You’ve decided to homeschool and are unsure of where to start. You don’t even know what to ask.
So, let’s get a few common questions out of the way first:

Is it legal to homeschool? 
Yes. You don’t have to ask permission nor be approved to homeschool. You DO need to notify your child’s former school of your choice, and you do need to inform the state in which you reside of your intent to homeschool. Each state has different requirements beyond that. And they probably change over the years, but your local department of eduction will have confusing standards posted for you to bumble your way through! But you can do it - and ask here. We can help point you in the right direction, depending on where you live!
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For Louisiana - you can register for Home Study or Nonpublic Not Seeking State Approval.  Go for the latter unless you have a junior or senior in high school, as it's the least restrictive. The Home Study option is required if you'd like TOPS funding for college. I'll detail all of that in a later post!

And, if you're looking for info about some other state - click "state standards" in the category to the right and we may have what you need!
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by Alan Williamson, Guest Contributor

After a few challenging weeks, your child has made the successful jump to being a preschooler. The first few days were shaky, but now, he consistently earns praise for his performance inside and outside the classroom. He has also found the right balance between being independent and being a dependable classmate to his peers.

With just a few weeks left to go before his toddlers’ nursery classes end, you are now thinking about the next challenges he is about to face — specifically, his advancement to primary school.

by Christina Yeager

If you made the decision today to not enroll your child into the public school system and you live in Alabama, what would be your first steps? To ensure you're on the right path to securing a sufficient plan for educational needs, you need to know the rules for your state! This week we'll explore the state regulations for homeschooling in Alabama. ​
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Homeschooling is a major step in a family’s life. If you are feeling overwhelmed about making the decision and having butterflies every time you think about it, be sure that you are not alone. It’s a choice that is going to shape your child’s future and you will have to put in a lot of commitment on your part.

by Leslie Fobbs​

Oh, Summer.  I’m so glad you’re almost here!  During my childhood in Northeast Ohio summer meant sitting along Copley Road for the West Akron parade, walking to Mr. Pantries for Jo-Jos and candy, and weekly trips to the library to turn in our book list for the summer reading program.  I was an avid reader and loved the independence I felt leading my brother and sisters down to the library to get more books. Now I enjoy taking my son, and I’m glad he’s finally caught a passion for reading just like I did.  As a homeschooler, I’m excited to see what programs are now available to win rewards and prizes.  I’m sure the lure of free stuff will motivate Dee to read even more. ​

by Leslie Fobbs

​Each day lots of parents are waking up to the truth of public education. They are making the decision to homeschool their children instead.  Unfortunately, there seems to be a common path of uncertainty and confusion that most parents take, myself included.  

You know that you have to get your child out of their current environment for whatever reason (bullying, falling behind, too far ahead, mistreatment by staff, etc.).  You are desperate to homeschool but are unsure of what to do and definitely not confident you can do it alone. So you try to find something that looks like what you just left.