When I first started homeschooling, I knew there were certain requirements that I needed to fulfill in order to make sure that I wasn’t hauled away by a truancy officer from the school district we lived in. But the idea of figuring it all out was, in itself, overwhelming. Luckily, through internet research and the advice of veteran homeschooling moms I was able to straighten it all out. Today, I want to share with you the top 5 things I have learned about keeping your home school legal in Ohio:
- To keep the truancy officer at bay, you have to notify your local school district of your intention to home school every year beginning at age 6 and until the age of 18.
- You have to provide documentation of an assessment of your child’s academic progress with your annual notification to the school district, with the exception of the first year. You have a few options in regards to fulfilling this requirement, but you need to have a plan in place from the start of the school year so that you will be covered when the time comes.
- You are required to teach your child for a minimum of 900 hours in the school year. This commitment in itself is a cause for serious reflection before you begin.
- There is a list of required subjects to teach, and it’s not just “the three R’s”.
- Home schooled children have the legal right (thanks to House Bill 59) to have equal access to extracurricular activities in the public schools of their residence.
I hope I haven’t scared you off. This list may seem imposing, but trust me—homeschooling families in some other states have it way worse. And obviously, this isn’t a complete and detailed summary of the Ohio Administrative Code. I urge you to do your own research and make informed decisions based on that research. Below are some helpful links to get you started:
Parents Educating at Christian Homes (PEACH)– This local group’s webpage has tons of valuable information regarding notification, including a form to use and a list of names and addresses for Dayton-area school districts so you can mail the notification where it needs to go.
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSDLA)-I found a great summary of Ohio’s laws accessible for free here. You could also join the group to get legal help.
Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO)– Another great place to find a summary of the Ohio Administrative Code and other advice.
Now that you know how to get your home school legally started, look for my next post on what to teach!
