Things You'll Need:
- Any forms required by your local school department
- Lesson plans and/or curriculum
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Step 1
Contact your local superintendent's office to request any forms the school department may require.
In Massachusetts, parents must get approval from the local school superintendent before beginning to homeschool their children, but there is no formal statewide statute to guide how those decisions are made. The only way to be sure that you comply with the law is to contact the local superintendent's office and ask if there are specific forms and/or procedures that you must follow in order to meet their requirements. -
Step 2
Read and know the case law in the Charles and the Brunelle cases.
Two Massachusetts court cases form the framework of Massachusetts law with regards to homeschooling children. While you don't technically need to know these cases, understanding the decisions and how they've been interpreted can help you understand and support your right to educate your child at home. For instance, based on the Charles case (CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHARLES & others.), the school department may not require that parents have advanced education or degrees in order to home school, and the judge in the Brunelle case determined that the school department may NOT require home visits as part of the approval or evaluation process. The more informed you are, the less likely it is that the school department will try to impose unreasonable standards on your attempt to get approval for homeschooling your child. -
Step 3
Find other local homeschooling parents for information and support.
Because homeschool policy in Massachusetts is determined by each separate school department, your very best source of information about local homeschooling policies and tips on getting approved to school your children at home are local parents who have been through it. A parent who is currently homeschooling their children will be able to tell you which officials to contact, who will be helpful to you and what is acceptable to your local superintendent's office. -
Step 4
Create a homeschool education plan.
Massachusetts state education law only provides that the education provided be "equal in thoroughness and efficiency" to that provided by the local public schools. According to court cases decided in Massachusetts courts, that doesn't mean that you have to provide the same number of hours in each subject, or teach the same subjects that are taught at your child's grade level in the same order in which the public school is teaching them.
In short, your homeschool education plan should include:
- the subjects you will teach and the number of hours of teaching in those subjects
- a list of textbooks and materials you will use to teach
- how you and the school department will evaluate what your child is learning -
Step 5
Submit notice of your intent to homeschool along with your education plan to the superintendent's office before you withdraw your child from school.
Massachusetts law requires that your plan be approved before your child is withdrawn from school. It also requires that the school department expedite approvals as much as possible. Removing your child from school before your plan is approved can open you to being charged with educational neglect; however, there have been many court cases where judges have determined that a child need not attend school while awaiting approval of the homeschool plan as long as the parents are attempting to comply with state law regarding homeschooling. -
Step 6
Maintain open lines of communication with the school department.
Even if you disagree with something the school department is asking you to do, stay in contact with the superintendent's office. Always respond to notifications and communication from the school department in a timely manner. Those communications can be important if you have to provide proof that you are trying to work with the school department.
Comments
georgelarson said
on 5/2/2009 This is great information about how to home school in Massachusetts. Thanks