Homeschooling children from grades K-12 is legal in all 50 states. The trick is to school yourself on the regulations in your home state. Laws range from "hands-off" in states like Texas and Idaho, which require no contact between homeschooling parents and the state, to high-regulation states like North Dakota and Vermont, which require conditions like professional evaluation of the home-schooled student, use of state-approved curriculum and, in some cases, annual home visits. In all, 10 states require no notice, while six states enforce strict regulations such as test-score and parental review, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association.
The reasons for homeschooling your kindergartner are as varied as the families involved. The National Home Education Research Institute lists the following goals common to homeschooling parents: a desire to provide customized instruction; a need for more rigorous academic content; a chance to create stronger family bonds; and a belief in the importance of guided social interaction, a safer environment and an education reflecting the family's values.
Providing home-based education to your kindergarten child requires a substantial time commitment from the family. There are lesson plans to make, field trips to take and play dates (often with other homeschoolers) to schedule. You will likely give up some personal time and still have to work in household chores like laundry, cooking and house cleaning. If you are quitting work or reducing your hours, financial considerations can also impact your family.
For all the barriers to homeschooling your young child, there are many benefits as well. On a national average, home-schooled children score 15 percent to 30 percent higher on standardized testing than their public school-educated peers, according to the National Home Education Research Institute. Should you decide to continue homeschooling, you can relax in the knowledge that colleges are increasingly recruiting home-educated youth, who also typically score higher than average on college admissions tests.
When and if you are ready to re-enroll your child in the public school system, understand that schools must determine proper grade placement, which usually involves testing and evaluation. Depending on your home state, you might also need to provide proof of progress, even if you only home-schooled for part of the school year. State-mandated immunizations also must be current. Contact your local school district representative for specific requirements.