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Texas Homeschool – Homeschooling the Texas Way

Posted by Kayley Kenzie on April 1, 2008
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by Kayley Kenzie

Contrary to what many people might try to tell you, it’s quite legal in the United States to take your children out of public school and homeschool them. However, you need to be aware that different states have different laws when it comes to homeschooling. You’ll want to understand them before you get started teaching your child at home.

Education is not even discussed in the Constitution. The Department of Education is the entity that impacts the rules that govern educational services.

It’s vital to understand that there are different educational laws for each state. You’ll find that the different laws and practices vary widely from state to state.

Let’s say you wanted to establish a Texas homeschool, for example. The educational laws in Texas are relaxed. Parents just need to be sure they treat their homeschool as if it were a private school.

Texas only requires that you teach your child how to read, write, spell, do math, and be a good citizen. Texas doesn’t require any recordkeeping, no attendance requirements, no special qualifications, and no mandatory tests.

Although Texas homeschool requirements are easy-going, not all states follow suit. Homeschooling is legal in all parts of the US, but some states make it harder than others. Some states demand to see and approve your child’s curriculum, and they also want to see student achievement test scores. Some will even want to send officials to visit your home. The most demanding states will require one parent to be a certified teacher.

There have been a lot of efforts to undermine homeschooling over the last few decades. Plenty of parents are afraid that homeschooling will be made illegal in the not-too-distant future.

Fortunately, by reviewing the history of homeschooling law, it’s quite unlikely that this will happen. Courts still seem to be in favor of homeschooling.

If you live in Texas and can enjoy the easy Texas homeschool requirements, you’ll still want to be informed of all the legal aspects regarding homeschooling in the state.

The only source of legal rights for homeschoolers is found in the Home School Legal Defense Association, which was founded in 1983. This association fights for the right of parents to homeschool their children.

If you are thinking about homeschooling your children, don’t be overwhelmed or intimidated by your legal position. It is essential for you to learn what these laws are and how they would affect your desire to teach your child at home.

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