Re: California requirements
Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall
Hi all, I have a question to throw out to all of you from California, or
who may be familiar with California laws. After wading through the legal
jargon listed under the laws for California on the Unschooling.com website,
I have emerged not much wiser. I have a niece who is interested in what
her local laws are (she is visiting me here for the summer.)
Is it possible to Unschool in California, as the mumbo jumbo I read did not
leave me with that impression. What are her options for possible
Independent Study, programs that may allow her to jump start into community
college programs, or other educational opportunities? She was 13 this
April and will be entering 8th grade next year. She is in the gifted
program in her public school and has been an academic star since the first
day of kindergarten. She gets high test scores, academic achievment
awards, certificates of excellence, and is on both the school honor roll
and National Honor Roll (letter from Clinton, etc.)
She is dissatisfied with the social climate at the ps, the attitute of the
staff and faculty, the academic fare, etc. She has also felt the pressure
of being a high achiever at school and suffered from the expectations of
her parents and teachers alike ("You're my A student....."etc) She has
had a bleeding ulcer from the stress.
Please let me know what options she may have, as she is interested in what
I have had to tell her about Unschooling, my experiences in ps and how my
sons will have a very different experience. She is 'jealous' and wants to
get info to take home to her parents on what options she may have.
Thanks in advance.
Nanci K. in Idaho
who may be familiar with California laws. After wading through the legal
jargon listed under the laws for California on the Unschooling.com website,
I have emerged not much wiser. I have a niece who is interested in what
her local laws are (she is visiting me here for the summer.)
Is it possible to Unschool in California, as the mumbo jumbo I read did not
leave me with that impression. What are her options for possible
Independent Study, programs that may allow her to jump start into community
college programs, or other educational opportunities? She was 13 this
April and will be entering 8th grade next year. She is in the gifted
program in her public school and has been an academic star since the first
day of kindergarten. She gets high test scores, academic achievment
awards, certificates of excellence, and is on both the school honor roll
and National Honor Roll (letter from Clinton, etc.)
She is dissatisfied with the social climate at the ps, the attitute of the
staff and faculty, the academic fare, etc. She has also felt the pressure
of being a high achiever at school and suffered from the expectations of
her parents and teachers alike ("You're my A student....."etc) She has
had a bleeding ulcer from the stress.
Please let me know what options she may have, as she is interested in what
I have had to tell her about Unschooling, my experiences in ps and how my
sons will have a very different experience. She is 'jealous' and wants to
get info to take home to her parents on what options she may have.
Thanks in advance.
Nanci K. in Idaho
Cindy Ferguson
Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall wrote:
Part of the confusion lies in the number of choices one has for
being a homeschooler. The Independent Study Programs are just one
(or two) ways of doing it. The ISP can be a public school ISP, either
your own district or if you can get approval another district. We
also have a number of private charter ISPs who operate statewide.
Success of unschooling with either ISP program is dependent upon
one's supervising teacher (for public school ISPs) or facilitators
(for the private ISPs). Another option exists which I did not
see you mention - that is to file an R-4 affidavit. This is an
affidavit which states that you are running a private school so then
the homeschool is subject to regulations for private schools. This
is the way I will do it when I reach that point (in 2 years). My
children are under the age of compulsory attendance.
For more information check out Homefires webpage
http://www.homefires.com There is an email list for northern CA
on onelist called CAhomeschool; I'm sure there is something for southern
CA too. I'm sure her questions would be welcome on the CAhomeschool
list -- Diane Flynn Keith, the editor of Homefires is quite active
on the list as are others quite well versed in the way it works in CA.
A number of people use whatever option works for them during a
particular year and change when they need something else.
I do know a lot of people who unschool quite successfully in all
of the above mentioned ways of homeschooling.
--
Cindy Ferguson
crma@...
>It is possible to unschool in CA.
> From: Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall <tn-k4of5@...>
>
> Hi all, I have a question to throw out to all of you from California, or
> who may be familiar with California laws. After wading through the legal
> jargon listed under the laws for California on the Unschooling.com website,
> I have emerged not much wiser. I have a niece who is interested in what
> her local laws are (she is visiting me here for the summer.)
>
> Is it possible to Unschool in California, as the mumbo jumbo I read did not
> leave me with that impression.
Part of the confusion lies in the number of choices one has for
being a homeschooler. The Independent Study Programs are just one
(or two) ways of doing it. The ISP can be a public school ISP, either
your own district or if you can get approval another district. We
also have a number of private charter ISPs who operate statewide.
Success of unschooling with either ISP program is dependent upon
one's supervising teacher (for public school ISPs) or facilitators
(for the private ISPs). Another option exists which I did not
see you mention - that is to file an R-4 affidavit. This is an
affidavit which states that you are running a private school so then
the homeschool is subject to regulations for private schools. This
is the way I will do it when I reach that point (in 2 years). My
children are under the age of compulsory attendance.
For more information check out Homefires webpage
http://www.homefires.com There is an email list for northern CA
on onelist called CAhomeschool; I'm sure there is something for southern
CA too. I'm sure her questions would be welcome on the CAhomeschool
list -- Diane Flynn Keith, the editor of Homefires is quite active
on the list as are others quite well versed in the way it works in CA.
A number of people use whatever option works for them during a
particular year and change when they need something else.
I do know a lot of people who unschool quite successfully in all
of the above mentioned ways of homeschooling.
--
Cindy Ferguson
crma@...
Pam Hartley
Unschooling in California is very simple, actually. You (or in this case,
the girl's parents) need to file an R4 form with the state. This establishes
the family as a private school in California and voila. That's it. They are
obligated to keep attendance, to have their instruction primarily in the
English language, and some other things that are equally beside the point
for homeschoolers.
It is really, really unusual for California homeschoolers to be hassled in
any way, and if by some fluke they are, there is a good, inclusive, powerful
state group to help you fight, and you can check them out at this website:
http://www.hsc.org
which will also give you the exact ins and outs of the R4.
There are independent study programs through both private and public schools
in California, and that's another legal option, but IMHO most unschoolers
will find jumping through the hoops a tedious business when they could be
getting on with their lives. The R4 is freedom.
Good luck,
Pam
pamhartley@...
----------
the girl's parents) need to file an R4 form with the state. This establishes
the family as a private school in California and voila. That's it. They are
obligated to keep attendance, to have their instruction primarily in the
English language, and some other things that are equally beside the point
for homeschoolers.
It is really, really unusual for California homeschoolers to be hassled in
any way, and if by some fluke they are, there is a good, inclusive, powerful
state group to help you fight, and you can check them out at this website:
http://www.hsc.org
which will also give you the exact ins and outs of the R4.
There are independent study programs through both private and public schools
in California, and that's another legal option, but IMHO most unschoolers
will find jumping through the hoops a tedious business when they could be
getting on with their lives. The R4 is freedom.
Good luck,
Pam
pamhartley@...
----------
>From: Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall <tn-k4of5@...>
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] California requirements
>Date: Wed, Jul 7, 1999, 2:08 PM
>
>Please let me know what options she may have, as she is interested in what
>I have had to tell her about Unschooling, my experiences in ps and how my
>sons will have a very different experience. She is 'jealous' and wants to
>get info to take home to her parents on what options she may have.
>
>Thanks in advance.