that number is thought to be a low estimation, since many states don’t require homeschoolers be registered as such. Who’s homeschooled? Advocates tout homeschooling for its flexible schedule, personalized learning options and focus on family time. Requirements for homeschooling vary by state. In Ohio, families must provide 900 hours of instruction per year on specific subjects, including language, geography, math, science, health and music. The person providing the instruction must have a high school diploma or the equivalent, and they are required to notify the superintendent in the child’s home district of the family’s decision to homeschool, providing an assessment of the student’s work each year. Kentucky requires homeschooling families to provide a minimum of 1,062 hours of instruction in no less than 170 days on reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, math, science and civics. Families are also required to notify the superintendent in the child’s home district of their intent to homeschool and to record each student’s progress in “all subjects taught at the same intervals as the local public schools.”
What’s the schedule like? Even more so than online schools, homeschool families are able to set their own schedules depending on their child’s age, interests and abilities. Many museums, libraries and parks offer programs specifically for homeschool families, and homeschool co-ops provide added structure and social outings.
Homeschooling resources: Ohio homeschooling requirements: education. ohio.gov/Topics/Quality-School-Choice/ Home-Schooling Kentucky homeschooling requirements: education.ky.gov/federal/fed/pages/homeschool.aspx “GOING TO SCHOOL” CAN BE DEFINED IN MANY WAYS TODAY – WHICH IS GREAT NEWS FOR FAMILIES FOR WHOM A TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IS NOT THE BEST FIT FOR THEIR STUDENT. IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING A VIRTUAL OR HOMESCHOOL OPTION FOR YOUR CHILD, DO SOME RESEARCH, TALK WITH PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE, AND FIND THE ACADEMIC SITUATION WHERE YOUR CHILD CAN THRIVE.
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