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HEM's Laws and Regulations Pages
When talking to new homeschoolers we often hear concerns about the law. Is homeschooling legal? Who do I have to notify? What do I have to teach? While the legalities are a concern that should not be ignored, neither should our response be automatic and not thought out carefully.
There is no single source, no one true homeschooling authority. We all own the responsibility to think through laws and regulations on homeschooling. Of course you'll find those who disagree - an entire industry has grown up around the fact that there are differences of opinion on homeschooling's legal matters.
The HEM staff has been considering pulling the state by state laws and regulations listings. The main reason is that as homeschooling becomes more widely accepted, and as states are scrambling to reform their education system, the situation becomes more complex. This makes overviews, listings and rankings less valid. We have, however, decided to keep these listings in place because they carry, at a minimum, a link to your state government. Additionally we hope reading cited code and at least one homeschooler's interpretation will help start to demystify legislation and encourage you to investigate further.
What we offer here are overviews of laws and regulations compiled by knowledgeable homeschoolers. These files are not legal advice nor the final word on the subject. They are simply a starting point. To maintain our freedom to homeschool we will each need to go far beyond any convenient compilation or synopsis. We need to continue to do our own learning, lead our own research, and decide on our own actions.
We encourage you to discuss the laws and regulations with other homeschoolers who live in your state, and with those who are knowledgeable about the homeschooling climate in your community. We also encourage you to read the essay On Jumping Through Hoops to help you get a better understanding of where homeschooling has been and to gain a perspective on homeschooling, laws, and regulations.
If you would like to understand some of the politics behind home education laws and regulations, we have listed some articles by HEM Taking Charge Columnists, Larry and Susan Kaseman.
Your Homeschooling Decisions Affect My Homeschooling Freedoms
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/182/match.html
Practical Ways to Claim Responsibility for Our Homeschools
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/203/mjtch.html
Working for Homeschooling Freedoms: Chore or Opportunity?
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/171.00/jf_clmn_tch.html
Don't Let Compulsory Attendance Turn into Compulsory Education
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/224/jatch.html
Responding to Current Legislative Challenges by National Organizations
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/HEM154.98/154.98_clmn_tkch.html
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