Celebrating National School Choice Week: Homeschooling

Home schooling is the ultimate form of parental school choice…the ultimate example of parents taking responsibility for ensuring their children are educated and prepared for the future.The Kentucky Constitution protects the right of Bluegrass State parents to homeschool their children. What’s required? Parents must:

• Notify the superintendent of the local school board in writing within 10 days of the beginning of the school year of their intent to homeschool their child(ren) each year they homeschool; the letter must include the name, ages and residence of each child in attendance of the homeschool.

• Establish a bona fide school for the children to attend. When informing the district superintendent of your desire to homeschool, create a school name. This will be used for future records and diplomas.

• Record and maintain scholarship reports of each student's progress in all subjects taught at the same intervals as the local public schools. The best way to do this: keep a portfolio that contains samples of the best work done by each child in several areas of study and maintain the portfolio year after year.

• Keep a record of courses taken and grades received.

• Keep accurate attendance records of pupil attendance. The minimum number of school days 185 days or equivalent to 177 six-hour days.

• Be open to inspection by directors of pupil personnel, who are allowed to confirm that compulsory attendance requirements are met. The inspection may be conducted in a neutral site rather than the home.

• Offer all instruction in the English language; subjects should include reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, science, math and civics. Parents also have the right to offer other subjects, including religious teaching.

What the National Home Education Research Institute says:“Homeschooling students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education or their family’s household income.” “The home-educated are doing well, typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development. Research measures include peer interaction, self-concept, leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, and self-esteem.”“Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.”“The research base on adults who were home educated is growing; thus far it indicates that they … vote and attend public meetings more frequently than the general population, and go to and succeed at college at an equal or higher rate than the general population.”By adulthood, home-educated students “internalize the values and beliefs of their parents at a high rate.”Click here for more information on homeschooling trends and academic performance as well as the social, emotional and psychological development and real-world success of home-educated adults.