Ann Ewing

I don't remember off hand if anyone on list is from NC, but I have a question. We
are now living in NJ and this is the 2nd year I've been hs'g my 7ds & 9ds. I
wouldn't call myself a "pure" unschooler, but probably just about there! :) NJ has
wonderful laws - basically none! We must provide "equivalent" instruction, but
there are no mandatory tests, records, etc. Wonderful! I read that NC requires 9
mos of school and annual standard testing with results ready to be shown at any
time.

Are there any unschoolers here in NC that are not doing that? Is it enforced
strictly? We're thinking of the Charlotte area - are there any/many groups in that
part of the state? I've looked at asst'd links online, but thought maybe locals
would know of details not readily available on the internet.

Thanks in advance for any info!
Ann

[email protected]

Ann,

We have lived in NC for about 5 years. The law isn't hard to follow. There
are requirements and suggestions. Many get those confused. You are required
to keep attendance forms (sheet with places to make checkmarks provided by
the dep't of nonpublic education), immunizations on file (or the form saying
you are exempt), and to take a nationally standardized test once a year.
They ask for copies of the test results and attendance be sent in every few
years if they ask. It sounds worse than it is. Many people use the Sylvan
test at home on their computer, or get the Hewitt test and self administer.
You might end up with a support group that wants you to follow all the
suggestions, (such as school for x number of hours in the mornings and have
someone else administer the tests) but these are not requirements. There are
no minimum scores required for the tests.

Most of the visible hsers I've met are affiliated with a church group. I
found a network of loosely affiliated families that do some activities
together. But we aren't tightly organized. You might want to check out the
egroup lists for the NCLOOP and the NCSecular for info about local groups.
There is a state group NCHE that seems to be tied somewhat to HSLDA and
another state group called FLT Families Learning Together that seems to have
at least several unschooling families.

Depending on where you move to in the Charlotte area you may experience some
cultural difference from NJ. Spring and fall are beautiful times of year
here. And they last longer than they do in NJ.

Good Luck
Sharon in NC

Lynda

I have a friend who lives in NC that is an unschooler and here is what she
said about NC.

Lynda

NC requires that an annual recognized test be administered (such as Iowa,
CAT) *but* many parents administer that test themselves and are quite lax
about stringent time limits, etc. Further, in my 9 yrs of hsing, I've never
been interviewed, asked for the test results (they only require that you
ADMINISTER the test... not provide them with the details!). We're required
to keep an "attendance record" (what a JOKE!) which they may ask to see, but
*their* form that they provide for this is simply a basic calendar where you
check off the days that you've "had school" (which imo is open to
interpretation!). You *do* have to have 180 days of "school" but again....
what "school" is is open to interpretation!.
Tell your friend we're unschoolers (completely) and we don't have a single
problem. If you can "x" out 180 days on a calendar, pay $25 per kid to order
a test (and do with it as you please), you're in business around here. I'm
in Winston-Salem but same holds true for the Charlotte area. Also, tell you
friend that NC is heavily populated with the Christian Fundamentalist
Homeschoolers and that she may find herself hard-pressed for friends to hang
out with her kids. That's the BIGGEST complaint I hear over and over again.
She can write me if she'd like.... puddles@...