How to Homeschool in New Mexico

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You may feel a bit overwhelmed when you research homeschool laws for the state of New Mexico, but New Mexico really makes it fairly simple for people who wish to teach their children from home. As long as you have a high school diploma you really only have to do a few simple things to qualify for homeschooling your family. This article will lay out those laws for you in the simplest manor so that you can easily begin your homeschool journey. In this article you will find an:

An overview of New Mexico homeschool laws
An introduction to homeschool groups in New Mexico
A description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started

* This page does not contain legal advice and is not an endorsement of any homeschool groups listed. (see disclaimer)

New Mexico Homeshool Laws

If you decide to homeschool in New Mexico you will need to keep several of the homeschool laws in mind.

Homeschool instruction must last at least 180 days
Your homeschool curriculum must include the basic subjects
You must submit a homeschool letter of intent to the state superintendent
You must posses a high school diploma or its equivalent to teach your children

As long as those four regulations are followed you will be free to teach your child from home how you wish to teach them.

Basic Subjects
New Mexico requires that your homeschool instruction include at least the state's basic subjects. The state does not have any laws regarding how you teach the subjects, only that you cover them in your curriculum. The basic subjects include:

Reading
Language arts
Mathematics
Social Studies
Science

Letter of Intent
As a homeschooler in New Mexico you will need to file a letter of intent with the state superintendent within 30 days of the beginning of your homeschool teachings. You will also need to file this letter each year after by April 1st. The letter informs the state that you wish to take your child out of the public school system and teach them from home. You can choose to submit a paper copy of the letter or an online copy. Click here for a link to the online submission of the letter.
Along with the letter of intent you may need to send in an up to date immunization form for your child. So it is important that you keep all that information as well as your child|s immunizations up to date.

Homeschool Groups in New Mexico

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in New Mexico to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

Christian Association of Parent Educators – New Mexico (CAPE-NM)

http://www.cape-nm.org/

CAPE is a non-profit, Christian homeschool group that serves the entire state of New Mexico. CAPE is open to all homeschool families regardless of their religion or teaching philosophies. They offer a statewide conference each year for homeschool families to attend and learn about different teaching techniques as well as learn about different opportunities as a homeschool parent. CAPE also offers a leadership retreat in the fall, curriculum fair, newsletters, and much more to its members so that they can keep in touch and have support and encouragement when needed.

ABQ Homeschoolers

http://www.abqhomeschool.com

ABQ Homeschoolers is a support group that offers advice and support to its members, as well as help with understanding the New Mexico homeschool laws. These are offered to all members from all around the state. For members who are local to Albuquerque, ABQ Homeschoolers offers social support and fun and enriching activities. From field trips to park trips with other homeschool families, this group is great for meeting new people and creating memorable relationships with people like you.

HomeSchool Las Cruces

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Home-School-Las-Cruces/202513949764288

This homeschool group serves the southern New Mexico area. They serve as a place for families to get together share ideas, ask questions, and encourage each other. Homeschool Las Cruces offers a place for you to meet new people and share your thoughts and concerns about homeschooling your family.

Santa Fe Community School Home Study Program (SFCS HSP)

http://www.sfcs-homestudy.org/

SFCS HSP is a homeschool support group that helps homeschool families keep and maintain records of their child’s studies. With these records the group can issue credits, diplomas, and transcripts for homeschool children. This is helpful when trying to apply to colleges or if your child decides they want to go back to school.

If you would like to recommend a new link or let us know about a problem with an existing link, please contact us

NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for New Mexico

Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of New Mexico. All of the Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The New Mexico legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

Hands-on activities,
Differentiated options, and
Independent projects.

Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Beyond the Page for your child.

Choose an age level to continue:

Age 4-5

Age 5-7

Age 6-8

Age 7-9

Age 8-10

Age 9-11

Age 10-12

Age 11-13

Age 12-14

Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.