Ok...so my dh is again up for promotion which means another move is in our future. When and where aren't exacts. The way his organization works- you list yourslef as available and post a resume. Those places with openings then contact you. Right now the only jobs open that he'd be qualified for and interested in are in FL and NC. I've checked out both states on HSLDA's site and FL seems to be an easier homeschool state. Of course, nothing will be easier than TX. Any personal opinions? We will be picky about this move as our kids are older, and this needs to be a move that lasts a while. There may be more options come open, like I said, these are just what's open now.
NC isn't that bad. Our state website is www.ncdnpe.org You have to test but, they usually don't ask you to turn in the results.
I am just preparing to start HSing in my home state of NC and it does seem to be a very simple process. And the standardized achievement test the kids have to take each year is one I would require them to take anyway. Good luck with this big decision!
NC is pretty easy. Most of the requirements you basically keep to yourself unless they show up at your door to check them. (Has never happened to me or anyone I know presonally. I hear there is a better chance if you live close to Raleigh - but that they are very nice when they come.) If you aren't into sharing all your business with the government, just make sure you understand the difference between what is required by law and what is RECOMMENDED by DNPE. NC-DNPE is notorious for making it seem like something that is "recommended" is required unless you read carefully. I have family that homeschools in FL and it seems a little more involved than NC with portfolios and visits from an evaluator, but I don't know the details. They've never had any troubles because their evaluator is pro-homeschool.
We keep attendance records, shot records, annual test scores from a standardized test each year and we do 180 days. We have never been visited by anyone from the state, but when I get the card asking if I will send in a copy of the annual test scores I always say yes. I hate cold weather so if Florida's laws are pretty easy to follow, I would probably choose Florida. NC is a beautiful state though. Do you know where in NC the job is? The mountains are wonderful here. We live in the piedmont area, but love the beaches and the mountains.
I just want to say that if I had a choice between NC or FL, I'd chose NC all the way! It's beautiful there, access to different geographical areas (mountains and beach within short drives!), and the laws seem a bit easier in my opinion. Not that this helps, really - just wanted to cast a vote for NC!
Well.. that's where we'd be! I LOVE NC!! My grandmother lives there, and I spent 2 months with her every summer when I was little. We'd be about 2 hours from her and 4 of my dad's brothers and sisters (Piedmont area, Sloan!!). Right now we are 14 hours from any family, so family that close would be nice. With SNOW in S. TX this week, I realized just how much I've adjusted to the warmer weather. I hate being cold!! In FL, we'd be in the panhandle area. The reason I think FL seems easier is that you can choose an umbrella school. I could use the same one we used when we were in TN. They service both states, and I'm familiar with them. I've gotten VERY spoiled in TX!! I always keep attendance and a small portforlio- just for my benefit. (I don't put lots of time into it though. I just pick random work from the year.) Neither of the places are a sure thing. We investigated several places on the availbale list during the last promotion and got a call from a place not on the list. This time, one of the bosses in dh's office is friends with a boss in the FL office, so that could help get him there if he wants it. It's kind of a wait and see thing.... I like to know what my options are. I'd almost rather wait until summer just because ballet recital fees are paid for dd9, a camp deposit has been made for a swim camp for dd12, and we'd lose all that--unless I flew dd12 to Austin for the camp.
Hmmm...I grew up in TN but live in the piedmont/coastal plain of NC, two hours from the beach. I HATE it here. The crime is absolutely awful! I never go out at night and very rarely leave the house without my husband. If safety is important to you, then I would check out FL vs NC crime!
I'm sorry you don't live in a better area - But actually Florida has a worse crime rating than NC http://os.cqpress.com/rankings/2010/Crime_State_Rankings_2010.pdf
I agree with homebody2k...The crime in FL is a lot worse than NC in general. Like any other place on this earth, there are some cities worse than others, but I can honestly say NC is very peaceful. The mountains are wonderful!
I am a Floridian and hsing here is SO easy! No attendance, No Immunization Requirements, No Curricula requirements, all you do here is send a letter of intent sent to the school district you live in. Then a year from the date of your letter is your deadline to send in a sheet filled out by a teacher stating that your child has showed a level of progression and is on level with their grade. You can obtain that via a portfolio review, briggance test, Iowa test, or any other standardized test. You DO NOT have to mail in test grades. They only are reviewed by a teacher in the areas of LA and Math. You are required to keep their work on file for 2 years, and the lady we use checks for a reading list, but not sure if that is required. In FL it is super easy and not intrusive.
So, if I have a child with a learning disbility who is not on grade level, what happens? I know she qualified to take an adapted standardized test in TN, but we did not have to turn in a portfolio or have a teacher review anything. If we do end up in FL, we will most likely use an umbrella school.
I think I worded it wrong. The have to show "progression". It is worded something like "I certify that Mary Jane is on a level that commensurates with her abilities". It is very vague, but it is not a pass or fail.
There are alot of armed robberies here and houses broken into. The "small" crimes probably don't stand out in statistics. We live out in the country on a farm, but where you live does no good if they follow you to your house. Before you move here check out wral.com on a daily basis and see for yourself. Now let me say this basically only goes for the raliegh/fayetteville/durham area. Anywhere at least 3 hours east or west is great! Western NC is beautiful with the mountains and eastern is beautiful with the coast. Unfortunately my husband works in RTP which means we have to live close to the crime. He drives an 1 1/2 one way to work everyday so we aren't affected as much. Yes it really is that bad!
I live in the Piedmont too Sloan ! I love it here . We have several great home school groups around here too. I also LOVE the Holden beach area too !
mommy2thegang, Holden Beach is my favorite place in the world! We started going there when I was a small child and my mother would take me and my sisters there. Daddy sometimes would go but even if he couldn't go we went. That was back when the old draw bridge was there. I can remember sitting there for long periods of time waiting for boats to pass so we could get across the bridge. We would wave at the man in the little room. He sat there and operated the bridge. So many good memories! Just about every day I go to EarthCam-Holden Beach Cam just so I can check the waves.
Fl is very home school friendly. Just file a letter of intent, keep lesson log/plans, a portfolio of work done through out the year, and have a certified teacher sign off annually that your child is progressing. You do no need to state grade level. If you are thinking about moving to the Jacksonville area, as far as crime goes, the further south of town you live, the better!
It's not Jacksonville. It would be the Pensacola area. We don't get to choose where to live. We have to go where there are positions open.
