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How to enroll your child in homeschooling


Schooling at Home - Private Schools and Schooling at Home (CA Dept of Education)

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In California, there are several ways that parents educate their children at home: through an existing private school, through a public charter or independent study program, and in many instances by opening their own private home based school and filing the Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the California Department of Education (CDE).

  • Frequently Asked Questions on Schooling at Home
  • Laws that apply to Private Schools

Homeschooling

The CDE does not provide guidance on how to home school; however, a lot of information on all aspects of home schooling is available online to assist those who are educating their children at home. In addition there are other resources such as California homeschool organizations and possibly local homeschool groups or meet-ups. The websites for these groups include information on various topics related to homeschooling such as legal issues, curriculum, recordkeeping, transcripts and diplomas, and much more. When you use the internet to search the term “California Homeschool” you will note that there are various different homeschool advocacy groups, both California-based and national, that can be a resource.

Parents who file the private school affidavit to privately educate or "home school" their children must select and provide all curricular, instructional, and other materials.

California Education Code (EC) Section 33190 requires a copy of the Affidavit be kept at the school. Requirements of what must be included in the Affidavit are also outlined in EC Section 33190. EC Section 48222 states:

"The attendance of the pupils shall be kept by private school authorities in a register, and the record of attendance shall indicate clearly every absence of the pupil from school for a half day or more during each day that school is maintained during the year. "

Parents are not required to report to their school district. However, keeping in mind that the school district has responsibility for checking on school-age children not attending school, you might avoid confusion by informing the district that you intend to home school or privately educate your children. In addition, public school districts are required to verify that the private school affidavit filing requirements have been met in order to verify a child’s exemption from compulsory education. This typically involves providing the district with a copy of the filed affidavit.

Resources

The following is for informational purposes only and provides links to educational resources related to public education.

The California Content Standards and Common Core Content Standards identify and describe the skills, knowledge, and abilities that all California students should be able to master at each grade level, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through grade twelve.

The California Curriculum Frameworks provide guidance on how to teach the standards.

Parents schooling at home and exploring a student’s next steps after high school might check with specific colleges, technical schools and prospective employers (e.g., branches of the U.S. military) to learn about student admission or eligibility. Understanding how post-secondary institutions and prospective employers recognize course work completed in alternative education settings is important for parents/guardians considering home school for their high school student.

Alternative diploma equivalencies for students not attending public school include the General Education Development (GED) Test and the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). For information about the GED and CHSPE, please visit the respective Web sites.

Private School Affidavit (PSA) Information

A parent offering or providing private school instruction and who meets the requirements of EC Section 33190 shall file an Affidavit. Parents/guardians planning to file for an exemption to school at home should read the Frequently Asked Questions, “Schooling at Home."

Filing the Affidavit

Private School Affidavit
Online filing system used by anyone wishing to file a PSA for the current school year. Note: If you’re unable to file the PSA online, please contact the Private School Data office for additional filing options.

Private School Affidavit Instructions
Instructions for completing the PSA.

Private School Affidavit Information
Information on filing and maintaining a PSA.

Other Educational Options

Many public schools offer independent study or home-based study as an option. California has a growing number of charter schools which offer different types of schooling in non-traditional settings. To learn what options your local schools offer, start by asking the public school district in which you live what programs allow schooling at home. You might also contact other school districts near yours or your county office of education. If your district or county does not offer a program that a neighboring district or county offers, you may be able to obtain an inter-district transfer that allows your child to be registered in another district’s program.

Independent Study

Independent study is a different way of learning. In independent study, a student is guided by a teacher but usually does not take classes with other students every day. The student works independently. The contact for information for Educational Options/Independent Study is noted below:

Independent Study and Alternative Programs of Choice
Educational Options Office
California Department of Education
916-322-5012

Charter Schools

There are many public charter schools that offer more flexibility for students and parents and some that cater to those who are focusing on home-based instruction. You can search for charter schools using the California School Directory or the Charter School Locator.

Enrolling in Public School

Filing the affidavit does not affect your child’s right to return to public school, and may be done at any time.
For information on public school enrollment (including independent study) you may contact the local school district. If you are not sure what district you are in you can contact your county office of education.

Information regarding transferring to a school in California.

Special Education

The Special Education Division at the CDE provides technical assistance information and resources for parents, school districts, advocates, agencies and others of procedural safeguards regarding students between ages 3 and 21 with disabilities and their educational rights.

