Do I need to officially withdraw my daughter?
Billie Horsam
I've been lurking in the background here for months. I've never
posted but have learned much. However, because I the nature of my
business I've not had the time to really read lately so if this
question has been posted recently I apologize.
My daughter is in public school this year. She is in fourth grade and
we will be unschooling next year. We made this decision months ago
after an extremely stressful school year. Everyone is looking forward
to the change.
However, I need to know if I need to officially withdraw her from the
school district. We live in Texas and I know we have a strong pro
homeschooling faction here with lots so support. There is even a
strong homeshooling group at our church (haven't gotten involved just
yet... the leader is a bit intimidating...)and I could ask there but
this group seems a bit easier to embrace. I just don't know if I need
to do something official. If she were staying in the public school
she would be switching campuses so I don't know if we simply just
don't show up next year or if I need to withdraw here at the end of
this year or wait and go to the new campus.
Sorry for so much unnecessary info. My fingers often get ahead of me.
Thanks so much,
Billie
posted but have learned much. However, because I the nature of my
business I've not had the time to really read lately so if this
question has been posted recently I apologize.
My daughter is in public school this year. She is in fourth grade and
we will be unschooling next year. We made this decision months ago
after an extremely stressful school year. Everyone is looking forward
to the change.
However, I need to know if I need to officially withdraw her from the
school district. We live in Texas and I know we have a strong pro
homeschooling faction here with lots so support. There is even a
strong homeshooling group at our church (haven't gotten involved just
yet... the leader is a bit intimidating...)and I could ask there but
this group seems a bit easier to embrace. I just don't know if I need
to do something official. If she were staying in the public school
she would be switching campuses so I don't know if we simply just
don't show up next year or if I need to withdraw here at the end of
this year or wait and go to the new campus.
Sorry for so much unnecessary info. My fingers often get ahead of me.
Thanks so much,
Billie
Jessica Holland
Hi Billie,
I am sure there has to be some Texans on this list, but just in case, Google your states requirements. Another option is to find what we in Florida call an umbrella school.
Hugs,
Jess
I am sure there has to be some Texans on this list, but just in case, Google your states requirements. Another option is to find what we in Florida call an umbrella school.
Hugs,
Jess
----- Original Message -----
From: Billie Horsam
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 2:30 AM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Do I need to officially withdraw my daughter?
I've been lurking in the background here for months. I've never
posted but have learned much. However, because I the nature of my
business I've not had the time to really read lately so if this
question has been posted recently I apologize.
My daughter is in public school this year. She is in fourth grade and
we will be unschooling next year. We made this decision months ago
after an extremely stressful school year. Everyone is looking forward
to the change.
However, I need to know if I need to officially withdraw her from the
school district. We live in Texas and I know we have a strong pro
homeschooling faction here with lots so support. There is even a
strong homeshooling group at our church (haven't gotten involved just
yet... the leader is a bit intimidating...)and I could ask there but
this group seems a bit easier to embrace. I just don't know if I need
to do something official. If she were staying in the public school
she would be switching campuses so I don't know if we simply just
don't show up next year or if I need to withdraw here at the end of
this year or wait and go to the new campus.
Sorry for so much unnecessary info. My fingers often get ahead of me.
Thanks so much,
Billie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Nance Confer
Here, in FL, if you just don't show up, that's truancy. Here you would inform the school that you are withdrawing your child. They'd have a form for your to fill out.
Nance
***************
I just don't know if I need
to do something official. If she were staying in the public school
she would be switching campuses so I don't know if we simply just
don't show up next year or if I need to withdraw here at the end of
this year or wait and go to the new campus.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Nance
***************
I just don't know if I need
to do something official. If she were staying in the public school
she would be switching campuses so I don't know if we simply just
don't show up next year or if I need to withdraw here at the end of
this year or wait and go to the new campus.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
bluemoonascending
--- In [email protected], "Billie Horsam"
<hollowaysphotography@...> wrote:
I just don't know if I need
http://www.nhen.org/leginfo/detail.asp?StateCode=Texas
In essence, you homeschool through your own private school, but
happily, very little is required of you. You might consider writing up
a request for her records from her current school on some semi-formal
looking paper from your new *private school*.
Best regards,
Blue
<hollowaysphotography@...> wrote:
I just don't know if I need
> to do something official. If she were staying in the public schoolHere is a brief synopsis of TX homeschool laws.
