Two Different Views of Homeschooling: New York and Texas

I homeschooled each of my kids for a couple of years-- my son when we lived in New York, my daughter when we lived in Texas-- and the vast differences make it clear that anyone who is considering homeschooling should first check out their own state's specific laws and policies.

The one similarity was in both instances I approached the task with the idea "If you (the school) aren't going to do your job properly, it looks like I'll have to do it for you." Every parent who elects to homeschool does so for his or her own reasons. But that was essentially the only similarity between the two experiences.

In New York State, homeschooling is under the jurisdiction of one's local school district. The first topic covered by this fact is that a parent who wishes to homeschool must first prove that he or she is competent and qualified to do so. To do this, I was required to complete rather extensive paperwork, and then have an interview with the school principal and district supervising principal; afterward, everything was submitted for review to the Board of Education.

The next topic was that homeschooling must meet the same standards and same general curriculum as your child would have in his regular classroom. (Although state law stipulates that the school district is required to provide homeschooled students with the same textbooks and other materials that he would be using in the regular classroom, they failed to do so, so I purchased all of the materials myself). You are subjected to occasional visits by the principal or his designated staff member; and you must supply the school with detailed, accurate progress reports on a regular basis. Your child must also show up at the school to take the required Standardized Tests.

Although all of these regulations may sound quite restrictive, homeschooling included education being incorporated into field trips, which would not have been the case with regular school; and, most important, allowed him to accelerate at his own rate of learning, rather than being held back by students in the classroom who learned at a slower pace-- the result being he was considerably ahead of his fellow students when he did return to the public school.

Homeschooling in Texas, however, was much different. In Texas, homeschooling is considered to be a private school-- with no requirements put upon nor interference from the local school district. This law, unfortunately, can be seen as a good theory-- for homeschooling parents and their kids are frequently harassed when they are not aware of their rights. Such problems are so widespread and extreme that the Texas Homeschool Coalition exists to assist parents in learning about their rights and responsibilities, and to assist in combating harassment. In Texas, you are required to teach reading, grammar, spelling, math, and good citizenship-- the hows and whens are up to you, as you are not required to follow any specific curriculum or calendar.

This leeway granted my daughter numerous opportunities which she would not have had if she'd been in the regular school classroom. In addition to a variety in educational materials, the free time from not being on a school-restricted calendar gave her the chance to take part in other activities, including a part-time volunteer position at the local library. She not only retained her school friends, but acquired many more from the neighborhood and where she worked. She, too, learned at an accelerated pace, and was above the other students when she returned to public school.

All in all, I'd recommend homeschooling to those who have the capacity, patience, and are duly qualified-- and who do not see leaving the regular classroom as a loss, but the potential for many types of gain for the children's education and personal development.