Looking to move...best/worst homeschooling states? - Page 2

[roadfamily6now]

Alaska is a great homeschooling state. We used to homeschool and it was so easy with tons of support.
about 40% of our kids in this state are homeschooled.

Vax regs are also easy here.


Have fun looking. Moving is so much fun!

[RiverSky]

In Florida, you just sent a letter of intent once a year, then hand in an annual "evaluation" from a certified teacher (we use a homeschooling friendly teacher, the homeschool groups usually know a list of them and pay about $30 a child). It's really just a piece of paper that the teacher signs, after looking at a portfolio. You are also supposed to keep a portfolio but no one I know has ever been requested to show it, at least in this county. Pretty easy.

[lauradbg]

Someone already has said Illinois--and it's true. It's very easy here. There's nothing you have to report to anyone--so, particularly good for unschooling.

Also, the Chicago metro area has a few Doctors that are anti vax, or at least tolerant. Homefirst is a doctor assisted homebirth practice and many patients don't vax there. They have several offices throughout the Chicago area.

Chicago itself is wonderful for homeschoolers--lots of museums and cultural events.

HTH

[mama in the forest]

I think if you can go ANYWHERE......pick a state that has no regulations. I used to live in PA and while sure, I was ABLE to follow their regulations, why would I choose to if I could choose a place where I didn't have to do anything?! Now that I'm in Michigan where there is nothing to be done, it's much better. I prefer to be autonomous.

Also, watch out for states mamas have said require "evaluations"....depending on how you feel about it, it does put your children through something you may not want them to have to do. I know that I would loathe having to take my unschooled children for any kind of testing and I feel it would harm them. And though I know there are teachers out there who will put their stamp of approval on unschooling, I would still loathe having to hire a teacher to "certify" our progress.

[3momkmb]

Originally Posted by mama in the forest

I think if you can go ANYWHERE......pick a state that has no regulations. I used to live in PA and while sure, I was ABLE to follow their regulations, why would I choose to if I could choose a place where I didn't have to do anything?! Now that I'm in Michigan where there is nothing to be done, it's much better. I prefer to be autonomous.

Also, watch out for states mamas have said require "evaluations"....depending on how you feel about it, it does put your children through something you may not want them to have to do. I know that I would loathe having to take my unschooled children for any kind of testing and I feel it would harm them. And though I know there are teachers out there who will put their stamp of approval on unschooling, I would still loathe having to hire a teacher to "certify" our progress.

The evaluations we do don't involve the children at all. I bring a portfolio (basically an outline of what all we covered and maybe some samples of work like a sugar cube pyramid or a story they wrote) and as long as they have made progress (and really who hasn't?) we get our form signed. I have several friends who unschool and have no problems. I can understand wanting to avoid state involvement altogether, but I wanted to clarify that it require my child to do anything, just me.

And I agree that no regs is ideal, but I think one has to look at the other aspects of living in a state and find one that is a good fit all around.

[Teensy]

I would really consider the resources available to you - not just the state regulations.

Depending on what your priorites are in homeschooling, maybe somewhere where land is cheap so you could build a chicken coup, have a woodworking shop, and plant a garden. Or maybe a big city with museums, good libraries, theater. Or if your child is musical, somewhere with lots of opportunities for that. Or some magical land where you can find all these things!

I've meet many homeschoolers in my area, but they have largely tended to be religious (and homeschooling for that reason). Something else to consider. But there seen to be some good options available, for example my town's recreation department offers swim lessons/team for homeschoolers (held in the middle of the day) and I've seen karate classes in the middle of the day for homeschoolers also.

[mama in the forest]

The evaluations we do don't involve the children at all. I bring a portfolio (basically an outline of what all we covered and maybe some samples of work like a sugar cube pyramid or a story they wrote) and as long as they have made progress (and really who hasn't?) we get our form signed. I have several friends who unschool and have no problems

I know, mama. And that's so good! But states.....and even places within a state, vary widely in what they expect of the evaluations, and in their availablity of teachers who are sympathetic to unschoolers.

And progress is in the eye of the beholder. I have no idea if a teacher would find my children have made progress......I don't know her definition of it.

[BoobyJuice]

We lived in CT until my son was 3; I'm never got too into the laws there so I'm not sure how difficult it is to hs there but I know there were very, very few hsers there. At least where we were. I have a friend who hs there now and she's in a group that has members in three counties.

We're in AZ now. Like someone said it is one piece of paper once. You sign saying you will actually teach them english, math, science, etc. The end. There are tons and tons of hsers here (probably because AZ ranks 50th in public schools). The valley itself has tons of unschooler, classical, religious, etc groups - just about anything you can think of. My eldest is extremely social so he just started going to a hs enrichment program at a public school. It's one day a week, free because it's public school, every child there is hs'ed, there is no testing and no academics. It's all the 'enrichment' subjects - art, music, pe, computer, library, etc. Many swimming, gymnastics, karate, art classes are offered here during the day because there are so many hsers.