> she would be switching campuses so I don't know if we simply just
> don't show up next year or if I need to withdraw here at the end of
> this year or wait and go to the new campus.
http://www.nhen.org/leginfo/detail.asp?StateCode=Texas
In essence, you homeschool through your own private school, but
happily, very little is required of you. You might consider writing up
a request for her records from her current school on some semi-formal
looking paper from your new *private school*.
Best regards,
Blue
1940smom
Billie - We have looked into moving to TX and checked out the requirements.
You can find them here http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=TX
(Some people love Home School Legal Defense and some people hate it but they
do list each state's laws and requirements)
Laura
On Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 1:30 AM, Billie Horsam <
hollowaysphotography@...> wrote:
You can find them here http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=TX
(Some people love Home School Legal Defense and some people hate it but they
do list each state's laws and requirements)
Laura
On Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 1:30 AM, Billie Horsam <
hollowaysphotography@...> wrote:
> I've been lurking in the background here for months. I've never[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> posted but have learned much. However, because I the nature of my
> business I've not had the time to really read lately so if this
> question has been posted recently I apologize.
>
> My daughter is in public school this year. She is in fourth grade and
> we will be unschooling next year. We made this decision months ago
> after an extremely stressful school year. Everyone is looking forward
> to the change.
>
> However, I need to know if I need to officially withdraw her from the
> school district. We live in Texas and I know we have a strong pro
> homeschooling faction here with lots so support. There is even a
> strong homeshooling group at our church (haven't gotten involved just
> yet... the leader is a bit intimidating...)and I could ask there but
> this group seems a bit easier to embrace. I just don't know if I need
> to do something official. If she were staying in the public school
> she would be switching campuses so I don't know if we simply just
> don't show up next year or if I need to withdraw here at the end of
> this year or wait and go to the new campus.
>
> Sorry for so much unnecessary info. My fingers often get ahead of me.
>
> Thanks so much,
> Billie
>
>
>
Pamela Sorooshian
You just need to turn in a letter saying you are withdrawing her in
order to homeschool. After that, you don't need to do anything else,
ever.
Here is the TAFFIE website - all about Texas homeschooling:
<http://www.jsoft.com/archive/taffie/index.html>
-Pam
order to homeschool. After that, you don't need to do anything else,
ever.
Here is the TAFFIE website - all about Texas homeschooling:
<http://www.jsoft.com/archive/taffie/index.html>
-Pam
On Apr 25, 2008, at 11:30 PM, Billie Horsam wrote:
> However, I need to know if I need to officially withdraw her from the
> school district. We live in Texas and I know we have a strong pro
> homeschooling faction here with lots so support
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Ren Allen
~~(Some people love Home School Legal Defense and some people hate it
but they do list each state's laws and requirements)~~
Not always as accurately as they should though. HSLDA likes to have
statistics to back up homeschooling, because they are a political
group NOT an activist group.
So they don't always list the BEST options for unschoolers, which
include umbrella schools. Or they simply mention it without any
details. You're better off reading the law at a TX site and getting in
touch with local unschoolers for further clarification.
TX is one of the easiest states for homeschooling. There is no reason
to make your child wait....you have the right to withdraw him now.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
but they do list each state's laws and requirements)~~
Not always as accurately as they should though. HSLDA likes to have
statistics to back up homeschooling, because they are a political
group NOT an activist group.
So they don't always list the BEST options for unschoolers, which
include umbrella schools. Or they simply mention it without any
details. You're better off reading the law at a TX site and getting in
touch with local unschoolers for further clarification.
TX is one of the easiest states for homeschooling. There is no reason
to make your child wait....you have the right to withdraw him now.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Debra Rossing
Yes, you need to get her off the roll books but once that's done
(usually a letter to the school saying she won't be coming back suffices
- make sure if you mail it, that it's sent certified with a receipt so
that you know that it was received), TX requires little else.
Deb
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
(usually a letter to the school saying she won't be coming back suffices
- make sure if you mail it, that it's sent certified with a receipt so
that you know that it was received), TX requires little else.
Deb
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Debra Rossing
On the HSLDA site, while their 'synopsis' is not always the greatest, if
you click on the link to the details that is at the top of the synopsis
page for your state, you can quickly find out the statute numbers
related to homeschooling so you can check out *precisely* what the laws
say, without any commentary or agenda involved. Very helpful for folks
who might not have a local hs support website with that level of detail
(some do, some are just contact info and schedules for park days, they
vary widely since they're all arranged by volunteers who are busy living
life).
Deb
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CNC Software, Inc.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
you click on the link to the details that is at the top of the synopsis
page for your state, you can quickly find out the statute numbers
related to homeschooling so you can check out *precisely* what the laws
say, without any commentary or agenda involved. Very helpful for folks
who might not have a local hs support website with that level of detail
(some do, some are just contact info and schedules for park days, they
vary widely since they're all arranged by volunteers who are busy living
life).
