What records does your state require for homeschooling?

[1GirlTwinBoys]

In KY all we have to do is send in a "letter of intent" for 1st grade and up. We have to keep an attendance record of 175 instructional days/year. We are NOT required to keep any work, grades or do any testing.

Just curious how states vary on these laws.

[pollo_la]

I am curious to hear what other states require as well. Michigan does not require anything from us. We never have to file anything with the state. No record keeping, no testing, nothing!! We are required to start teaching when are children are 6 through age 16 in various subjects, but they trust us to teach, and if they suspect that we are not doing an adequate job then it is up to the state to prove that. We are basically left alone.

[LynnH]

I am new to all this, but my understanding is that in Oh we have to do 900 hours of instruction, but we don't have to turn any log in or anything showing those hours. At the beginning of the year we turn in a letter of intent with the subjects and curriculum we plan on using. At the end of the year we either have to do a standardized test or have a portfolio reviewed by an Ohio certified teacher and they must say that the child is working up to his/her abilities. They do have some criteria as far as we agree to teach certain things like art, music, the history of Ohio, gym and health and fire safety.

[Mom2Monkeys]

In AR, we file a letter of intent each year from K to 12th. Kids start K when they are 5 (by Aug. 1st I think). We don't have to keep any records, but we have to test every year starting in 3rd grade. New laws are being introduced though that are not good at all!! AR home schoolers need all the prayers you can round up They have put off making this decision until 2011, after they can complete a study on home schoolers in the state. So, it's easy now, but can be quite difficult here in the future.

[Mumkins]

Ontario sounds much the same as Michigan.

[PraiseHymn]

In MD we have to do 2 reviews each school year (I think) with the Board of Ed, showing samples of work and answering some questions OR you can enroll in a state approved umbrella school. We use an umbrella that is actually more work than going through the Board of Ed but I like the extra accountability to keep more thorough records. With our umbrella I have to keep daily lesson plans, attendance, samples of work, submit quarterly reports, and go for a meeting twice a year to have the samples and daily lesson plans checked over.

Amy

[Mommamo]

In TX you're considered a private school. You never have to file anything with anyone (unless you are removing a child from school, and then it's just a one time letter), you don't have to test, you don't have to check in with anyone. You're just expected to teach and you're supposed to include subjects like health, state history, etc. It's awesome! The state we are looking to move to you only have to send in a letter or form or something like that once a year, but to me that sounds like a pain. I'm afraid I'll forget to do it or something.

[1GirlTwinBoys]

It's interesting how the laws vary so much from each state. Even though we have to keep that attendance record for 175 days of instruction, we don't have to send it in or anything. You are just required to keep in in case the state ever wants "proof".

[eazbnsmom]

In PA, when a child turns 8 (for that school year) we are required to send a letter of intent complete with a signed affidavit that our children have the the vaccinations required by law (or a letter showing religious or medical exemptions), physicals and that we have not have been tried and found guilty of certain offenses, that we will be teaching the subjects required by law and a copy of our objectives for the year (however vague ). We then have to keep a portfolio of the students work in which are we supposed to include approx 12 pages for each subject, lesson plans (that were completed), a list of books used and read, andsomething showing that we have covered fire safety as well as a list or pictures from field trips taken. This portfolio is then shown to an approved evaluator at the end of the year and then sent again to the supervisor for review. The children are also required to be tested in 3rd, 5th & 8th grades.

[Kathleen]

In Kansas, we register ourselves once as a non-accredited private school. Nothing else. Sounds a lot like TX.

[funkmomma71]

Here in Nevada we only have to send in a letter of intent, along with a curriculum, when your child is 7 yrs-old or when you pull then from ps. You only have to file once, unless you move or put your child back into public/private school and then remove them again. There are no other reporting requirments, they are very hand-off. This upcoming week, March 29-Apr 4 is Home Education Awareness Week in Nevada! We will be having two public celebrations, with c ouple of political speakers, both of which are running for Governor of Nevada and one is a current mayor of North Las Vegas and they are a hs family. How neat!!

[my3sons]

In SD, we have to fill out a school exempt form. We also are required to use Standardized Testing for our children on certain years, the same years the school district does. (We do it every year starting with 2nd. grade anyway.) It is interesting how states vary.

In Christ,
Julie

[mskogen]

In FL there are two options.
1st- send a letter of intent to school board then each year have a certified teacher evaluate child or take a standarized test and supply the results to school board
2nd - enroll in an umbrella school. Then you are considered a private school student.
Both options are easy. FL is a homeschool friendly state
Michelle

[wertzeemom]

In PA, when a child turns 8 (for that school year) we are required to send a letter of intent complete with a signed affidavit that our children have the the vaccinations required by law (or a letter showing religious or medical exemptions), physicals and that we have not have been tried and found guilty of certain offenses, that we will be teaching the subjects required by law and a copy of our objectives for the year (however vague ). We then have to keep a portfolio of the students work in which are we supposed to include approx 12 pages for each subject, lesson plans (that were completed), a list of books used and read, andsomething showing that we have covered fire safety as well as a list or pictures from field trips taken. This portfolio is then shown to an approved evaluator at the end of the year and then sent again to the supervisor for review. The children are also required to be tested in 3rd, 5th & 8th grades.

Kay - is the "approx 12 pages" a requirement of your district? I don't remember reading anywhere that our portfolios had to have 12 pages on each subject. I could be wrong and this could be something new - we aren't doing HS this year, unfortunately,but plan on it next year. I'm certainly not challenging you - I'm just curious! The first homeschool support grp meeting I went to was about the portfolio. Some of these women had these GIANT scrapbooks for their young elementary kids. It was very intimidating to me as a newcomer! Mine last year for DD's 2nd-grade year was a moderate size and pretty straight forward. I'm sure that some of the superintendents who have to read these things would love a "12-pages" rule

[holyhart]

In NH we must file a letter of intent annually after age 6. We must have a portfolio of work done by student and need to keep it for 2 years. The child must be tested or evaluated by a certified teacher each year. We do not have any manditory attendence to keep track of.