Each state has its own requirements for homeschooling. Some states allow homeschoolers complete freedom and do not even require parents to inform the state of their decision to homeschool their children. Other states are very restrictive, requiring parents to teach a state-approved curriculum, administer standardized tests and send them in, and submit to home visits and professional evaluations of their children's progress. Most states are somewhere between these two extremes. To find out the specific rules for your state, consult the link listed in the resources section below.
Parents who intend to homeschool their children should be proficient in reading, writing, and mathematics. While you don't have to be an expert in all subjects, you need to have the ability and willingness to stay one step ahead of your child academically and learn the subject matter that you will be teaching. For more specialized subjects, you may have the option to enroll your child in an online course, hire a tutor, or participate in a course given through a local homeschool organization.
Homeschooling requires books and other teaching materials such as art supplies and math manipulatives. Parents must have the financial means necessary to purchase materials for their children. They must also become knowledgeable enough to evaluate teaching materials and curriculum to judge what materials would be the best fit for their circumstances. Fortunately, there are a huge variety of teaching programs and methods available. Some supply a whole library of books, with all the bells and whistles, while some require little more than a library card and math worksheets.
Homeschooling requires self-discipline on the part of the parent and the child. The parent must be responsible for seeing that schoolwork gets done on a consistent basis, even when the work gets boring and the child whines and complains or struggles to learn difficult concepts. The child must be willing to obey the parent when asked to do schoolwork and be able to work independently when necessary, such as when the parent is busy with other children.
Homeschooling requires sacrifice, and the parent must be very committed to carry out their educational plans for their child. Sometimes homeschooling parents may feel left out and isolated because they lack the connection with other parents from having children in the same schools and classes. It takes a certain amount of emotional strength to be different. Parents must also be willing to spend the large amounts of time on their children that homeschooling requires and to seek out opportunities for their children to spend time with peers. This may mean turning off the phone, not having lunch with friends, and perhaps not devoting as much time to housework. There is no requirement more important to the success of homeschooling than a parent's time, dedication and interest in their child's well-being.