Deb
**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.
CNC Software, Inc.
www.mastercam.com
**********************************************************************
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joyce Fetteroll
> On the HSLDA site, while their 'synopsis' is not always theEven better, without having to pass through the religious agenda, is:
> greatest, if
> you click on the link to the details that is at the top of the
> synopsis
> page for your state, you can quickly find out the statute numbers
> related to homeschooling so you can check out *precisely* what the
> laws
> say, without any commentary or agenda involved.
National Home Education Network
http://www.nhen.org/
There's links to state laws under Legal and Legislative Info as well
as a lot of other useful information.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pamela Sorooshian
On Apr 28, 2008, at 6:10 AM, Debra Rossing wrote:
are plenty of states without any homeschooling law (private school
states, for example). And there are states where there are other,
often better, options for homeschooling in ways other than their
specific homeschooling law. Also, the legal statutes can be very
complicated and it can be difficult to figure out what you actually
are required to "do" based on them.
California has no law, right now. Texas has a court decision, not a
statute. There are lots of other states that don't have
straightforward homeschooling law.
Not being a state organization, HSLDA tends to be slightly "off" in
the way they convey the information - it isn't presented in a way that
is realistic, not necessarily presented the way the laws are carried
out in practice. And the wording is sometimes oddly misleading.
For example, in California, it says one option is to "qualify as a
private school." That makes it sound like you have to be approved to
be a private school, that there is something you have to do to
qualify. But that is totally wrong - you become a private school by
simply being one. The minute you decide to take your own child's
education into your own hands, you ARE a private school. You don't
have to qualify at all.
Another option we have here is to enroll our kids in a private school
independent study program - but HSLDA uses the term "satellite
program." That is misleading - we don't call these private school
isp's "satellite programs." That term is commonly used for brick and
mortar schools with one main campus and other "satellite" campuses.
But many of the private isp's are not associated with any brick and
mortar school - there is no main campus to be a satellite of.
Many many Californians homeschool through charter school programs.
These are different than public school district independent study
programs - they operate under different regulations. But, because they
are also government funded, HSLDA doesn't differentiate between public
school isp's and charter school programs. It is an important
distinction to many California homeschoolers, but HSLDA completely
ignores it.
HSLDA is not a state-level organization, they consist of a few
attorneys, each representing a large number of states, they just don't
quite get things as "right" as the state organizations do.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> On the HSLDA site, while their 'synopsis' is not always theLooking directly at the statutes is a good idea, if they exist. There
> greatest, if
> you click on the link to the details that is at the top of the
> synopsis
> page for your state, you can quickly find out the statute numbers
> related to homeschooling so you can check out *precisely* what the
> laws
> say, without any commentary or agenda involved.
are plenty of states without any homeschooling law (private school
states, for example). And there are states where there are other,
often better, options for homeschooling in ways other than their
specific homeschooling law. Also, the legal statutes can be very
complicated and it can be difficult to figure out what you actually
are required to "do" based on them.
California has no law, right now. Texas has a court decision, not a
statute. There are lots of other states that don't have
straightforward homeschooling law.
Not being a state organization, HSLDA tends to be slightly "off" in
the way they convey the information - it isn't presented in a way that
is realistic, not necessarily presented the way the laws are carried
out in practice. And the wording is sometimes oddly misleading.
For example, in California, it says one option is to "qualify as a
private school." That makes it sound like you have to be approved to
be a private school, that there is something you have to do to
qualify. But that is totally wrong - you become a private school by
simply being one. The minute you decide to take your own child's
education into your own hands, you ARE a private school. You don't
have to qualify at all.
Another option we have here is to enroll our kids in a private school
independent study program - but HSLDA uses the term "satellite
program." That is misleading - we don't call these private school
isp's "satellite programs." That term is commonly used for brick and
mortar schools with one main campus and other "satellite" campuses.
But many of the private isp's are not associated with any brick and
mortar school - there is no main campus to be a satellite of.
Many many Californians homeschool through charter school programs.
These are different than public school district independent study
programs - they operate under different regulations. But, because they
are also government funded, HSLDA doesn't differentiate between public
school isp's and charter school programs. It is an important
distinction to many California homeschoolers, but HSLDA completely
ignores it.
HSLDA is not a state-level organization, they consist of a few
attorneys, each representing a large number of states, they just don't
quite get things as "right" as the state organizations do.
-pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]