We willl most likely be moving out of state in the late summer or fall. We aren't sure where yet (right now Ft. Worth, TX is our 1st choice, but positions change constantly). We have finished our school year and I am trying to go through and decide what to keep. I know some states are highly regulated, so I am concerned about keeping the right things to show for hs'ing. I keep all of my kids' work in large binders, so I am simply considering keeping it all for now. I have everything that we have done for the last 3 years in boxes in the attic, because we knew this move was coming. But, I'd love to condense it, so I don't have to move it. I do have attendance sheets/grades for each year, too. And achievement test scores for last year. I'm also deciding what to do with all the great ancient crafts that we made throughout this year. I hate to throw them out!
Legally. . .you don't have to keep anything per se. (Keep reading. . .) For example, in NYS (there is not another state that is more regulated) what you did last year in Podunk doesn't matter. You are not required to comply with NYS law previous to living here. Of course you should check with the state organizations when you move BUT I've written articles on legalities of homeschooling in all 50 states plus territories. So in other words, you cannot be deemed out of compliance bc you don't have IHIPs for last year if you didn't live in NYS last year. (Just as an example.) Likewise the state doesn't have (that's any state) the right to ask you for records previous to living there. The issue would come into play if you send your kids back to regular school and that school requires trasncripts. And how much it would come into issue likely depends on how regulated the state is. What I would suggest is keeping a summary of the work but not all the work. I keep homemade report cards, and that is likely what I'd hold onto if we moved. Of course if it's easy enough to keep it and you have the space for it. . .then keep it. It won't hurt you to have it, and if you need to recreate records for a school at some point then you'll have it. I should also say that I'm assuming your kids are not in high school. If they are, you should make and keep trasncripts for college. HTH
Thanks, Sneaky, I thought leagally I would be OK, but I know some places try to enforce rules that aren't really there (TN has to be one of the worst). We have no intentions of our kids going to ps and none in high school yet. I do have report cards that I have made for each child.
LOL Are you sure TN is the worse? I thought NYC was?! Yeah--that could happen--some yahoo in some yahoo school district tells you, you need something that you don't. . .but that's nothing new. ;-) Here's hoping you move to a state with no paperwork!
Deena, we seriously considered the Seattle area. The one thing keeping us from pursuing that route is the cost of living. Salaries in my dh's company (BS are the same across the board (with the exception of yearly performance raises), so we just don't think his salary alone would support us there. My dh was a summer missionary in WA, OR, and ID when we were in college. He LOVES WA. We are still keeping that option open, because we know if that's where God wants us, He'll meet our needs. Reminds me... Friday is when positions are updated...need to check that out!
Oh yeah, I remember now! Where was my mind?! We live across from Seattle (a ferry ride, or a drive across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge). It's WAY cheaper out here than Seattle! I think I told you that already though! Not sure what your budget is, but I'm guessing you could do it by living in one of the communities on this west side of the Puget Sound! Plus, and an added benefit is that we could get together sometimes! I agree, God will lead and open up the way for you if you follow His leading! I will pray things go well for you! Let us know how it goes!
If you want to move to a lax state, Arizona is it. I guess they they don't mind you homeschooling because they figure anything you teach your kids at home is more than what they teach the kids in public school.
Nothing open in AZ right now. Seattle is still open. DH will be officially available for hire on June 1. Interviews will begin at any time after that. Moving will take place 6-8 weeks from the date of the 1st interview.
Pam - living in Texas we don't have to keep any records of any kind. I can't see how keeping no records at all is a good idea. Even though I don't have to - I do. I haven't kept any of the actual work except for the lap book and any crafts. I only keep a summary of what we did for the year. At least that way I know for my own piece of mind what has and has not been covered and what we still need to do. I kept it in a word file and at the end of the year printed it out to keep in a binder. It is only 36 pages (one for each week) so I ought to be able to keep several years in one compact binder. Good luck with being able to move to Texas!
One way to save the projects without SAVING THE PROJECTS, is to take pictures of them. (I take pictures, and then I make a scrapbook page. hehehe That way I can include what it is, why he made it, what he learned, etc etc etc.) You can take as many pictures as you want from however many different angles. And, if there are some you just WANT to hang on to for whatever reasons, get a tote of some sort - plastic ones from WM are cheap and have sealable lids etc, and there are always wooden chests. I'd not recommend a regular cardboard box because pests DO and WILL get into it eventually. The rest of the info you have on moving etc sounds like it's got you covered. I do know that TX cost of living is generally lower than almost anywhere else you'll find. (Except maybe rural Missouri? LOL) In city is always going to be more expensive than suburbs and rural. Good luck finding a place, and if you end up near Austin or San Antonio let me know!!! hehehe
hehehe Yep I guess that's another place. I forget about it because we ruled it out long ago.... My dh's company won't open there for several more years and so we *couldn't* move there. But you're right! Oklahoma is cheap!
we just moved to wisconsin and i talked to some other homeschoolers and wisconsin is a wonderful friendly state to homeschool in. come here we have cheese curds too.
Nothing open in WI, either Kris. Ann Arbor, MI would be the closest to you. I am curious about the cheese curds though.
I've read that Texas was one of the best states for homeschooling families, we've been hoping to find a house there for sale that has a few acres
MOve here MOve here! California is the place to be SUNNY Weather is the life for me! I just adore the ocean view Texas is nice but give me a wave or two! Hehe Just my input, Homeschooling is cool in California!
