What are the legal requirements for homeschooling?
Homeschooling is legally permitted in all fifty states, but laws and regulations vary from state to state. In Ohio, homeschooling is regulated by the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC), Chapter 3301-34. All homeschooling families should be familiar with the full text of this regulation. The OAC is also available in many public libraries and at this link below.
Here is a brief synopsis:
- Proper notification must be given to the superintendent each school year.
- Parent must meet minimum qualifications.
- Nine hundred (900) hours of home education must be provided each year including language, reading, spelling, writing, geography, history of the United States and Ohio, national, state and local government, mathematics, science, health, physical education, fine arts including music, first aid, safety and fire prevention.
- An academic assessment report of the child must be sent to the superintendent annually. This report can be the results of a nationally normed, standardized test or it can be a written narrative indicating that a portfolio of the child's work has been reviewed by a certified teacher.
PLEASE read the regulations for yourself. It is important that YOU know them.
Homeschooling Forms
It is important to understand that you are free to use your own forms, instead of using the forms sent to you by the school district. In some cases, the school district's forms are requesting far more information than what is required by the homeschooling regulations. It is not in your best interest as homeschooling parents, or in the best interest of other homeschooling families, to provide information over and above the requirements. The forms below fulfill all the homeschooling regulation requirements. Make copies of everything and anything you send to the school district. In addition, please remember to send everything by certified mail, return receipt requested. This ensures that, in case of a dispute, you have proof of your compliance with the home education regulations.
You may view, print, (just click the "Print button" at the top of your browser window) and use these:
Academic Assessment Report - Written Narrative
Academic Assessment Report - Achievement Testing Form.
Any current version of a nationally normed standardized test (Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, California Achievement Test, Metropolitan Achievement Test, Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills) is usually acceptable. There are many other nationally normed achievement tests in addition to the ones mentioned above.