Parents or legal guardians who intend to home school their children must let the the participating school agency know. This could be the school district, the local school superintendent or private school that participates in home school programs. Home school teachers should notify the agency in writing before the school year begins, though they can also notify after school begins, according to the New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition.
Home school teachers must provide the participating agency with personal information such as the students' names, addresses and age. This requirement may vary from state to state and by age, depending on compulsory age limitations. The compulsory age refers to the legally required age for which you must enroll all children in some kind of school. The compulsory age varies by state but typically starts at age six and goes through 16 or 18 years of age.
A home school parent or guardian must speak English and be capable of teaching, though no other certifications or qualification are necessary in most sates. The parent must devote the necessary amount of time needed to complete the curriculum, which the state or local district usually establishes. Those teaching special needs, children with learning disabilities or English learners may require extra training or support, which their participating agency may provide. Because it takes time to prepare lessons and teach at home, homeschooling may require the household to live off the non-teaching spouse's income, according to the Children's Health Encyclopedia.