What do I do? We have used Calvert for the last 3 years. Normally we are done months before PS but this year we are behind. DS will be finished in October at that time he drops off the Calvert roaster. I want to give him a break until after Christmas. October -December is busy for us.The problem is because school has started the HS office is telling me that he has to be on record. It's almost like they don't want him to have a break. He has done more than the required amount for the year & with Calvert it doesn't matter anyway. I'm not ordering Calvert until January because someone is buying it for us this year. Why can he have a break? The kids in PS get a summer break so what's the difference? We are just taking ours in October. They are trying to make me register under the state option , do reviews and then in January reregister under Calvert umbrella. but we won't be doing anything from late October to December, they are saying I have to come in for the reviews until I re enroll with Calvert. How am I going to do that when we aren't doing any school, we are on break. We will only be doing review math and reading. This isn't fair & it makes no sense to me. Sorry if I'm repeating I'm just vexed mad right now.:x I never thought I would need HSLDA but i'm seriously thinking about calling them. Any thoughts?
Wow, my thoughts are glad I don't home school in your state? I know not so helpful but wow... Has he done school from Jan to going to be OCTOBER>? that IS a full year of schooling so what can they do seriously? I do not understand your state hs office, with us we just file and that' s it we don't talk to anyone. So uh, I don't know what else to say but hang in there and stick to your guns!
Yep he did a year. PS kids don't even do a year. We started in October of last year with 5th grade. We normally school year around but not with Calvert. We do our Calvert and then go hands on learning for the rest of the year. Labs, cooking, building, hiking, gaming or anything that he is interested in. We also have reading and math everyday but after Calvert is done nothing is structured. This year was bad because we moved, I had a stroke in December and was hospitalized, DS went to NY for a month because I was too sick to school him, then he went to camp for 2 weeks. So we are a little behind. He's been working really hard to finish up and we all need a break. They are just giving us a hard way to go. I really don't think they are understanding what I'm telling them. In Maryland you have to register every year. In the old county we were in we never had these issues. We are in a different county now and they are jerks. They have different rules. I wanted to say " Hey don't be such a jerk" but..well I didn't. but i sure was thinking it. I'm going to call again tomorrow and see if I can get someone else on the phone.
This definitely sounds like an HSLDA issue. From what I understand you need 180 days but I think they are assuming you need them during the same 180 days that the school system operates. Have HSLDA contact them, I am sure they would get it cleared up in no time.
Yep it is a HSLDA issue, I called again today and spoke to a supervisor. She pretty much gave me the same answer. She said that maybe I could ask Calvert to keep me on the books until I am ready to reorder. I just told her point blank that I was not going to take my sons break away from him after he has done almost 360 days of school, when only 180 is required. PS kids get breaks and it's not fair. Then I called HSLDA. They agreed to help, I have to fill out some papers because I'm not a member and then they will intervene. So I'll keep everyone posted.
HSLDA is really good at getting on these type of things. I know a few people in my area who have had to call them. It usually only takes a phone call or a letter from them to take care of the issue.
I just saw this, and I agree - in your place, I would have called HSLDA. Reading their summary of Maryland's homeschool statute, I can see the position the school system is being rigid in considering you under option 3. Please let us know the outcome. I'm very curious. I'm also grateful not to live in a state with such regulations (because that legal summary isn't terribly logical, IMO). One of the first issues we faced with homeschooling was not being able to match up with the traditional school calendar. Fortunately, we've only lived in states where it doesn't matter.
You know the thing is in Maryland it really doesn't matter. It's not written anywhere that you have to follow the schools schedule. They are just trying to make me follow it. The lady told me that I couldn't take a break,drop off of Calverts list and then re enroll. I asked her what was the difference in doing it in the summer and now! It's the same thing with the same amount of time off. What really gets me is my son has actually done 360 days which is almost a full year of school and only 180 days are required and they are still trying to make me do state reviews until I re enroll with Calvert. Luckily Calvert is willing to extend his year so that we will remain on the roaster, but I don't think I should have to do that. My son is entitled to a break just like PS kid. Because of that, I'm still getting HSLDA involved. I'm not going to allow them to do this. It's the county not the state. When we lived in Baltimore I called about this same thing as a what if situation and they told me as long as he completes 180 days or the Calvert program then he is ok and that we could take a break whenever we wanted.