Toll-free Help Line: 800-926-0648; Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If after reading this information you feel you would like to speak to an education consultant in our office, please call our main line at 916-445-7331 or email privateschools@cde. ca.gov and ask to be referred to a private school consultant who can advise on private home schooling.

Questions:   Teacher and Leader Policy Office | [email protected] | 916-445-7331
Private School Data | [email protected] | 916-319-0317

Last Reviewed: Friday, December 03, 2021

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Where to begin homeschooling

Many parents are concerned about where to begin homeschooling.  The Home School Facts team hopes that you will use these pages to assist you in bringing clarity to this task.

IS HOMESCHOOLING LEGAL IN THE U.S.?

The United States Supreme Court has never ruled specifically on homeschooling, but in 1972 it did rule that Amish parents could keep their children out of public schools for religious reasons.  The Court also ruled that parents have the basic right to “establish a home and bring up children” along with the right to “worship God according to the dictates of [their] own conscience. ”  The combination of these rights is why, In the United States, the Supreme Court considers homeschooling to be a fundamental right under the Court’s concept of liberty.  While this precedent does seem to favor educational choice, that choice is conditional on states setting standards specific to homeschooling.

Although homeschooling is legal in all U.S. states, it is still a subject of legal debate.  Fortunately, the debate is not about the right to homeschool children, but about the amount of state regulation that should be applied to the process.  Some states require no notice that a family intends to homeschool their child or children.  Others require filing of an official notice with local school officials. (NOTE:  States vary in terms of what must be included in the notice.)  Some states require that a fully credentialed teacher must supervise the homeschooled child’s education.  Some require that the homeschool student must be enrolled in public school and some states allow students to enroll in a public school but don’t require that they do so.   Some states actually prohibit homeschoolers from enrolling in public schools.

In some states, homeschooling regulations are moderate or heavy and other states have few or no regulations at all.  Some states allow parents to formally withdraw their children from school and begin educating them at home while other states’ parents are required to report regularly, show proof of actual progress, and/or keep certain state-specified records, such as attendance, subjects being taught, who the teacher is whether he/she is a certified teacher, etc.

The bottom line is that, while every state has SOME requirements, a lot of variety exists in terms of the type, level, and number of regulations levied on homeschooling.  No two states treat homeschooling in exactly the same way.

 

FIVE EASY STEPS TO START HOMESCHOOLING NOW

Check out the Laws...

Check out the homeschooling laws for your state and create a plan for complying with all applicable regulations.  

Check with your state.
..

Check with your state’s homeschooling association to find out what steps you must take to remove your child from public school.

Establish your budget...

Establish your homeschool budget. Decide how much you’re willing to pay for curriculum materials and all other supplies. Will you be able to teach all subjects on your own or will you hire a tutor for some classes?

Assess your style...

Assess your child’s learning style and your teaching style. If you know what you have to work with and which instructional style will work best for your family, you’ll be more able to successfully select all the resources you will need. There are many curriculum formats from which to choose. Knowing your child’s needs will make it easier for you to select the curriculum most appropriate for his/her homeschooling experience.

Locate the resources...

Locate the resources and/or online schools you determine will work for you and your children. Do your homework. This step will be of crucial importance to the long-term success of your homeschooling venture.

Step by step transition to family education

Basic concepts

To prepare for the transition to family education, learn the basic terms. This will help to correctly fill out applications and negotiate with schools.

Family education is a form of education outside of school (Article 17 of the Law "On Education in the Russian Federation"). It implies independent development of the main educational program. Parents are responsible for the quality of education.

Self-education - same as homeschooling, only for children over 15 years of age or those who have completed a nine-grade certificate.

Externship is a form of attestation for family education and self-education. When a child is attached to a school to pass intermediate and final examinations, he acquires the status of an external student and equal academic rights with other students.

Step 1.

Notify the education authorities

When switching to family education, first of all inform the department or department of education at the place of residence about the change in the form of education. It is not possible to leave school for homeschooling without notice. This can be regarded as improper performance of parental duties and brought to administrative responsibility.

When to apply

You can send a notification at any time: before the start of the school year or in the middle of it. Just consider the response time (on average, the procedure takes from a week to a month), as well as regional requirements. In some subjects of the Russian Federation there are clear dates for informing about changing the form of education.

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How to fill out

A notice of transition to family education can be made in free form or a template can be requested from local authorities.

Sample Application →

To whom to send

A notice of transfer to homeschooling is sent to the department or department of education at your physical address, not at the place of registration.

How to send

Choose a method convenient for you:

  • In person. Fill out an application for family education in two copies. Be sure to mark your notification as registered.
  • By mail. Sending by certified mail with a list of attachments and acknowledgment of receipt will help confirm that the obligation to notify the authorities of the choice of family education has been fulfilled.
  • Remote. If the education authority has an "electronic reception", you can send a notice of transfer to family education electronically. It is recommended to take a screenshot when submitting.

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Step 2. Drop out of school

The second, no less important stage in the transition to family education. If the child has already studied, take his personal file and other documents from the educational organization. It is necessary to be expelled from the contingent of the school, even if you do not plan to change schools and want to take assessments in the same place where you studied.

When to apply

It usually takes about a month to be attached to the school as an external student and sign a contract.

How to fill out

Ask for the template at the administration of the educational organization.

‍Sample Application →

To whom to send

Write an application to the principal of the school.

How to send

Complete the application in duplicate, one for yourself and one for the school, and hand it in in person or send it by certified mail. Specify the possibility of remote submission in the administration of the educational organization.

What's next

If your "old" school is homeschooling children, go to the next step. If not, and it is important for you to pass certifications there, get a written refusal from her to transfer the child to the family form of education. In this case, you can file a complaint with the regional department of education. But it's easier to just find another school and arrange family education without any hassle. ‍

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Step 3. Choose a school for certification

The next important step in transferring a child to family education is choosing a school and attaching to it. To confirm knowledge, a homeschooler needs to enroll in an accredited school that has a license for educational activities. Having chosen a school with a comfortable certification schedule, send an application there.

When to apply

Anytime, but better before the start of the school year, when the school forms the curriculum. Then you will be able to transfer the child to family education in time.

How to complete

Free form or request a form from the school.

Example →

To send to

To the principal of the school.

How to send

In person or by mail as described above.

Step 4. Sign the agreement when transferring to family education

This is an optional step, but highly recommended when transferring a child to family education. The agreement on the procedure for conducting attestations will determine the rights and obligations of the parties, the frequency and form of examinations.

When to apply

May be brought along with the application for admission as an external student.

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How to fill out

An attestation agreement usually consists of an introductory part, main sections and annexes. The latter indicate the procedure, form and period of intermediate certification, laboratory, practical work, consultations. Questions for preparation in subjects, tickets for oral exams, samples of tests and tests are also introduced.

An example of an attestation agreement →

To whom to send

The agreement is signed by the parents and the director of the educational organization.

Step 5. Organize the educational process

Family education implies freedom in choosing the format of education. Someone teaches children himself, others prefer to entrust it to professionals.

Foxford External and Home School can help you organize family education from grades 1 to 11. This is a virtual school that almost completely replaces the usual one. Classes are held in real time, you can ask questions to teachers from Moscow State University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Higher School of Economics. The program includes basic courses, which is the minimum required to pass certifications, as well as advanced and olympiad courses to develop the strengths of the child. Student progress and motivation are monitored by personal mentors.

Step 6. Enjoy the results after transferring your child to family education

The formalities for the transfer and organization of family education have been completed, and now a new page in the life of your family begins. Now you and your child prioritize learning and make plans on your own.

Good luck!

How homeschooling works in the Russian Federation and whether it is worth transferring a child to it

Interest in school web-based education in Russia is growing every year. The number of schools offering such services is also increasing. What are the pros and cons of studying in the family circle and is the game worth the candle?

Article content:

  1. Legal details
  2. What is important to know
  3. Pluses and minuses
  4. Instruction for parents
  5. Parent reviews

About the author: Petr Sergeev, scientific director of the educational online platform Uchi.ru.

In Russia, there are no regular official statistics on the number of children in home schooling. At the Edcrunch conference (2019), it was stated that about 100 thousand schoolchildren chose this form of education in 2019year. According to the Ministry of Education and Science, at the beginning of the 2015-2016 academic year, only about 8,500 people were studying in the form of family education in Russia (less than one tenth of a percent of all schoolchildren). The Family Education Association conducted its own research and found that the number of children in family education in Russia increased from 8452 to 15 thousand people at the beginning of the 2017/2018 academic year. But despite the fact that the numbers vary, the growth of interest in homeschooling - and explosively - is noticeable.

