Well, my hubby and I have been brainstorming about how I can bring in an income and homeschool at the same time. Do you think schooling kids besides my own would work? Any suggestions or advice for me? I'd love to hear what you have to say about this idea. Right now, we're living in CA, but we want to move to IN, so I definitely need to research IN homeschool laws and how that would apply to kids that aren't my own. Any help pointing in me the right direction there would be helpful as well.
We're about to start our 12th year of teaching OPKs - Other People's Kids. In our state, it's not ILlegal, so it's legal. We use the same private school option as homeschoolers, and send our registration letter to the same office (state). In some states, it's not legal at all. Be sure to check the laws on private schools as well as public and home schools. Make sure all your policies are written out clearly, and the parents sign it (preferably both parents) and they get a copy and you keep a copy. Mine clearly states that our school is not accredited by the state although we are registered (so they're not considered truant), and that we can make no guarantees of any particular results, and what public school will likely do if/when the student is re-enrolled there. Then our policies about sick days, payment and nonpayment of tuition, dress code, suggestions for lunches, report cards, achievement tests, who's responsible for buying what (my school buys everything, from pencils and erasers to text/workbooks, to looseleaf paper - everything).
Lindina, I was hoping you would chime in I remembered reading that you school OPK's as you put it, hehe. Some questions off the top of my head... Do you choose all curriculum; do you give your kids' parents the option to help you choose? How much do you charge? How many students do you take on at once? What are the age ranges for the students you take on? How long does your school day last? Would you be willing to share your policies with me? I'd love to peek at how you word everything. You said "we..." does that mean that you and your hubby work together? Are you able to use the schooling income as your sole income? I personally am planning to use the classical model with my kids, which would work perfectly for multi-age groups in my opinion. I have 2 kids (ages 5 and 3) and I'd like to take on up to four more kids to start. My husband is open to having this be a joint effort and the sole source of our family income, but I'm not entirely sure it would be enough to sustain us. Step one is to see if it's legal. I'm off to research that right now... will be back for more discussion!
I dont have any advice to give, unfortunately, but I was playing with this idea as well. The only thing holding me back is the discipline issue. I am pretty strict with my own children, they know not to argue, talk back, etc, but how do you deal with other people's kids??
Most of the kids I have had (we start our 12th year with our 38th student on 8/22) have been well-raised, and/or were trained in PS to "keep it to yourself". I can't say I've had a lot of trouble with mouthiness, but most of them recognize "the behavior Nazi" in me when I (as we say here in south Louisiana) "pass 'em some eyes" and say, "Excuse me?????" (as in "I KNOW you weren't talking to ME!") Some of the kids actually did not realize that their words and/or their tone could be interpreted as rude, but they were more thoughtful of it once I explained it to them (not harshly, just matter-of-factly). We do (for the most part) expect to hear Ma'am and Sir - that's just kinda how it is in the South, y'know. (Sometimes when we're just being casual, like at breaktime, we'll accept a simple yes or no rather than insisting on Ma'am and Sir with every single utterance...) We're about the same age as some of these kids' grandparents, so maybe that has something to do with it...? It's a good thing to have an idea in your unwritten policies about what you'll do with OPKs because (except in rare cases) paddling is a bad idea. I have had parents suggest to me what I could do with their child for discipline: one brought me the wooden paddle she used at home, another brought me her son's binky on a ribbon to be hung around his neck (if he's going to act like a baby, he might as well be treated like a baby) when he was in fifth grade, and I have a paper cone Dunce cap displayed above the assignment board. I've put kids in time out, I've made kids write lines, I've called parents... depends on the kid, their age, and their offense, but mostly it doesn't come to that. I've only expelled one student. So far. I had one just get up and leave - I called the police.
Lindina~ You are a wealth of information! I must say since I started homeschooling and we are over the what the heck are you thinking from people around me. I have had more parents asking me if I would hs their children..... But, here in NY I believe its illegal to do so. So, I am loving to hear how to do it.
Lindina, thank you so much for your willingness to share with me! I crunched a few numbers in comparison with local private schools and I'd have to have 40 students to sustain us if I charged the same rate. HA! So I guess that answers my question as to whether or not it would be enough sole income. That being said, and understanding that I wouldn't be "in it for the money," I think 4 students would be a nice supplement to my husband's income. If he just worked part time, then he could also work part time at our school and I think it would work out nicely. I am having a hard time finding out whether or not it's legal in Indiana. Anyone willing to help me delve into that? On the discipline issue, this crossed my mind as well. However, before I stayed home with my kids, I taught special education in a public school. I have lots of behavior experience under my belt. My biggest concern is liability... do I need some sort of special insurance? Must do more research.
When I lived in NY, I knew someone who schooled another family's children. I believe she had different regulations, but apparently it is legal. (I think she had a teaching certificate, so that might be part of it.)
I just pulled out my state regs for NY to double check since I have always been told you can't do that. I guess you can hire a private tutor in NY but you need to notify the district. The parents are still required to submit all paperwork (quarterly reports, IHIP, annual assements) I do not know how much flack a district would give or care if some one hires another person probably depends on the district.
I'm trying to find out if this is an option for me in SC. From everything I have read it states "parents" can homeschool. I cannot find anything about homeschooling OPK.
Some other options for making extra income while homeschooling.... watch kids after school. There are lots of parents who work and need after school care. It's much easier to watch school age kids than toddlers in my opnion, and it's only a couple of hours a day. Tutor! Do some evening or weekend tutoring for kids who need a little extra help. It's likley you already have the materials you need, and you can offer to tutor only those subjects you are comfortable with. Good luck! Edie
Good suggestions, Edie I got the email, Lindina, thank you so much! My brain is buzzing with all the options... ahh! So much to figure out!
Well, I can't find anything in IN laws that say you can't school other people's kids, sooooo... I may just do this thing.
