Post by Jacinta on Aug 2, 2007 14:21:48 GMT -5
Getting started in the homeschool world is a bit daunting.
First you need to contact your local school board. If you do a google search with your county name plus school board you should be able to find it rather easily. You can call and ask that they send you out a homeschool packet. Most districts will have a packet providing you with some (limited) resources. You can also verify their mailing address.
You must send a Letter Of Intent to them. Here is a sample letter:
------------------------------------------------------
TO: SCHOOL BOARD NAME
SCHOOL BOARD ADDRESS
FROM: YOUR LEGAL NAME
YOUR MAILING ADDRESS
YOUR PHONE NUMBER
DATE:
RE: Notice of Intention to Homeschool
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter serves as notice that I, (YOUR NAME), hereby submit this as my intention to homeschool my child (CHILD NAME), born (DOB) in a homeschool program.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at (Contact information here).
Sincerely,
SIGNATURE
NAME
------------------------------------------------------
You should receive back some sort of confirmation letter. Take this letter and photocopy it. Keep a photocopy in your wallet/datebook/car. This will get you discounts in bookstores, etc. File the original in a safe place.
You should keep a portfolio (various people disagree on the requirements with this) and a log (again disagreements) of your child's studies. You will be required to submit an annual evaluation on the anniversary of your homeschooling (NOTE: Some counties do it one time a year period. IF they require this - it is not the law. You can simply contact them by mail and state that you want to do your evaluation on such and such a date.)
Evaluations can be done a variety of ways. In each instance it is the parent's responsibility (and bill).
1- A teacher who is licensed to teach your child's grade level or above can do a portfolio review or adminster a test (your choice). Then they provide you and the county (or you and you provide copy to county) stating that your chlid has successfully advanced to their abilities. That's right - your 3rd grader doesn't have to pass the FCAT. They just have to have learned!
2- A licensed social worker can do the same as above.
3- Sometimes the school can make other arrangements - however these can include a school adminstered test, psychiatric letter, etc. These are all done on a case by case basis ONLY.
Keep your portfolio for 2 years.
Hope that helps!
First you need to contact your local school board. If you do a google search with your county name plus school board you should be able to find it rather easily. You can call and ask that they send you out a homeschool packet. Most districts will have a packet providing you with some (limited) resources. You can also verify their mailing address.
You must send a Letter Of Intent to them. Here is a sample letter:
------------------------------------------------------
TO: SCHOOL BOARD NAME
SCHOOL BOARD ADDRESS
FROM: YOUR LEGAL NAME
YOUR MAILING ADDRESS
YOUR PHONE NUMBER
DATE:
RE: Notice of Intention to Homeschool
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter serves as notice that I, (YOUR NAME), hereby submit this as my intention to homeschool my child (CHILD NAME), born (DOB) in a homeschool program.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at (Contact information here).
Sincerely,
SIGNATURE
NAME
------------------------------------------------------
You should receive back some sort of confirmation letter. Take this letter and photocopy it. Keep a photocopy in your wallet/datebook/car. This will get you discounts in bookstores, etc. File the original in a safe place.
You should keep a portfolio (various people disagree on the requirements with this) and a log (again disagreements) of your child's studies. You will be required to submit an annual evaluation on the anniversary of your homeschooling (NOTE: Some counties do it one time a year period. IF they require this - it is not the law. You can simply contact them by mail and state that you want to do your evaluation on such and such a date.)
Evaluations can be done a variety of ways. In each instance it is the parent's responsibility (and bill).
1- A teacher who is licensed to teach your child's grade level or above can do a portfolio review or adminster a test (your choice). Then they provide you and the county (or you and you provide copy to county) stating that your chlid has successfully advanced to their abilities. That's right - your 3rd grader doesn't have to pass the FCAT. They just have to have learned!
2- A licensed social worker can do the same as above.
3- Sometimes the school can make other arrangements - however these can include a school adminstered test, psychiatric letter, etc. These are all done on a case by case basis ONLY.
Keep your portfolio for 2 years.
Hope that helps!