Primary school students are transferred to distance learning due to year-round travel or constant travel of parents (diplomats or athletes) for work. Pupils in grades 10-11, who have consciously decided on their future profession, often ask to be transferred to distance learning - this allows them to devote more time to specialized subjects and prepare for exams. There are also exceptional situations: due to problems at school (including bullying), parents have to transfer their child to family education in order to maintain his psychological and physical health. The teaching of disabled children with preserved intelligence also falls under a special situation - it is often difficult for them to physically sit through many hours of lessons. At home, it is much easier to deal with them, making more pauses between classes and distributing the load according to the needs of the child.

A request for distance learning arises in situations where a child needs a special approach and a non-standard class schedule. If you're considering this option, here's what you need to know.

Legal features of home education

According to ‌ "Law ‌Sob‌ ‌ education" ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ (273-ФЗ), there are only two options for obtaining education ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌organization) ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ family ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ method "self-education", ‌ ‌but‌ the meaning of the process itself remains the same.

Final assessments ‌ (OGE‌ ‌and‌Unified State Examination) ‌ are held only at the school on the same conditions for all students. But at the same time, the formats of intermediate quarterly and annual certifications may vary depending on the educational institution.

There is an article in the "Law on Education" that each school independently approves the terms and formats of the certification, so all "family families" pass it in accordance with the school "Regulations". At the same time, the format, including the remote form of knowledge control, as well as the terms are agreed with the administration of the educational institution and at the request of the parents.

Parents often prefer to teach their children on their own according to a state-approved program. At the same time, you can learn both from school textbooks and from author's methods. The main thing here is the end result and the execution of the program. On this topic, large online communities of parents have been created on the Internet, who exchange experiences and overcome problems together.

For example, many parents have concerns about their child's learning. Being in the classroom and discussing, for example, some literary work or historical event, the student receives many different opinions in a short time and learns to look for the truth among them. Thus, the material is remembered faster. At home, when the mother acts as a teacher, it is much more difficult to get such an experience. There are different solutions for this. For example, you can watch adapted films with your child based on this or that historical event, or parents in an unobtrusive manner can periodically discuss this or that educational material with the child using some life examples, drawing him into independent reasoning and expressing different points of view.

What is important to find out before making a final decision

If a parent wants to not only transfer their child to home schooling, but also enroll him in an online school, you need to first deal with a few nuances:

  • It is important not to confuse family education with correspondence education. With the format of family education, the child is officially expelled from the educational institution and attached to the educational organization for certification. In this case, the parents are legally responsible for the child's education and its results. And with the correspondence form, the child remains “on the balance sheet” of the school, and the educational institution is responsible for his education. But one way or another, parents will need to reach an understanding with the school administration of the deadlines for passing certifications and the format for conducting them.

  • It is also necessary to find out where and how to conduct ‌ ‌dach‌ ‌ege‌ ‌i‌ ‌ege.‌ ‌kak‌ ‌ Rujal, ‌ online‌-schools are assigned to ‌ school-partners, ‌ ‌ ‌ Process. city, coordinating this issue with the administration of the institution. Then future exams and certifications will be held there, which simplifies the solution of many issues.

  • Sometimes "family members" have problems with discounts and benefits for schoolchildren, because by law they are not tied to an educational institution. Because of this, it is not always possible to buy train tickets, tickets to museums or movies at a children's rate for a child. ‌With‌ ‌external‌ ‌form‌ ‌training‌ ‌such‌ ‌questions‌ ‌no‌ ‌emerges. ‌ ‌

  • Family and correspondence forms of education are the most common after the traditional full-time. But besides them, there are also non-trivial combinations, for example, part-time education, distance learning in certain subjects, and others. However, parents should understand: the more non-standard the format of study, the more issues will have to be agreed with the school administration, and you need to be prepared for such additional troubles.

Pros and cons of distance learning

The main plus is, of course, the personalization of education, adjusting programs to the individual characteristics of the child. The main disadvantage is problems with socialization.

Pluses:

  • Flexibility of in studying the material: you can devote more time and attention to important and difficult subjects in mastering than disciplines of secondary importance;
  • Participation in the formation of the schedule, the distribution of time between class and independent work;
  • Choice of forms of activities depending on the abilities and needs of a particular child: video, audio, reading or discussion of the material;
  • Freedom of movement for parents and a child without being tied to a specific educational institution and daily routine.

