Home schooling or homeschooling, also called independent schooling or opti-medicine, is the teaching of children at home or some other locations other than public school, usually with the parents’ consent. It is believed that the best time to teach children is from birth, while some feel that it is important to teach them when they are young. The main advantage of home schooling is that it gives parents greater control over the children’s education without having to register for any class or pay fees. There is also the fact that most of the schools accept uncertified teachers who are registered parents too. But there are certain disadvantages of home schooling.
There are many arguments against home schooling. One is that the child spends less time in school and therefore gets behind other students. Also, public schools have stricter rules and discipline compared to homeschooled children. A major disadvantage is that children lack exposure to the liberal arts, sports and culture. Many studies show that social skills are developed in public schools, but they are missing in homeschooled children.
A home schooling parent should get the consent of the local schools in their area before starting home schooling. They need to put in writing that they are not involved in any way with any religious or political activity. Parents need to put in writing that they are not giving a Christian beliefs or a Christian education. A local school affidavit is required to start and end homeschooling.
The second section of the home school affidavit is as follows: “The parents hereby authorize and assign to their child to reside in a private household, under the provisions of law, for schooling, not part of any public school, and to receive all aid, instruction or food that the child may require.” The first paragraph of the private school affidavit states that the child will be admitted to public or private school, or both if the child qualifies. The last sentence of the section gives a detailed description of the child’s schooling and where he or she will live. You will need this information to fill in the appropriate areas on the home school application.
The third section of the home school affidavit states that the child will attend and complete the prescribed number of hours of independent study. The independent study program is a requirement for most homeschooling programs. Most states require public and private schools to provide a minimum of 1 hour of independent study in each academic quarter.
An independent study program may include reading books or watching a television program. There is no limit on the number of books or programs you can use to satisfy the independent study requirement. Some states have a mandate for public or charter schools to offer independent study, but they may choose to ignore this requirement. The majority of independent study programs are accredited by the National Association for Home School Programs.
The fourth sentence of the home school affidavit states that the child will get financial aid (if any) for his or her education. The types of financial aid are the family budget, federal grants (student loans and work) or private school tuition assistance. Most public school districts require parents to apply for student loans for their children. Private school tuition assistance is available to students attending traditional schools and some private schools. Parents can apply for federal student loans at the Department of Education, online through their school district’s website, or directly with banks.
The last two sentences of the home school affidavit state that the parents are responsible for the child’s educational success. If either parent does not meet the educational requirements, the parents must fill out an Affirmation of Determinations (ADA). If an Affirmation is not received within a reasonable time frame (usually thirty days), the parents must go through the public school district’s process to get a new document stating that the parent has met all necessary conditions for parents to enroll their child in public school.