Can Someone Other Than a Parent Legally Homeschool a Child?

Liza is finding it hard to pay attention in class. She gets distracted easily by other classmates and can't sit still for long periods of time. Restlessness can overcome her easily. It may be time to try an alternative choice, such as a homeschool setting, where distractions can be minimized, alternative instructional methods can be utilized and the schoolwork can be done at Liza's pace, rather than rushed. Her parents want to try homeschool, but know they cannot teach her, as they both need to continue working to make ends meet.

When making the decisions involved in the homeschool choice, some will wonder what teaching options are available. One possible question is whether another adult, besides the parents, can legally homeschool a child. Perhaps a parent would like their child to receive the one-on-one learning experience that homeschool can provide. Maybe the child, like Liza, would benefit from a customized learning plan. For whatever reason, the parents have made the decision that homeschool may be the answer, but they cannot do it themselves, due to work or other circumstances.

The answer to the legalities behind this does not come with a simple yes or no. The answers are varied, depending on state laws and regulations. Each state has its own set of requirements and regulations surrounding homeschool. At the time this text was composed by the author, it is the author's understanding, based on research of educational laws, that everything herein is true and accurate. Laws can change and also can be interpreted differently by individuals. Thus, the information herein is not legal advice and is intended only for informational purposes. Multiple resources should be used when researching legal matters.

In some states, it is only legal for a certified teacher to homeschool a child. In these cases, a certified parent or tutor both could possibly be the home educator. Still, in yet other states, certification is not required for the parent, but restrictions may apply as to who can be the homeschool teacher. In such states, a parent may not need certification, but another person who would teach the child would need certification because that person is not the legal guardian of that child. In such cases, that would not actually be homeschooling by the definition of the law, but would be considered to be private school education.

In some states, such as Florida and Texas (under the author's understanding of the current law), anyone can be the homeschool teacher with or without certification. In these states, as well as some others, homeschool is considered to be a private school. For the most up to date information concerning homeschool laws and how they pertain to your individual concerns, visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, or HSLDA, as well as study the entire educational law for your state of residence. The educational law can be obtained from the board of education in each state.

Sources:

1) Personal Experience

2) Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp