Texas Homeschool - Homeschooling the Texas Way
Kayley Kenzie
Not everyone is aware of this, but it's not against the law to pull your children out of public school and instruct them at home. Still, different states have implemented laws regarding homeschooling that you should know about before you start teaching your children yourself.
Education is not covered in the Constitution. The entity that affects the rules governing educational services is the Department of Education.
It is important to understand that each state creates and oversees educational laws of its own. From state to state, you could find great differences in the laws and practices.
Let's say you wanted to establish a Texas homeschool, for example. The educational laws in Texas are relaxed. Parents just need to be sure they treat their homeschool as if it were a private school.
When you homeschool in Texas, you are expected to teach your child to be a good citizen who can read, write, spell, and do math. You don't need to get a degree, you don't need to keep records, there are no attendance requirements, and there are no tests your child has to take.
Even though homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, some states are easy-going like creating a Texas homeschool, while others are stricter. Some states demand state approval of your child's curriculum and submission of student achievement test scores. Sometimes home visits are even required. In severe cases, one parent must be a certified teacher.
There have been a lot of efforts to undermine homeschooling over the last few decades. Plenty of parents are afraid that homeschooling will be made illegal in the not-too-distant future.
Looking at the history of homeschooling law, it is unlikely that this will happen as the courts continue to be in favor of homeschooling.
If you live in Texas and can enjoy the easy Texas homeschool requirements, you'll still want to be informed of all the legal aspects regarding homeschooling in the state.
The Home School Legal Defense Association, founded in 1983, is the only source of homeschooling legal rights. This association also fights many battles in behalf of parents who choose to homeschool their children.
If you're seriously thinking about teaching your children at home, don't let the legalities intimidate or overwhelm you. It's vital to learn all about your state's laws and how they will affect your freedom to homeschool your children.
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