The Government don't check progress on Home Schooled Children?

Question

I read recently in the newspaper about home schooled children. They study when they want, how much they want, and don't have to study all that much if they don't want. It goes on to say that there is no reporting to the public school on their progress and there is no testing done. It also said that if filing your child as being totally home schooled than its like a Private School where the Government have no control on how that child learns. Basically I think their saying there's no interference from the Government or the public school. I didn't know that. We know as parents that Public Schools can be a hard place for a child because they learn alot of other things we wish they wouldn't know (you know what I mean). How does a parent know if their home schooled child is learning everything they should be learning at that grade level? How does a parent teach that child without any guidance from a public school? Do you think the child benefits more being home schooled?

Answer 1

The regulations depend a lot on where you live. In some states, you do have to report yearly and some even require yearly subject testing. So, it really depends on where you live, but it sounds like where you live, it's quite relaxed.

A parent who homeschools and who is concerned that their children are learning at least as much as kids in school usually takes the time to find the standards (curriculum/learning outcomes) or purchase materials which have specific grade levels. Since the parents see each day what their children are doing, they know how well they are doing--if they're only getting half of it, 3/4 of it, most of it...

Homeschooling parents can have a lot of support--if they want it. There are support groups out there where parents chat and find out helpful tips, great resources and more. Besides, most parents will approach it the way that makes the most sense to them or as is guided in any purchased resources. It's like tutoring or helping your child with their homework after school--do you need guidance from the schools to know how to help your child?

I think children benefit more from being homeschooled only if the parents are really committed to making it great. There are, unfortunately, some parents who homeschool and don't do all they could, or don't even try. It's unfortunate. But most homeschooling parents do so because they care about their kids and want to provide them with something better. These parents, for the most part, do provide something more beneficial than schools would.

Answer 2

regulations and requirements for homeschooling vary by state, but most require some reporting and/or monitoring.
Many who homeschool use prepackaged curricula which are graded. Parents who create their own curricula can find several books available to help them decide what to cover, and what's appropriate for their child's grade level. A couple of good resources for this are the Core Knowledge series, or Home Learning Year by Year How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School
by Rebecca Rupp.
Public school attendance is no guarantee that a child is learning everything they should, either.
Parents teach their kids how to walk, talk, feed themselves, tie their shoes, manners, colors, shapes, letters, numbers, and often how to read and do math before they start school. There's no reason they cannot teach their children the things ordinarily learned at school.
I do believe that, when done correctly, home school is better than the education offered at many public schools.

Answer 3

All I know is what my town does. My town says that you have to send a letter saying that you are going to homeschool and a table of contents of each of the books the child will be using each year. They expect the teacher to send in a report card at the end of the year. As to your first statment, that is really up to the parents. The children need to study enough to pass thier classes. If they don't pass they need to retake them. Same as public school. Even in Public schools students study when they want to and how much they want to. They government does not have the right to say that you can't learn something, (Such as a class on religion or something to that effect) But it can say that you are required to learn certain things. If you are concerned that your child isn't learning what they should, than you should call the school that your child would be going to and ask them for the list of courses and course overviews that your child would be doing. This way you can see what their curriculum is and see if yours matches enough. As for the child benifitting more, that depends on the child. I was homeschool for awhile and I did better in a public school setting because I am not very self motivated. My younger brother is and he is doing much better in school now that he is home schooled and not a public school.

Answer 4

When my son was attending school, I was being asked to tutor him in reading, math, handwriting, and preteach his language arts, so apparently he wasn't learning everything there anyway. (He is a special needs child in the school's defense).

When I was a public school student, I had several classes where I was not taught anything or very little. They hired sports coaches in place of math teachers. A science teacher left at the last minute and was replaced by a substitute the entire year who did no teaching, etc. So my argument would be that you are not guaranteed your child is learning everything they should be learning in the traditional school.

Most homeschool teachers have some process where they are having to report to someone: the state with portfolios, standardized testing, etc.; an online school; maybe their husband; or themselves; for example they as educators would not feel comfortable if they did not educate their children so that they would be able to comfortably handle most jobs and/or college.

In answer to your question about if a home schooled child is learning everything they should be learning at a particular grade level, my first response is that there really is no specific body of knowledge that is considered "1st grade science" or "2nd grade science" or "3rd grade history" for example that everyone needs to learn by a certain grade.

At one point, I had panicked because we were using real world educational, but fun books with my daughter for science, esp. around her favorite interests such as human body, dinosaurs, animals, etc. and I thought, what if I'm missing something crucial?, so I ordered a 1st and 2nd grade science book (she had just started 1st grade) and we went through them quickly) and realized she had already learned all the concepts in them but at a much more advanced level. They used "plant eater" dinosaurs for example rather than the term "herbivorous" as we had learned. So I eased any anxieties I had about not using basal school texts at that point! We do use regular math workbooks for convenience, but that's the only regular curriculum that we really use, and we do supplement that with games and computer games.