Personally I think it is more important to have a lot of other hs'ers around than just ease of requirements alone. My kids love that they can go to a park and odds are good there will be other kids there. We take swimming (even my 6 yo), art during the day. Have our choice of about 50 hs support groups. Not every child they know is in school during the day.

[Stayseeliz]

South Carolina is HS'ing friendly. You have to register with an accountability association but everything is fairly lax.

[zeldamomma]

Wisconsin only requires we submit a form annually to the state-- no follow-up. I'm not sure what the rules are, but I met a homeschooler whose kids took some "non-core" courses at the local ps middle school.

ZM

[Judegirl]

This has been fabulous, thank you! And please keep it coming. I had checked out the links to he laws before I posted, but I wanted some R/L feedback - this is very helpful.

For us, homeschooling is not the only consideration, but it's a big one. I know I can "get around" it in most states, but I would really love to live somewhere where homeschooling is common enough that it won't even be an issue.

(And with museums and symphonies and land for gardens and horses and social liberals and fiscal conservatives and ethnic diversity without poverty... and flying pigs and rainbows growing out of everyone's ears....lol.)

Thanks much!
Jude

[MerelyGod]

Originally Posted by shaywyn

Michigan. There is zero reporting, no attendance, no assessments, no testing, no portfolio, nothing. And in the area I am from, tons of homeschoolers, activities, and some great support groups, secular and otherwise.

Good Luck in your Journey!

I am in Michigan too, and it is great for homeschooling! The only thing is, you might want to avoid Calhoun County (I think it is, Battle Creek area). I always hear about HSing families having problems over there. The rest of the state is awesome though!

[mary3mama]

Forgot to add, as far as my knowledge and experience, vaccinations are only required here in Indiana if you enroll your children in school (or most daycare facilities too, as they follow the same rules). If your children aren't in 'the system' there's no one to tell you you must vaccinate. We even have a very vax-flexible family doctor, so no worries.

Indiana is fairly conservative and it's the religious conservative base that keeps homeschooling very open -- and for that I am most grateful.

I don't want to move anywhere where I have to teach specific subjects at specific times/ages, since we are more unschooling oriente. Nor do I want my children tested. If they were in public school, I'd just keep them home on the days of the standardized testing, as I feel that strongly about it.

This discussion has been great!

[Ileifa]

We live in NJ and the only reason I notified the schools was because dd was enrolled at the local demonstration school. I sent a letter saying she was being homeschooled and they didn't get it. They called me and actually apologized for bothering me and asked me to either mail it again or fax. We did both. I am meeting more and more homeschoolers here in Essex County and further north in Bergen County. It's expensive here, but beautiful too.

HTH

[chaoticzenmom]

The Pacific NW is hs friendly. Lots of resources available and there's an allowance for any kind of vaccine exception (3 types ). I know that SEattle is very homeschool friendly, but an expensive place to live. I've heard that Portland Oregon is very HS friendly, but have no idea about vax there.

Good luck in your search, it sounds very exciting!
Lisa

[bobandjess99]

INDIANA!!
Can't believe I'm promoting IN, but for homeschooling and non-vax, it's GREAT!
No requirements for homschooling, except that you have to school for 180 days....ut no evals, no tests, no portfolios, no "forms" to submit...(technically, if ever requested, you would have to provide attendance records, but noone ever asks. To make sure we have these records available, we have a calendar upon which i write "school" on most days..since just about anything is "school" to us...)
On vaxxes, We have a very strongly worded state law which says that parents may refuse "ANY testing, treatment or immunization" on the basis of religious beliefs.
DEM's are unfortunately illegal here, but there are those who practice, as well as CNM's who are legal...only a couple birthing centers in the whole state, but quite a few HB midwives.

[marieandchris]

We live in SE PA (burbs of Philly) and find homeschooling easy on many levels. The paperwork is not that onerous and there are tons of homeschooling resources and parent cooperatives in the area. Especially nice is this. My son attends this homeschooling cooperative once a week, and we are thrilled with it.

Good luck,
Marie

[beanandpumpkin]

CT is easy to homeschool in. No requirements, just "guidelines" which the majority of homeschoolers don't bother with (include submitting a letter of intent, etc). The law is "provide an education for your child."

There is another option for Floridians, and that is to register under an umbrella school. The one we're registered with only requires that you submit attendence (number of days only, not which days, or what you did). Once we submit that we've done 180 days, we're done for the year. We are 100% homeschoolers, but in the eyes of the state, we're private schoolers.

What fun, getting to pick where you're going to live!

[Judegirl]

Originally Posted by beanandpumpkin

There is another option for Floridians, and that is to

What fun, getting to pick where you're going to live!

LOL - I can only pick where I'll apply...and only then of the available options...not at all where I'll actually live! And chances are very, very good tht I'll be stuck here and jobless for quite sometime. But it's good to start thinking about these things. And fun.