Minuses:

  • Parents should not only solve the problem with socialization child, but also constantly monitor the process;
  • Parents are responsible for the education of the child - this is an additional responsibility that requires time, and sometimes professional skills;
  • The child is not at school - someone must control what is happening and be responsible for his life and health;
  • Online learning requires some skills (and more independence 0200 ) from a child.

Despite the abundance of pluses, the existing minuses can lead to serious difficulties and problems. So, one of the parents, most likely, will not be able to work at a permanent job on a daily basis. Switching to family education may lead to higher costs (for example, for babysitting, etc. ). Therefore, before making a final decision, you need to carefully weigh each item and discuss with your family a possible change in the rhythm of life of all family members.

Quick guide: how to transition to distance learning

The process of transitioning to homeschooling takes much less time than, perhaps, the discussion and decision itself. The easiest way would be to choose a decent online school: in this case, they will “take you by the hand” and tell you what papers to send where, give you ready-made forms, attach them to your partner school and, ideally, help you resolve the difficulties that arise. Compliance with such a mechanism is a sign of a quality online establishment.

If you decide to do everything yourself, then the first thing you need to decide is which school to attach the child to pass the test papers, the Unified State Examination and the Unified State Examination, and receive the final certificate. Be sure to talk to the director or head teacher and make sure that you equally understand the features of the process. Otherwise, it will not be a calm learning, but a constant overcoming of obstacles.

Formal steps towards family education look like this:

  1. Notify local department of education on the decision to transfer the child to family education;
  2. Write an application to the school where he is currently studying, about the transition to family education;
  3. Attach to an accredited school for assessment. By the way, this may be the one he goes to now.

Please note that this process may have its own regional characteristics, which should be clarified with the local department of education.

Peculiarities of learning in an online school: the experience of parents

Let's say you have enrolled your child in an online school, and from now on, only you are responsible for‌‌the‌‌learning process‌. Are‌‌whether‌‌have‌‌online‌school‌‌licensed‌and accreditation is not so important for children who are attached to regular schools for certification. Ideally, such organizations hold a license to conduct educational activities and are registered as a legal entity, but the reputation of the school is of paramount importance. It is best to study the reviews before enrolling, communicate with the parents of other students and the management of the institution. Approach this process in detail, because no matter what the online school promises, you will have to constantly keep your finger on the pulse and control the process.

Before‌ ‌signing‌ ‌papers, it is necessary to ‌think over not only ‌schedule‌ ‌‌‌‌of the student,‌ ‌but‌and‌‌the‌‌life‌‌‌‌including‌the main problem. In countries where online schools have been operating for decades, institutions offer students a daily schedule that includes, among other things, communication with peers.

Schedules in Russian online schools are flexible, and few offer a specific class schedule. Most often, materials are available around the clock, and parents themselves choose a convenient time for their child to study. Some online schools offer individual class schedules, including with online tutors for an additional fee.

But at the same time, parents need to independently look for ways to socialize the child. You can enroll him in circles or in sports sections. Communication with peers is vital for the development of each person. And if in the process of learning you or a family psychologist notice a lack of socialization, you should think about returning to the standard path of school education. This issue is decided individually within each family.

The parent, who is legally responsible for the education of the child, needs to monitor and record the progress of the student in the curriculum.

Online schools usually provide convenient tools for this: a personal account, progress statistics or a personal curator. If at the end of the training it is supposed to pass some kind of formal milestone (OGE, USE, SAT, ACT, A-level, etc.), then the child will be given the opportunity to write several test versions of the corresponding exam. Thus, you will have time to tighten up the "weak points" and improve the result.

Among the problems faced by clients of online schools, the main ones are of a technical nature. For example, the system does not recognize the child's speech, especially in foreign language lessons, and marks the voice answers as incorrect. Some parents point out errors or inaccuracies in reinforcement tests or teaching materials. Most often, such issues are quickly resolved by the institution.

There are problems with the organization of communications. In some online schools, communication with the administration is not the best way, and sometimes it is difficult for parents to get through on the phone or receive an answer to their question by e-mail. Social problems should not be ruled out: for example, not everywhere you can choose teachers with whom the child will study online (if there is such an option). And if there was a discrepancy in the characters of the student and the teacher, the process of mastering the material may be uncomfortable for both parties.

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