How to Homeschool in Ohio

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Homeschooling in Ohio

If you are ready to take the plunge and begin homeschooling in your home state, you've come to the right place. Homeschool laws in Ohio are relatively straightforward, but there are still several requirements you should know about. In this article you will find the following:

• An overview of Ohio homeschool laws,
• An introduction to homeschool groups in Ohio, and
• A description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started.

Ohio Homeschool Laws

Ohio's homeschool laws cover the necessary qualifications of the homeschool instructor, required curriculum content, and end-of-year assessments. All of this information must be included in the official notification of intent to homeschool. Your local school system's superintendent will advise you on how to submit your official notification. Many even have a form you can simply fill out and submit. Be sure that your notification includes the following:

• School year for which the notification is made;
• Name of parent, address, and telephone number (optional);
• Name, address and telephone number (optional) of person(s) who will be teaching the child if different than the parent;
• Full name and birth date of child to be educated at home;
• Assurance that homeschooling will include the required subjects (see |Curriculum Content| below);
• Brief outline of curriculum;
• List of textbooks, correspondence courses, commercial curricula, or other basic teaching materials to be used;
• Assurance that the child will be provided a minimum of nine hundred hours of home education each school year;
• Assurance of the home teacher's qualifications:
• Parent's signature

Upon receipt of your notification, your local school system's superintendent will review your information and either provide you with written approval to proceed with home education or with written notification of any area requiring more information.

Instructor Qualifications
In order to qualify as your child's home instructor, you must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Earned a high school diploma
• Earned a certificate of high school equivalence
• Demonstrate high school equivalence through standardized test scores
• Provide equivalent credential found appropriate by the superintendent

Curriculum Content
While you may choose the curriculum, textbooks, and other materials you use to instruct your child, Ohio homeschool law requires that your curriculum cover the following core content:

• Language, Reading, Spelling, and Writing
• Geography; US and Ohio History; National, State, and Local Government
• Mathematics
• Science
• Health
• Physical Education
• Fine Arts (including Music)
• First Aid, Safety, and Fire Prevention

End-of-Year Assessment
When submitting notification for a subsequent year of homeschooling, you must also submit an end-of-year assessment for the previous year. This requirement can be fulfilled using a nationally normed, standardized test; a written narrative of the student's progress including a portfolio of student's work; or an alternative assessment agreed upon by the parent and superintendent. The assessment or written narrative must be administered by a certified teacher or a person agreed upon by both the parent and superintendent.

If you decide to participate in standardized testing at your assigned public school, you may not be charged, but the time and location of testing will be determined by your school district.

Extracurricular Activities
Recent legislation allows homeschooled students to participate in any extracurricular activity provided by their assigned public school. If your district does not offer a specific program, you may also request to participate in another district. All restrictions, fees, and academic requirements that apply to public school students will also apply to your child.

Homeschool Groups in Ohio

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

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 Ohio

Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Ohio. 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 Ohio 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.

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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.