2. +
What is Homeschooling?
Itis the EDUCATION of
children,
in their HOMES,
by their PARENTS.
3. +
Some reasons parents give for
choosing homeschooling are:
Parenting style, or
Better academic option for families
test results in transition, rural
areas or abroad
Character/ Poor pubic school
morality environment or
development and objections to what
religious issues is being taught
5. +
In the U.S., homeschooling is
legal in all 50 states. However,
the laws are different from state
to state. For example:
Texas considers homeschool families to be
private schools and thus are not regulated
or monitored by the local public school
district.
Pennsylvania, on the other hand, requires
homeschooling families to adhere to state
mandates on homeschooling and be
monitored by the local public school district.
6. +
In the U.S., homeschooling is
legal in all 50 states. However,
the laws are different from state
to state. For example:
Texas considers homeschool families to be
private schools and thus are not regulated or
monitored by the local public school district.
Pennsylvania, on the other hand, requires
homeschooling families to adhere to state
mandates on homeschooling and be
monitored by the local public school district.
7. +
Pennsylvania requires
homeschooling families to:
File an affidavit with the local school district for each child ages
8-17 before being homeschooled. Affidavits must include:
an outline of the proposed educational objectives arranged by
subject matter, including fire prevention.
Evidence that the child has been immunized
Secure the services of a certified homeschool evaluator. This
person must be currently certified to teach in Pennsylvania.
Maintain a homeschool portfolio. Portfolios include:
samples of the student’s work, lists of books read, resources
used, days/times when schooling occurred, pictures, etc.
Submit a formal evaluation along with the student’s portfolio to the
local school district at the end of the school year.
8. +Are there other issues
addressed by the law?
Another good question.
9. +
Due to state and federal
mandates:
Act 34 requires the supervisor of Home education law specifies
the home education to certify on the subjects that must be
the affidavit that all adults living taught at elementary and
in the home or having custody
of the child have not been secondary grade levels. (22
convicted of criminal offenses. PA Code Chapter 4)
(section 111e School Code)
Each child of school age must Supervisor of home education
be given an annual vision student with special needs,
according to IDEA, must have
test, a hearing test and shall
a certified special education
be measured and weighed. teacher’s or certified school
(Article 14, PA School Code) psychologist’s approval to
proceed with a home
education program.
10. + What do homeschool
teachers need to know?
Glad you asked.
11. +
Factors to consider before deciding
to homeschool your children:
Time Commitment
Homeschooling tends to take up a lot of time in your
day. It is more than just sitting down with books for a
couple of hours. There are experiments and projects
to be done, lessons to prepare, papers to grade, field
trips, park days, music lessons, and the list goes on.
Don’t forget in addition to educating these children
you have to feed them, wash their clothes, clean their
house and tend to many other outside issues as well…
sports, family activities, friends, etc.
12. +
Factors to consider before deciding
to homeschool your children:
Socialization
More attention will need to be given to getting your
children together with others. The beauty of
homeschooling is being able to have more control of the
social contacts your child makes. Homeschool Co-ops in
your area can provide not only the socialization your
child needs but also classes that you may not be
comfortable or able to provide by yourself such as
Drama, Art, Foreign Language, etc.
13. +
Factors to consider before deciding
to homeschool your children:
Household Organization
Housework and laundry still have to be done, but it
probably won’t get done first thing the morning. If a
stickler for a spotless house, you might be in for a
surprise. Not only does housework need to be let go at
times, but homeschooling creates mess and clutter all by
itself. (If you are clever, you might want to consider
some creative lesson planning and curriculum
development in the areas of Domestic Engineering,
Home Economics, Family and Consumer Science and
teach your children how to become masterful multi-
taskers. You can include the time spent on these
activities as part of the school day.)
14. +
Factors to consider before deciding
to homeschool your children:
Can you handle the personal sacrifice?
Is the homeschool financial strain manageable?
Are both parents in agreement?
Is your child willing to be homeschooled?
Are you intimidated by the teaching?
Can you commit one year at a time?
15. + Is there more I need to
know about homeschooling?
Maybe just a bit more…
16. +
There are reasons why we have
laws, rules, and guidelines to
govern homeschooling.
To protect the children and assure they get a quality education
To provide families with educational options for their children
To allow each local school district to set their own parameters
within state and federal guidelines. (Some local districts allow
homeschool students to participate in extracurricular activities
and even tough classes such as Chemistry, Physics, Geometry,
and Calculus while others just down the road do not.)
To discourage some parents who want to homeschool for the
wrong reasons
17. + I am a public school
teacher.
What’s in it for me?
18. +
You can participate in the
process!
Become a homeschool evaluator.
Use your knowledge and experience in education to
help or mentor a homeschooling family.
There are families who want to homeschool but may
not know how to get started. You can help them. A
little advertising can go a long way.
You set your price. You can provide a needed service
and make some money on the side. It’s a win-win!
19. +
Parents have options.
This presentation has
introduced only one of them.
There are more.
20. +
Parents actually have four options
to teach their children at home:
Option 1 Option 2
Home School Statute-PA Private Tutor
Passed December 1988 (24 P.S. 13-1327(a))
Option 3 Option 4
Day School/Church School Pennsylvania Religious
Freedom Protection Act
(24 P.S. 13-1327(b))
(71 P.S, 2401, et. Seq)
21. +
Resources
Hernandez, B., About.Com, Is Homeschool for You?,
Retrieved from: http://homeschooling.about.com/od/
gettingstarted/a/homeschooling
Home Education: Frequently Asked Questions, Retrieved
from:http://www.pde.state.pa.us/home_education/cwp/
view.asp?a=site/default.asp
Homeschooling in the United States, Wikipedia, Retrieved
from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Homeschooling_in_the_United_States
HSLDA, Advocates for Homeschooling, Legal Analysis,
(2009-2010 ed)
