculum and everything that is required to teach your children! You will not get money from your state to homeschool and all costs associated is up to you.
A good option for those who can afford it, but it costs very little to homeschool this way. You also may not be required to do state standards testing! In my state of California we are exempt from state testing as a private school. If you are looking to homeschool or unschool your way, without a bunch of regulation, then this is the option you want.
Private School Satellite Program
Option 2. You could enroll in a private school satellite program and "home school" through that private school. The private school "satellite school program" (PSP) must comply with your states homeschool laws. Many home school families have organized these private PSPs which enroll anywhere from two to several hundred families. You will have to ask around at your local homeschool organizations, groups in your area. Or do a search for PSP's in your area that may be advertising their services. There may or may not be a fee associated with a PSP.
Basically a PSP is a private entity or person's who files a private school affidavit that allows for enrolment of other students not in the same family as the people filing. This may be an option for you if you don't want to or can't file the affidavit yourself.
Public school at home
Option 3. Your child or children could be enrolled in an independent home study program, offered by a public school in your area. Under this option, the child is considered a public school student. Your child will have to abide by the rules and policy of the public school laws in your state. This option is free and the more regulated of the homeschool options. Check with the schools in your area to see if they have a home study program. Our first years of homeschooling we did use a public charter school's home study or independent study program. We were happy with it and all of the curriculum was provided to us. We got some choice of curriculum but not all schools will have many choices. We left this option for a private school affidavit (option #!) in California for more freedom and less regulation.
If you would like to look up your states homeschool law, please refer to the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) for up to date information.
I hope this was helpful to you. Thank you for reading!
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This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
