| Each state has its own general requirements | | | | qualification of the parents and on some |
| for homeschoooling students. There are four | | | | occasions visits by state officials to check |
| categories of legal options for | | | | the student's progress. These states include |
| homeschooling. The four categories are: | | | | Washington, Utah, North Dakota, Minnesota, |
| states requiring no notice, states with low | | | | West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, |
| regulation, moderate regulation and high | | | | Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island and |
| regulation.Many of the regulations include | | | | Massachusetts. These states have few |
| parental notification, test scores, | | | | requirements for the Kindergarten level but |
| professional evaluation of student progress | | | | the regulations become stricter at each |
| and curriculum approval. Families shouldn't | | | | subsequent grade level.A parent is considered |
| be scared off by the general requirements for | | | | competent to operate a homeschool if they |
| homeschooling. There may be some initial | | | | follow the individual state's regulations; |
| paperwork to handle but as long as the | | | | they do not need to have teacher |
| teaching parent can keep good records there | | | | certification. The parents need to file a |
| shouldn't be andy fear of the state stepping | | | | notice at their local school that they intend |
| in and ordering your child back to public | | | | to homeschool in the low to highly regulated |
| school.The states that have no requirements | | | | states. Those that fall within the medium to |
| for homeschooling do not require the parents | | | | highly regulated states will also need to |
| to initiate any contact. These states | | | | keep attendance records, file quarterly |
| include Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, | | | | reports and a grade narrative for each of the |
| Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Connecticut, New | | | | subjects taught. Highly regulated states may |
| Jersey and the territories of Guam and Puerto | | | | require an annual assessment at the end of |
| Rico. Parents are not obligated to contact | | | | the school year.The general requirements for |
| the school districts to notify them that they | | | | homeschool vary greatly from state to state. |
| will be homeschooling their children.States | | | | The parents should be well versed in the |
| that have low general requirements for | | | | legal aspects of homeschooling before they |
| homeschooling require the parents to notify | | | | decide to attempt it. Most parents will find |
| the school district that they are | | | | that the red tape at the beginning is well |
| homeschooling their children and nothing | | | | worth it.To stay abreast of the current |
| else. These states include California, | | | | trends, information and resources available |
| Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New | | | | for homeschool parents, teachers and students |
| Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, | | | | subscribe to Homeschool Success News.If you |
| Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Delaware, | | | | need an online tutor, courseware or wish to |
| Washington D.C. and the territory of the | | | | offer your services as a paid online tutor |
| Virgin Islands.Moderately regulated states | | | | contact our website. Magic Learning Systems |
| require parents to send notification, test | | | | also provides excellent products to enhance |
| scores and provide a professional evaluation | | | | the homeschool experience for teachers and |
| of the student's progress. The states in | | | | students. For additional information visit |
| this category include Oregon, Colorado, South | | | | the Homeschool Success News website.Dr. J. |
| Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, | | | | Elisha Burke |
| Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, South | | | | |
| Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Maryland and the | | | | Editor, Homeschool Success Newsletter |
| territories of American Samoa and Northern | | | | |
| Mariana Islands.States with the highest | | | | 2005 Burke Publications All Rights |
| regulations may be the most troublesome to | | | | ReservedDr. J. E. Burke, Editor of Homeschool |
| parents contemplating homeschooling. These | | | | Success News, a minister and college |
| states general requirements for homeschooling | | | | instructor, has been involved in various |
| stipulate parents have to send notification | | | | educational and business enterprises via |
| or achievement test scores, provide | | | | Burke Publications for 11 years. Dr. Burke |
| professional evaluations of student progress | | | | is an educator, writer and motivational |
| as well as provide a written curriculum that | | | | speaker on a variety of topics. |
| needs to be approved by the state, teacher | | | | |