"Starting" a home school?

Hello,

I am a poster on A To Z teacher stuff, and found this site through them.

My name is Joel and I am about to complete a 2 year teaching program (IL) in May. My wife and I have a son, Jackson (6 mos) and are going to welcome our second son Jamie in April.

We know that I am going to find a job pretty easily, but she keeps suggesting that I home school the kids, and that I take on other students; like a home-private hybrid school. I don't know how to even go about starting a home school, or even if a home-private school is a viable idea.

Do any of the poster on this board teach students other than their own, and if you do, what do you charge? This is something that wouldn't even come up for us until Jack and Jamie are school age; 4-5, so we have some time to get finances in order.

Thanks!!!!

Joel

 

We can't do that in SC. We have to have custody of whom we homeschool.

 

Joel,
We live in IL also, and legally you can only hs a child of your own that you have custody of. It kind of stinks,but that's how it goes here. I am not complaining bc that is basically one of only a couple il hs laws. You have to be teaching the child by 7 birthday, you have to teach math, language, science, history, writing, just the normal stuff, but we are considered a private school, so private school laws might apply. But you can not hs other peoples dc. If you started a private church school or something, that might be the only way to do it. Check into that maybe? Good luck. Where in IL do you live? We also knew when our dc were babies that we would hs.
Heather

 

In NM you also have to be legal guardian of the children you homeschool.
However, it is legal to "tutor" students whose parents are homeschooling them. In other words, the parents must register as hs the children, then they pay you to "help". In essence you are doing the actual schooling, but they are responsable for their own childs education.
Remember, in NM, beyond having some sort of "proof" you are covering the basic subjects, there are no requirements. (and that proof only comes into play if there is a problem)
You would be limited, I believe to the # of children legal for babysitting. (it is age dependent)

The other option, might be to open your own school. As a certified teacher I think you have more options...I am sure the paperwork involved would be more specific.
My daughter is seriously looking into this, but at a preschool level which is a bit easier.

Remember however, that wanting to homeschool and running a private school are two completely different phenomena. If you have students, other than your own children they come with parents with expectations. and then you have a classroom you have to manage and everyone has to do a certain amount of work together...it is not a bad thing. but it is does depend on your reasons for considering hs in the first place.

 

Here in VA, what you're thinking about would fall under the tutor laws not the homeschool statutes.

 

Perhaps I missed it, but what state do you live in?

 

You could probably conduct different "co-op" classes. There is a person here that does that - she has a "class-room" set up and conducts different co-op classes pretty much all day long and charges per year. Some days it's the same subject just different levels.

 

I know it can be done. I know a girl in Georgia who teaches four or five children. She has her bachelors degree in elementary education and has a school room off her home. I have no idea what she charges.

I have been approached about homeschooling my dd12's friend who is one grade above my dd but I just cant' do it. I homeschool my two kids and watch a baby during the day. I refuse to stress myself beyond my limits.

 

I guess I do something close, in that I tutor high school math and physics in the afternoon and evenings. However, I accept both homeschooled and public/private schooled students.

I consider myself a math version of a piano teacher. Someone hires me to teach/help a subject they many not feel comfortable with.

Carol

 

Did you ask this over at AtoZ? What were their thoughts?

 

I am actually interested to see how this could work in IL. I am also in IL and similar services have been requested of me. I am HSing my DD and I have been approached to HS other children as well - however I work as a teacher full time currently.

I wonder if the tutoring option would work. It would make sense.

 

Here in MD the parent must be the primary educator.

 

Can you post a reference? I also live in IL and have never found anything in the law that says you can only homeschool your own child. So, I'm interested to see where you read that.