Panhandle Christian Home Educators Association
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR NEW HOME SCHOOLERSDear Parents, We desire to give you the basic information you need to get started in home education. It provides information about removing your child from public school and choosing curriculum. It lists local support groups’ activities available to you and your children, and various resources available form the public library, curriculum suppliers and other home school organizations. Is home schooling legal?Am I qualified to teach my children? What about socialization?The answers to these and other questions can be found in the following resources:
Legal Aspects: (Please consult the “Texas Home School Coalition Handbook for Texas Home Schoolers” for furthers details regarding current state laws and regulations. It is available for $12.00 through PCHEA, or directly from THSC.) If your child has never been in the public school system, you do not need to inform your district of your plan to home school as you would, had you chosen another form of private education. Home schools are private schools, and private schools are not regulated in the state of Texas. As a private school, we are required to teach reading, math, spelling, grammar and good citizenship in a bona fide manner, using a written curriculum. We are not required to give standardized tests, but they are available through several organizations, for a fee. If your child has attended public school, try not to pull your child out of school before you have set up your home school. Take as much time as possible to learn all you can about home education and gather your curriculum. If possible, you should start your home school at the beginning of the public school year or at the beginning of a semester. This will usually eliminate the possibility of truancy fines. In order to remove your child from public school, once you have curriculum in hand, you need only to contact the principal of the school with a letter of withdrawal stating your intention to home school. (See THSC Handbook for Texas Homeschoolers for more information.) If the school district asks for more, ask them to put their request in writing, and contact THSC for further guidance if necessary. You do not have to have your curriculum examined or approved by anyone in the public school system. It is wise to keep copies of all correspondence with the school district. Choosing a CurriculumHow do you choose curriculum? Many homeschoolers say that choosing curriculum is one of the most challenging aspects of home education. Your choices are many! Most curriculum suppliers offer free catalogs. The Amarillo Public Library has several books to lend that deal with getting started in homeschooling and others that evaluate curriculum. Talk with other homeschoolers, or, if possible, attend one of the regional book fairs. The more you learn about home education, the easier it will be to select the best curriculum for you and your children. Sources for curriculum include local teacher supply stores and bookstores, mail order companies and regional book fairs. Allow plenty of time for delivery of your curriculum or lesson plans. Many veteran homeschoolers utilize materials from different curriculum suppliers as well as resources available at the public library, though curriculum is not available at the library. (See the Resources section attached to this letter for curriculum suppliers’ addresses, library books and regional book fair locations and dates. Also, PCHEA has assembled a “Homeschooling Package” that contains several catalogs, brochures, sample magazines and other homeschooling information. This package should have accompanied this letter. If not, these packages are available at our meetings, or you may contact us to make other arrangements to pick up a package.) Most curricula have teacher’s guides and/or lesson plans. For those who prefer more guidance, correspondence schools provide curriculum, teacher support, record keeping and testing. The cost to homeschool each child varies considerable but can range from about $100-$1,000. It is usually proportional to the preparation time needed—the less time the parent spends planning the lessons, the more the cost and vice versa. You know your home situation best. If you have several small children at home, you may need a curriculum package that provides the lesson plans and supplemental materials. After choosing your curriculum, choose a starting date and a finishing date for your school—following the public school calendar may be a good starting point your first year. Allow for holidays, sick days, teacher planning days, etc. Try to stick to your schedule. Gradually you will learn a pattern that works best for your family. Be patient with yourself and your children since all of you are making major adjustments. Do not be afraid of what you do not know either. Many veteran home schoolers can tell you of the great joy and special bond between parent and child as they learn together. In Christ’s Service, |
