how can a 16 yr old homeschooled child take a year off ?

Question

She is making alot of money with her horse career but needs more time to make more with an opportunity she has been offered.And would not have time to do both studies and do this.In nys because she turned 16 on July 30th of this year they say she has to stay in homeschooling program till end of this school year.What can I do to help her get this time off for now?

Answer 1

Just went over the laws. Am I correct in understanding that the law in NY states that a child who turned 16 when your daughter did has to be enrolled in some form of schooling? If that's the case, then Mike's idea of dropping out won't work. Hm... You are in a pickle. Although, would she be able to pass the GED? What I read indicated that if the student has graduated, then attendance is not required. (Of course, do you or does she WANT to have the GED?)

Is there a way for you to do something through a school, where they will allow her to put off her studies for a while, or at least cut back?

Also, could you elaborate on the time details? Does she not have ANY hours where she wouldn't be working? Yes, I realize that it might mean she doesn't have a life other than working and studying for the rest of the school year, but there are plenty of kids who go to school, work or do sports after school and get very little time to do homework and no time during the week to do anything but school and work/sports. It'd be tough, but the legal requirement is there that she needs to have some sort of formal schooling.

ADDED: I just did a little more searching around at the NYS ED website. Is she working and getting paid? I don't know what this means http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/PupilServices/HoursforMinors.htm but are you aware of the limits on how much a student can legally work while in school? Or maybe this will be helpful? http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/Laws-Regs/Attendance/3205.htm "b. A minor for whom application for a full-time employment certificate has been made and who is eligible therefore may, though unemployed, be permitted to attend part time school not less than twenty hours per week instead of full time school."

It sounds like there might be something do-able, but you'll have to contact NYS ED to really make sure that you set up something legal.

Answer 2

That's odd, because almost everywhere, a student can leave school at age 16. If she needs the time off now, and you are homeschooling her, why not turn whatever opportunity it is she has been offered, into a field project, wrap a little study around it (keep a journal or a diary, or write the odd essay about it) and coast on that until she has the time to return to her studies.

Answer 3

Plan it out with the help of the questionnaire at www.takingoff.org and then prove to others later on that the students was not just burning out and avoiding things, but making the most of time spent in informal learning outside of textbooks and a structured curriculum.
Also, talk with your state homeshool organizations about ideas from other kids...then improve on them.
Last thing - consider participating in www.beringstraitcrossing.com or www.neabigread.org and keep a journal about it.

Answer 4

she may be makinmg a lot of money now but how an you advocate a 16 year old dropping out of school? I man home schooled kids only do school less than 4 hours a day. she cant squeeze in 4 hours or less a day somewhere. Sheesh

Answer 5

In most states a student can leave school at 16 with parental permission.

Answer 6

just let her drop out, she can get a GED or whatever later
high diplomas are only important if yo don't have one
keep her ready for ACT and SAT testing so she can go to college

Answer 7

she can do her schooling work and alot a time in the evening for her horse carrer.

Answer 8

well i think that there is a program that allows her to take classes by internet maybe it can be a good idea