[konamama]

aloha
if your child has never been in the system, the state schooling establishment doens't know they exist, do you have to follow the process in whatever state you are in? couldn't you just fly under the radar? what could actually happen? dd is only 3 so time to work this out... just wondering if anyone has approached it this way?

 

[eminer]

You could, but if anyone ever wanted to challenge you (e.g. nosy neighbor, truant officer), you would risk whatever consequences might attach to "educational neglect" in your state.

 

[wende]

I'd venture to say that more than half of all Oregon homeschoolers are non-compliant and I've never known of anyone having any problems.

 

[Lillian J]

Quote:

Originally Posted by konamama aloha if your child has never been in the system, the state schooling establishment doens't know they exist, do you have to follow the process in whatever state you are in? couldn't you just fly under the radar? what could actually happen? dd is only 3 so time to work this out... just wondering if anyone has approached it this way?

Some people do manage to be invisible, but others find themselves in a mell of a hess if somebody tips off authorities. Usually they tip off authorities without realizing that homeschooling is legal if legal steps have been taken - but if such steps have not been taken, then it can get messy. And the disturbing thing to me is that when a case like that gets publicized, the rumor gets around that authorities are "hassling" homeschoolers, which is seldom the case - and then there are unnecessary flurries of paranioa for a while. I personally don't think it's worth the hassles of not operating within the law - most states make it pretty easy to just go about your business with little or no interference. I'm sure Hawaii's rules don't amount to much - knew an unschooling family there, and never heard of them having to worry about it

Lillian

 

[OTMomma]

In Tennessee it seems a lot of parents register with umbrella schools- it dodges the state (which I've been told here can be a pain), but gives you a nice cover. Some charge a very minimal fee and will create a transcript for if your child ever has to enter private or public school to smooth the paper work. That's the route we will probably go.

 

[Roar]

More than half of the people I knew when we started to homeschool have since put their kids into school for a variety of reasons - divorce, health problems, the child expressed an interest, etc. Most of these were people who were sure they'd homeschool forever. That may be one argument for operating within the law. And, of course it depends on where you live. In some states the law is incredibly easy to comply with.

 

[saphire]

I've wondered this myself. I think the PP had a very valid point. I am satisfied with my state's HS laws, so I will comply by registering my intent.

 

[Stevie]

I just called to get the form my state requires and I have to admit that I hated doing it. The state sends a copy of the form to the local school system. Just makes me knotty in the gut to "ask permission". The site was all scary sounding too; "don't forget to dot an 'i' or you won't be in compliance"

The cut off is October 15th and I marked it in my calendar to send it on the 1st... <yuck>

 

[onlyzombiecat]

I think there is a risk if you choose not to comply with your state's homeschool law. Some people are okay with that risk.

Maybe nothing would ever happen but someone could report you and at that point you could be losing a lot more control over your own parenting choices or even fighting to keep your child because you had not been complying with the law. I don't feel the risk is worth it just to avoid being on record. The law in my state isn't that hard. I don't want to keep my child in hiding or lie.

 

[warriorprincess]

I don't think it's worth the risk either. What if, heaven forfend, I was reported to CPS for something? Imagine the heap of trouble I'd be in.

 

[embers]

We are in Oregon...

My son was born at home. He does not have a SSN, never got a PKU, does not have ID, does not go in for "well baby" checks etc...

I do not have a license and I am not in the system either...

I have zero intention of filing with my state and such. If my son wants to be in the system(s) for anything as an adult or teen, then he gets to by all means... but I am not going to do it for him. We live a peaceful under the radar life anyway, so... *shrug*

 

[konamama]

good points of view - lots to think about.
here is another scenerio - we plan to be nomadic, traveling all around the country - how to file then? in what state? just pick one with hmsch laws that i like? i love that i have time to figure out how to navigate all of this )

 

[momto l&a]

Idaho has nice hsing laws, which is where we live

 

[Nitenites]

In our state, if your child has never been in school, there's nothing to report. Upon request of the superintendent, homeschoolers are required to provide attendance records, and that's it.

I love Indiana!!!!

 

[Linda on the move]

Quote:

Originally Posted by konamama good points of view - lots to think about. here is another scenerio - we plan to be nomadic, traveling all around the country - how to file then? in what state? just pick one with hmsch laws that i like? i love that i have time to figure out how to navigate all of this )

full time RVers tend to have PO Boxes in Texas -- which means that they never have to deal with state income tax and that they full under Texas homeschooling laws. Texas homeschool laws don't require anything.

 

[konamama]

anyone have a link to a site with all the different states laws for homeschooling?
i am gong to also ask around in my community to see what other homeschoolers do - my guess is that even if you register here (hawaii) that the ps here don't follow to the letter of the law, it just isn't hawaii's style )
Texas sounds like a good idea as well, but not sure if we will rv full time, hmm...