heartofdakota.com

This is my first yr I need to notify my district about home schooling. what info do they need when I'm asked for a brief outline of curriculum.. I don't want to give them to much and mess things up...I live in OH if this helps.

I found this on the Ohio website (education.ohio.gov):
The notification includes:

Your qualifications to home school (see previous question);
Confirmation that you will provide a minimum of 900 hours of instruction that must include the following subjects:
Language, reading, spelling and writing;
Geography; history of the United States and Ohio; and national, state and local government;
Mathematics;
Science;
Health;
Physical education;
Fine arts, including music; and
First aid, safety and fire prevention;
A brief outline of the curriculum for the current school year;
A list of textbooks, correspondence courses, commercial curricula or other basic teaching materials that you plan to use; and
Your signature.

So, I would include a copy of the introduction to the guide you are using first and foremost (you can print it off of the website, as they have them posted as pdfs for all of the guide but WH). This will include all but first aid, safety, and fire prevention plus health and physical education. Then in your "cover letter," I would include a short paragraph about how you are going to cover those. This could be a short list of field trips planned, a sentence about daily exercise or sports planned, and include your child in food prep and shopping to talk about health. And then if you are making any substitutions to what HOD has planned, list those as well.

Hopefully someone that lives in OH can confirm that this is a good way of doing it...

Thanks. I just don't want to give to much. I have a few friends who homeschool and I've asked for help but their response wasn't great. I wish they didn't need to know what we were teaching. I am glad that Heart Of Dakota has the pdf's again I just don't want to step on peoples toes, but I do want to whats right..

You have to give an outline showing that you are covering all the subjects that Ohio requires. You don't have to go into great detail. For example if you were using CTC it could look like this:
History: Ancient History as outlined in Heart of Dakota's Creation Thru Christ guide. Geography of the time period is also studied.
Ohio History field trips to various sites in Ohio.
Science: focus on Life sciences as outlined in Creation thru Christ guide.
Math: Singapore 6
English: Rod and Staff for grammar, studied dictation for spelling and Drawn Into the Heart of Reading for reading. Writing will be covered thru the assignments in Rod and Staff and Write with the Best Vol. 1
Health: Study of the human body using ...(and you would list the anatomy books in CTC).
Physical Education: any activities your kids are involved in
Fine Arts: you need to show you are doing something for music even if it is just listening to various styles of music. Art will be covered using Draw and Write Thru History and art projects in CTC)
Fire Safety: will discuss and have a fire drill at home.

I have never sent the introduction to the guide. They really don't need all that information. I have done this for 6 years now just giving them something like what is above and it is always fine. It is for informational purposes only. According to Ohio law they can't refuse to sign the letter that excuses your dc from ps attendance because of anything on the curriculum list.

If you have any other questions feel free to send me a pm.

I live in Ohio too and I don't add anything other than Fire and Safety. From my understanding, according to the law, you are just required to cover those subjects at least once. So in school, they don't necessarily cover US history and state history every year. But you could definitely put it in there We do at least (obviously way more) 1 field trip per year that is from something in OH. But I basically just list what you list and give them a book list. The HSLDA has a great website and I use their notification form as well.

I too live in Ohio and quite a few years ago, I noticed that the notification form says that the outline is "for informational purposes only"...in other words just put down what you think will be covered, throw in some extra items to cover what's listed, but it's just for informational purpose only. What you cover does not have to be formal I'd like to get that burden off every homeschooling mama's back Remember, we are not "asking for permission" to homeschool, it is our right...we are simply just letting the powers that be know what we are going to do because in Ohio, notifying is required by law. I say all this because I used to get so stressed out about it

HTH!

Jill Riggs

Jill Riggs, I am definetly stressing about. That is why I came on to ask for help. I have 2 older DD that our in the public school which the main reason I'm stressing. I've got to turn it in on Monday, we only have 2 weeks before school starts. Also do I need to keep a log of hours?

Oh, mom3, I remember my first notification - I was so afraid I would do something wrong! To answer your question - no, you do not need to keep a log of hours in Ohio. I have homeschooled since K & my oldest is now entering 10th. You never have to give an account of hours, you do have to either do testing or have a teacher go over a portfolio of your child's work prior to notifying NEXT year. You have to have your notification in before the first day of school, not two weeks in advance. I usually try to get mine in by the beginning of August, though, regardless of when school starts.

Home School Legal Defense has a lot of information, as well as other Ohio specific websites. You can pm me with any other questions. If you live in NW Ohio, we could meet, if that would help!

I use the forms on HSLDA's website also. I remember how stressed I was that first year also, but it really is very easy to homeschool in Ohio. Like others have said they aren't granting you permission in Ohio. They just excuse your dc from mandatory attendance. You don't have to keep track of hours.

mom3, please don't stress! It's really not a big deal. The other ladies are correct with their info as well. I live in SW Ohio, if you'd like to meet with me or just email me, please don't hesitate. This is my tenth year homeschooling in Butler County, Ohio. I have done both, tested and turned in a portfolio. It really isn't a big deal. Make sure that you notify your school district superintendent, not the county superintendent. That law changed this year in Ohio. Please feel free to contact me.

Jill Riggs

I just want to say a big thank you to all who replied, I took all your advice and I got my letter today saying my daughter is excused for this upcoming school year. Now to get her classroom cleaned and re-organized...

Yeah!!!! That is great news. New things are always a little scary So glad you got your letter without any trouble.