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By James Masterson
There is more or less a general consensus on the inherent
value
of education. However, people may often disagree about the
right
method toward achieving that education. The majority of the
population would rather opt for institutionalized formal
education, referring to education offered in public or private
education institutions like primary and secondary schools.
However, as has been the recent trend, many parents in
particular have begun considering or even going on ahead with
home schooling their children. Home schooling, prevalent prior
the inception of formalized school systems, is making a return
to the mainstream because some parents either do not approve
of
the curriculum of school systems or are even against the idea
of
formalized school systems, or find themselves holding greater
capacity to educate their children in the best possible
manner.
Perhaps you are interested in home schooling your child, and
conceded, you have your own reasons for doing it. But just
like
picking a school for your child, the decision to home school
is
a very big one. This would most obviously translate to you
taking your child out of a previous social learning
environment
and into the home to educate him or her; moreover this also
means that from then on, you are going to be fully responsible
for the intellectual rearing of your child.
It is perhaps for this reason that certain guidelines are set
by the state or local education offices before you can
actually
home school your child. It is best to consider these
guidelines
first because your state can help you through the process, and
moreover, may enlighten you on relevant issues on home
schooling. I’ll expound further.
Majority of states in the United States would require a legal
minimum of state notification of your intention to home school
your child. In a rare few (including Texas, Alaska, Missouri,
Illinois, and Oklahoma, among others), you may go on ahead
with
home schooling your child without informing the state.
Other states however, would require you first to notify the
state and afterwards acquire your child’s grade records should
he or she have attended a public school. After this, some
states may require you to create a curriculum you intend to
follow for your home schooling program, be accredited as a
parent-teacher, and to host a home visit by your local
education officials. Later on, during the period when your
child is already being home schooled, some states may require
for you to submit to them evaluation scores, attendance
records
(states may require a minimum number of ‘school’ days for home
school too) and even test scores.
It is very important for you to find out the different
requirements for home schooling in your state. For one, it
will
help you make sure that once you home school your child, your
child’s education is actually being recognized by the state.
Without state approval, your home schooling may not be
regarded, which may increase the difficulty for your child to
move on to a university or college. Second, the state may
provide you with various forms and guidebooks as you home
school your child. This assistance may prove valuable to you,
especially if you are home schooling for the first time.
Third,
by finding out these requirements, you will be able to submit
to
the state all the required documents that you must submit
periodically. In this way, you are also assured that your
child
is at par level with any other child enrolled in a regular
school setting. In the same manner, by approaching your local
education authority you may actually inquire about the college
application process of home schoolers.
Home schooled children may be required a marginal number of
steps that regular applicants are not required to take in
order
to qualify for their chosen university. Some universities may
require your child to take the G.E.D., an exam that will help
test the sufficiency of their knowledge from home school to be
considered as qualified college applicants, while others may
require state accreditation. Moreover, by visiting your local
education authority you will also find out the various state
and local government scholarships for which your child may or
may not qualify.
While home schooling may pose some added burden once you are
ready to return your child to a regular school system, it has
proven beneficial to many in the past. Visit your state or
local government education office in order to make an educated
decision, and in order to get the approval you’d need to push
through with home schooling your child.
About The Author: It doesn’t matter if you just want to
explore
home schooling possibilities or have made the decision and are
looking for a guide to point you in the right direction, "The
Parents Guide to Home Schooling" will provide you with the
information you require.
www.free-online-course.com/homeschool
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