Homeschool friendly states - Page 3

[rere]

Originally Posted by YummyYarnAddict

Add Illinois and Wisconsin to the homeschooling friendly list. For each you just submit a form once a year indicating that your child is learning at home. No monitoring, testing, or additional paperwork required. Both have virtual charter schools in many towns if you want the freedom to go that route and both have lots of homeschooling groups and resources.

The way I read it,in Il.you don't even have to register your child?Am I way off?Ok off I go to research again...

[sweetsensation]

I know they give stipends or pay for homeschool materials in Canada if you are interested in moving there!! I don't know if it is all provinces, though. For sure in British Columbia....just a thought!

Annah

[ryansmom02]

TX is an easy state.. no rules at all.. no reporting.. nothing

[aurora_skys]

i know this case is still developing, but this would make me a little cautious about settling down to homeschool in california.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../MNCHVG0SD.DTL

[lovemy4boys]

I'll 3rd the vote for LA. The homeschool friendly environment and laws make it a great place to live. Even the state parks have some great homeschool days around here.

[newerglasses]

I would second Texas. It's very, very easy to homeschool here, and there's lots to do!

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

[nakagain]

nak
I just found out that Utah's governor home schooled one of his daughters. I was on a capital tour and our group got to meet the Governor and he asked us what group we were. I said we are home schoolers and then he said thats awesome and that he home schooled one of his daughters and it was the best thing for her.

[Annikate]

Anybody know about laws in Missouri?
ETA: Just found it in case anyone else is interested. Looks good! :
https://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Missouri.pdf

[eco_mama]

Originally Posted by ChinacatPoppins

I too homeschool in SE Indiana and LOVE it! I was surprised by the great co-ops, support groups, and homeschool organizations. Local libraries, museums, and community centers cater to the homeschool movement. So Indiana!

This is the same in my area of SW Michigan. Which, I'm surprised MI hasn't been mentioned yet - very homeschool friendly state.

[trailblazerbarbie]

Anyone know about Maryland?

[smurphygt]

Originally Posted by trailblazerbarbie

Anyone know about Maryland?

I homeschooled in Anne Arundel County, MD for about a year. I was required to register with the state, keep attendance and submit a portfolio of my son's work twice a year. Supposedly they weren't judging the work, just looking to see that we were doing something. All in all, not too bad, but it could be a lot better. We're in CA right now and loving the freedom that comes with registering as a private school.

[PhantasyMama]

I just wanted to say that I homeschool and I live in Tennessee. Our community here is very open to public school, but once I got into the local homeschool community I was swarmed with LOADS of free resources, materials and wonderful friends.

[Starflower]

We're in WA and unschool. WA state HS law seems pretty clear and there are several support organizations in our immediate area. We also just returned from an Unschooling Conference two weeks ago held in Vancouver, WA.

According to the Washington Homeschool Organization, Governor Christine Gregoire has declared Homeschool Week - June 8-14, 2008!

Our DD is just turning 5; we won't have to file a Declaration of Intent or do any annual tests/assessments until she is 8 years old.

Also, standardized tests are not the only valid assessments in WA state:
http://www.washhomeschool.org/whoLaw.html#testing

If you are interesting HS in WA, I'd check out this website for more information:
http://www.washhomeschool.org/index.html

Good luck with your move and happy homeschooling!

[bright-midnight]

Do any of you know about Virginia?

[smurphygt]

Originally Posted by bright-midnight

Do any of you know about Virginia?

I homeschooled in Newport News,VA for 2 years before moving to CA. There was a large network of homeschooling families in that area and tons of activities. There were several support groups to choose from, although none of them were secular. There was a large homeschooling co-op with all sorts of classes and another group that met for regular park days. The city of Hampton had a large community center which hosted a PE class for homeschooling families every day of the week. I can't say too much about other parts of the state, but I do remember seeing lots of activities in the D.C. area.

It looks as if the legal statutes regulating homeschooling have changed a bit since I left a couple of years ago. They don't look quite as imposing as when I lived there, but you still have a few hopes to jump through. Here's a great website for all the legal info.

http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/

There is also a wonderful Yahoo group called VAEclecticHomeschool.

Hope this helps.

[blondeviolin]

I'm surprised OK hasn't been thrown in there. There is no reporting system here, nor are records or forms of any kind required by Oklahoma law. I've heard it's one of the more lenient HSing states.

Though, I'd love to be in a state that had a public charter online school. In CO they have COVA through k12 and they get all their materials and curriculum and then internet stipend as well as a loaner computer.

[spruce]

Originally Posted by blondeviolin

I'm surprised OK hasn't been thrown in there. There is no reporting system here, nor are records or forms of any kind required by Oklahoma law. I've heard it's one of the more lenient HSing states.

Though, I'd love to be in a state that had a public charter online school. In CO they have COVA through k12 and they get all their materials and curriculum and then internet stipend as well as a loaner computer.

We're in Alaska and we get a homeschool stipend of $1800/year for my 8th grader and $1600/year for my 2nd grader (a small $200 preK allowance for my 4yo, and if my 15yo were still homeschooled, she'd have a $2000 stipend). It covers anything school related.

Plus, our internet access is a whole separate financial account, and the money we are reimbursed doesn't count against our yearly stipend. We also have a computer program, where they'll help you buy one or they'll sort of rent you one.

The state testing standards are a little strict to some parents, but as we look forward to testing, it's not an issue for us. And this year they took off the limitations on money allowed for PE/art/music (it used to be a percentage of your total funds), so we can use more toward lessons. This benefits us because we have 14 years of HS materials built up in our home, and a huge network of HS friends, so it's rarely necessary to buy a new curriculum.

Love, penelope

[caslw4]

I'm in Missouri and it appears to be very easy to homeschool here. My kids will be starting in Kindergarten this fall, so I haven't gotten too far into it, but it doesn't seem bad at all.

[monmom]

Homeschooling in Arkansas

We just moved to Little Rock and we're wondering what the general acceptance level for homeschooling is here. People seem very supportive of their private and public schools (not a bad thing), but I don't know anyone who homeschools and is not ultra-conservative religiously..........any info.?

[MamaBug]

I live in NH and hoping someone can tell me if this is a difficult state to HS in? After one too many incidents in the public school I am willing to give this a try over the summer to see if I can do it. I am a certified K-6 teacher ( though my license expired 11 years ago after my first baby came) so that part will be ok. I just would love to know where to go to find out the laws, resources, etc. My boys are super excited that we are going to try this and so am I!


Thanks for any info!