Just an observation about how "schooled" our world is

Because most states--not all--still keep tabs on kids who aren't enrolled in traditional schools. In my state, we have to sign an annual "Declaration of Intent to Homeschool", basically, a sheet of paper stating that I won't be sending my child to school and I take responsibility for their education. If we didn't do this, we could get in trouble for truancy.

Then we have to turn in monthly attendance records to show that we've met their requirement of 180, 4.5 hour days of instruction.

We don't have to turn in portfolios or be evaluated, but we do have to do standardized testing every three years, starting at the end of 3rd grade. I choose to do annual testing because even if the state doesn't require it, I need to see proof that my kid is keeping up with his peers.

 

I the standardized testing done by the school district? Is that once each year, by semester, by quarter? I am in Missouri.

 

In the U.S. each state has different laws for homeschoolers. Some require a lot in the way of reporting & assessment, and some require little to nothing. Some states require a certain number of days or hours. Some require regular testing or other assessment (portfolio). Some require you to register each year.
I'm one of the lucky ones. In IL there are very few requirements. If the child was in public school, you have to inform the district that you are pulling the child out. If they never attended public school, you don't have to tell them anything. I have to teach the core subjects, in English. I'm not required to have them tested or assessed in any way. Homeschools here are considered private schools. So, there's no requirement of days or hours, we don't have to register, and we don't have to report anything to anyone. The only bad thing about having no required reporting, testing, etc., is that the burden of proof falls on us. If someone were to report us to the authorities, saying the kids weren't going to school, and we got investigated, I would have to prove that the kids are learning & that we are doing everything the homeschooling laws require. So, even though I'm not required to report to anyone, I keep plenty of records & work the kids have done. If anyone were to investigate us, I have so much 'proof' it would take them months to look through it all.

 

In Ohio standardized testing is every couple of years. You can go through the school, who goes through a company or just go through the company. I took them in school (graduated of 2003) they were terribly boring and in my opinion a waste of time.

I don't think the schools should spend all their time and money tracking the homeschooled ones, especially since they can hardly keep track of the ones they do have. But that is a whole other topic entirely...lol

 

look into the homeshooling law for Missouri. I do not believe you are required to do testing in this state. I lived in Ms, for a long time but did not hmsl then.

 

That's closer to the system I'm familiar with. Here, as I recall, the ministry requires that you provide your child with "an educational programme," but the nature of that is entirely in your hands.

It went quite smoothly, as I recall. I remember a bit of fuss when one family had a virulently intrusive neighbour who got her nose out of joint about it and reported them to Child and Family Services because she thought that their lack of schooling should count as neglect. Amber - the mum - was a bit of a soft egg and said All the wrong things, I remember my mother being dreadfully put out with her for potentially making things really awful for everyone. But in the end it turned out to be a bit of a joke, really, because it's not the ministry of education who investigates, it's a social worker from the Ministry of Children and Family - who spends all day trying to assess how badly traumatised by abuse children are - so happy children who know more about their favourite subject and less about a couple others really don't register as a serious issue, no matter what.

 

When I was in CA I never had anyone question us on "school days" because the schools ran year round on tracks because they were too crowded. That meant that there were always kids off track and home. Now that I'm in CO I have been asked that everyday this week because school just started and we haven't yet.