Do I think the child benefits being home schooled? That probably depends on the parent and the children involved. I know my children and I enjoy it, but I know I have seen some other children on this site express that they have not. I think you have to let your children have some free time and some input into the process (it is their education after all!), but I think it can be a fun experience for all involved esp. if you look at it that way!

Answer 5

If you are aksing what I think you are asking, the government *DOESN'T* (fixed that grammar problem) always check in on homeschooled children, but there is no reason for them to do so. Keep in mind that the government doesn't check into any religious school either and mandate their testing and class schedule. Each state has laws that they implement in reference to the reporting and testing of homeschooled students. I would see HSLDA.org website for further information.

People, for the most part, that are homeschooling their children because they have a desire to have the best for their children and do not think that they will get this in a schooled setting. They do not homeschool so that they can be lazy slags so is there really a reason to be checked up upon? I don't think so.

There are many options and testing places out there is a homeschool parent is worried about what "time frame" a child needs to know something by.

For the most part though, all you need to relly know after the journey of being schooled, or homeschooled, is how to read and how to do math. This coupled with the knowledge of HOW TO FIND out the answers gives us all the opportunity we need in life to achieve our goals in life.

Answer 6

The person who wrote what was said in the newspaper didn't know what they were talking about. I have been home schooled all of my life (I am 15) so far and on the odd-numbered grades(3,5,7,9), you are required to take a Standardized test. The parent is not even allowed to do the testing him/herself. They have to have a teacher test the child. If the test is below-average, the Government generally puts the child into a public school. Also sometimes, the Government audits the child's school progress, just like with taxes. My brother and I have always been above-average(last test we were both in college level, though he was supposed to be in 9th grade and I was supposed to be in 7th grade.). My step-sister just started homeschooling, so she hasn't taken a test yet.

Also there are lots of websites and other groups off the web that give advice and guidelines. There are also websites that have print-outs to give to your child that are labelled with the grade. In bookstores, there are workbooks for each grade up to high school, so you can buy books to work out of.

Answer 7

Bwahahaha! You think the government can guarantee that kids IN SCHOOL are learning anything? What do you think all that crap about No Child Left Behind, and all the state tests are for? Because public schools have already failed our children.

My kids were told over and over again in public schools not to 'worry' about stuff they were interested in, it was 'too hard' and they wouldn't 'have' to learn it until they were older. What a crock! We are, as a society, setting our children up to dislike learning, say that no one is smart enough to learn without a certified adult (in defiance of our entire American history of entrepreneurship) teaching them. We ship them away from the people who care about them, to be farmed into social groups that don't support emotional, physical or academic growth unless it fits into the norm, and somehow the government is doing BETTER than a parent could?!

I read a few books about this, try 'Stranger in a Strange Land' and 'Brave New World'. Written decades ago as a science fiction, it has become more true than ever imagined possible. Our state governor is trying to mandate compulsary education for THREE YEAR OLDS. In school seven hours a day, away from their families to 'learn' what? How to be social. That's the whole goal. Fit them into the status quo so they don't rock the boat (or test scores) when they get older.

Don't even get me started on the benefits of homeschool. My kids know all that stuff that other parents flinch about their kids learning from ignorant children at school. They know the facts, not some random made up junk that kids share on the playground. Or some teachers attempt to consolidate a poorly designed curriculum that she has no say over using.

Answer 8

I think most children benefit GREATLY from being homeschooled IF the parent is doing it right. The parent needs to be sure they are meeting each child's emotional, social, and academic needs. This can be different for each child. I believe the parent is the best one to do this, not some random teacher whose class your child gets placed in that probably has totally different beliefs, morals, and discipline strategies than you.
Regulation DOES vary from state to state. As some of the others have said, check out HSLDA.org

Answer 9

Simple...
I had a yearly PROCTORED SAT test given to my children. I was able to see where they did very well, where they were on target and where they were doing poorly: as they compare to PUBLIC SCHOOLED children.

You see the percentiles in every subject topic, and each is subdivided into sub-sections, so you know exactly what's going on.

If you see don't see growth..then you have a problem. Many states require a SAT (scholastic aptitude test) be given to them at the end of the homeschool year as proof. Only when homeschoolers fall BELOW the 50th percentile do they get put on probation for a year. The laws are different for each state, and each year they change, and your choices as a parent are also varied.

I recommend proctored SAT's once a year, for your peace of mind!!! The link below is for your information. You buy the test, a certified person comes and administers the test, they send it in for evaluation, you then receive the results by mail!

Answer 10

Reporting and testing is a state-by-state issue. Many states do require it. Mine does not, however. I have to keep attendance records just in case I am asked, but that's it. I DO keep a portfolio of my children's work, just in case they decide they want that as well. At the start of every new grade, I give my children the test booklet (available at any school supply store) for the year they just finished to make sure they learned everything. I use that to see what their weaknesses are, and help them to learn any missed items better. It's not hard.