The Schools

THE Trent SCHOOLS

State Laws & Requirements
The page applies only to students residing in The United States

Each state has its own rules and regulations regarding homeschooling. Most states have home-school-friendly laws. Texas and Indiana are among the best. A few states strongly oppose all homeschooling and attempt to make it difficult for families to begin. Pennsylvania rates among the worst. But even in these worst scholastic wastelands, homeschooling is possible if you take all the right steps.

Most states have wonderful homeschooling laws but several local school districts that habitually disobey them. It's about money. Most local school districts lose money every time a student leaves their systems and home schools. School district budgets are usually based upon the number of students enrolled. You take your child out of the system to home school and their inefficient schools lose income.

You may live in such a district. If you do, when you notify them of your intent to home school your child, expect twisted truths, outright lies, and even unlawful demands regarding required courses, notebooks, tests, and records. You may even be told that you must provide all sorts of paperwork or open you home to inspection. I'm sure you get the picture.

School districts are hauled into our courts weekly. The courts usually set them straight and tell them to back off. But those families who enter homeschooling without knowing the laws are often bullied and buffaloed into meeting outrageous demands or to stop homeschooling and return to the public system.

Your best protection is to know your state's laws and regulations before you first contact your local school district. Fortunately, we have a wonderful institution available to you, without charge, willing to provide you with all the facts and protection you need. We advise and strongly encourage every homeschooling family to check them out and, if possible to join their membership. It is The Home School Legal Defense Association at www.hslda.org.

The HSLDA is the best place to go to check on your state's homeschooling laws and regulations. Getting to them is easy, and the laws are presented in an easy-to-read, straightforward manner. Here's how to do it:

Go to www.hslda.org.

You will see a map of the U.S. Click on your state or enter your state's name in the box provided. You will be taken to a page with recent news and events on homeschooling in your state.

Near the top of the page you will see a bar with the word LAW in it. Click on the word LAW. You will be taken to a page with specific information about your state's homeschooling laws. You will see a shaded chart with simplified versions of all the homeschooling options your state provides.

Copy the chart and carry it with you whenever dealing with your local school district.

Don't let anybody tell you the law is different than HSLDA has stated in their chart. Don't let them tell you they have special or different or added rules for their district. If they try, tell them you know better and drop the name of the Home School Legal Defense Association. It can help.

School districts often claim they have special rules because homeschooling is inferior to public school teaching. This, by fact and proof, is absurd. Like the old saying goes, "When they say it's not about the money, it's about the money."

We sincerely hope you're in one of our nation's reasonable and helpful homeschooling areas. But just in case. . .

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