Q. Is homeschooling legal in Texas?
A. Yes! It is legal in all 50 states and has been since the late 1980s. Each state has its own requirements and some states are more favorable than others. It is not a good idea to initially contact your office of Education, they are oftentimes uniformed about homeschooling laws and sometimes are not very positive about homeschooling.
A district court ruling in 1987 - subsequently upheld by the Texas Supreme Court - confirmed the right of parents to home school their children, so long as they follow certain minimal guidelines. First, there must be “bona fide” instruction going on in the home. Second, home schooling parents must have a curriculum or formal plan of learning. Third, five basic subjects must be covered - reading spelling, grammar, math and citizenship or civics. Many families supplement these topics with art, physical education, science or religion according to their own areas of interest and expertise.

Q. How do I get started?
A. This seems like a hard question but it really is not! If you have decided to homeschool your children and you have familiarized yourself with the regulations in your state, then you start when it is right for you and your family! You can start immediately or, if your children currently attend school, you can get together and come up with an exit plan. You have the choice! If you are planning to continue to use a school year calendar in your homeschooling you may want to start in September. If you are planning on a more relaxed, non-calendar approach to learning then start when it is right for you and your child. If your child is currently in a bad situation at school, don't wait for them to finish the school year. They will not miss any critical education. If you have a teen that has had a rough time at school, be sure to read Grace Llewellyn's book "The Teenage Liberation Handbook." Teens often need down time to de-stress after being in the "system" for years.

Q. What curriculum should I use?
A. This is another great benefit of homeschooling! It is totally your decision! Some homeschoolers find that using a pre-packaged curriculum helps them keep to a schedule and insures that they are covering all the material the child would cover if in school. Some homeschoolers do not use a prepared curriculum. They believe that children naturally love to learn, that everyday activities provide important lessons and that by allowing them to pursue their own interests they more than cover what is taught in school.

Some parents start with a curriculum, but discontinue using it as their children grow in their sense of responsibility and they gain confidence in themselves. Others use a curriculum right until their children enter college. As they can be expensive, it is a good idea to do your research before investing in a curriculum. Using a very structured curriculum can lead to "burnout", so keep an open mind and remember that if a curriculum is not working for you or your child don't stop homeschooling, stop using the curriculum! But always keep each child's learning style and interests in mind. Our current cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all educational system does not help each child reach their full potential, and is not the best way for our children to learn. One of homeschooling's greatest strengths is that it allows parents to provide individualized instruction. Many economists believe that the essential skills that children will need in the 21st century can only be nurtured in an individualized learning environment.

Q. What about socialization and my children adjusting to the real world?
A. This question is most likely to make experienced homeschoolers smile and shake their heads. What seems to be a concern for individuals not familiar with homeschooling is actually one of homeschooling's strongest benefits! The concern is, it seems, that homeschoolers won't be able to function in the "real world" if they don't attend school and have the same social experiences as schooled children. But what do schools really do? They separate kids by age and ability, reinforce class, gender and racial prejudice and take away from children the right to any real interaction. School children are forced to socialize with children only their own age and are trapped in a room 6-7 hours a day allowed to only view the outside world through a text book. Where in the real world are adults forced to socialize with only someone their own age? Large numbers of same age peers can adversely influence a child's growing sense of values. Violence, ruthless competition, bullying, massive consumerism, cruel teasing and unrealistic body concepts are often the social values that are learned on a school playground. Homeschooled children are more likely to base their decisions on values they learned from their parents, instead of feeling compelled to go along with the crowd and accept the behavior of what other children are displaying as the "norm". Because homeschoolers spend so much time out in the real world, they are able to communicate well and get along with both adults and children. They even get along with their siblings. Homeschoolers choose to spend time with others because they enjoy their company or have similar interests --just like adults do in the real world!

Q. What are some different styles of homeschooling?
A. There are dozens of different approaches to homeschooling. Some families set up school-at-home. They study the same subjects as the public school, take tests, and issue grades. Parents that homeschool for religious reasons use religious-based educational tools. Other homeschoolers are die-hard unschoolers. Unschoolers, with their parents guidance, are free to set their own goals and evaluate their own progress and use real-life experiences to teach themselves. Others design their own curriculum, use co-op or shared learning, or work with a teacher part-time. Some families are eclectic homeschoolers: they do some planned instruction, some unit studies, and then allow their children to pursue their own interests. Some families use the Moore Formula which focuses on a child's readiness for formal learning, their interests, and a balance of study, work and community service. You can follow a particular homeschooling approach 100 percent or combine several styles and educate your child in a way that makes sense to you. If you have several children, they often need to be managed differently. Multiple approaches are needed to discover what works best. The family's homeschool plan must be adjusted accordingly. Always build in flexibility and sensitivity. Regardless of what approach you use, follow these guidelines: plan with flexibility, praise your children often, communicate openly, be very patient, and make your children (especially older-children) your partner in their education.

Q. How do I find homeschoolers in my area?
A. If you would like to find a local homeschooling group for park days or are looking for co-op classes in your area, contact a representative from your state.

Q. What are the benefits of homeschooling?
A. The major benefits of home education fall into one of two categories: (1) the academic superiority of home education, and (2) the opportunity for better character (spiritual) development of children. Under the umbrella of academic excellence the benefits are as follows: low teacher-to-student ratio, instant feedback, customized curriculum, fewer distractions, the economy of time, greater flexibility, and a greater availability to experience a variety of occupational opportunities. Under the umbrella of character development the benefits are as follows: parents, not peers, instill values in the children, close family ties, children are able to relate to other age groups and cultures, better self-esteem, children have the courage to make independent decisions, and they are able to avoid competition in unnecessary areas and damaging academic labels.

Q. How will I know if my child is learning?
A. Children are always learning--they can't help it! They are natural scientists and explorers. You can tell if they are learning by spending time with them and observing their growth in understanding their world. Homeschooling parents know their children are learning each day because they talk with them, play with them and learn right alongside them. Homeschooling parents can look at the whole person and concentrate on what their child knows, instead of what their child does not know. Some families participate in standardized tests by choice or because it is required in their state.

Q. What about college?
A. Homeschoolers who are now attending college say that their homeschooling background created no difficulty in getting into the college of their choice. Colleges are primarily interested in what students have been doing and learning during their high school years, and homeschoolers can convey this through transcripts they create or a portfolio of work. And in the case of the Colfax family of California, who carved a living on a California mountain top, their unusual homeschooling adventure actually prepared two of their sons for admission to Harvard. The Colfax's share their story in "Homeschooling for Excellence," one of our Top Ten Homeschooling Books. Many homeschoolers attend Junior College classes at a relatively young age, selecting classes that interest them. In addition to high SAT scores, homeschoolers have other qualifications that colleges like to see, such as participation in extracurricular activities and community service. Homeschoolers are in their community daily working part-time at the animal shelter, running a food drive and publishing a "for kids only" newspaper. When these self-directed, creative teens seek admission to college they stand out from their conventionally schooled peers!