Homeschooler out walking during the day? - Page 2

[frugalmama]

DD is barely 4 but looks older, and we get stopped by the truancy officer at least once a month.

We live within blocks of the elementary, middle, and high schools, and head start is another block over. All children are allowed in head start, so most kids here start by 3. ANY child they see out during the hours of 7 am to 4:30 pm they automatically assume is truant, even if they are with their parent. It's crazy but we were warned by the local HSing group that our district hates home schoolers in particular.

So...we dress DD in PRIVATE school uniforms {solid color polo and plaid bottoms} and she carries an ID with photo, age, and my phone number at all times.

It's a PITA, but it works.

[Roar]

Unless you have some specific issue in your town with truancy and curfew laws, I wouldn't think a thing of it. We homeschooled all the way through and never had a single problem. I should say though I don't view people asking "are you off school today?" as being a threat or problem. When our son responds "I'm homeschooled" that nearly always is greeted with either a neutral comment like "oh" or a positive comment like "aren't you lucky?" or "my cousin homeschoolers her kids and they are really sweet" or a how does that work question. I don't view any of those as being threatening or a problem, rather just part of a civilized world where people interact with each other. So, my advice would be don't worry about it. If you and your children feel comfortable with your choices it should not be a big deal.

[Roar]

Originally Posted by frugalmama

So...we dress DD in PRIVATE school uniforms {solid color polo and plaid bottoms} and she carries an ID with photo, age, and my phone number at all times.

.

Your 4 year old needs to dress in a uniform and carry an ID?

[frugalmama]

Originally Posted by Roar

Your 4 year old needs to dress in a uniform and carry an ID?

It helps. All the public school kids don't wear uniforms {except for the middle school ones and theirs is navy & khaki with blue or white tops} so if she dresses normally they assume she is skipping. Wearing uniforms cuts down on the truancy reports and questions. They see the plaid and assume private school student and assume the school calendar is different.

By her wearing the uniform it's down to only getting stopped/questioned maybe once every 6 weeks or so.

[OkiMom]

I would make an id just in case. Im a morbid one but in case something happens Id want them to be able to contact me, otherwise they would probably conclude the child was skipping school and contact the school. Like I said Im morbid but my brother was hit by a car not two blocks from our apartment when I was growing up so Im paranoid about something happening and them not being able to contact me.