Aludlam Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 As some of you know my husband has been entertaining job opportunities in different states. Michigan was mentioned last night. I've read somewhat conflicting (confusing) things about the regulations. Would someone living in Michigan please give me a quick overview. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Here's the law. There are lots of words, but the important part begins at the heading, "What Must a Non-Public School Home School Do to Exist?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Here is what the Michigan Dept of Education advises http://www.michigan.gov/documents/home_schools_122555_7.pdf It is a helpful, not alarmist summary, in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K&Rs Mom Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Regulations here is basically a list of subjects that must be covered, but there is no testing or reporting to show how you cover them. The only time you would have to register with the state at all is if you want services through the public schools (like speech therapy). In Stripe's link it says that the state "recommends" that you register, but that's because the link is put out by the state - the law does not require (or recommend) registration. Basically the district has no idea that I exist (which is fine with me). My kids could take non-core subjects at the public schools, but that would involve enrolling them as a part time student. I have a friend who does this (band, computers, art), and how it works really varies by district, but the law says it has to be available. My kids cannot play sports through the public schools, but there are homeschool leagues in a lot of areas, and right now they're young enough to play through the city's rec department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Sorry, I missed that; I thought it was recommending only in cases where the student is using other services of the school, like speech therapy. It also seems to be an issue, maybe, if the kid is taken out of school (the idea of the student's nonattendance coming to the attention of the school and involving truancy) versus a kid who has only ever been homeschooled or is new to the district. Anyway I think the document is otherwise fairly bland and non-alarmist. *** edited to clarify that the following is from the document I linked to, and contains the section on notification; I didn't write it*** The annual registering of a home school to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is voluntary. It is not required unless the student has special needs and is requesting special education services from the local public school or intermediate school district. It is recommended that if special education services will be requested, the parent first submit a completed Nonpublic School Membership Report to MDE. This form is available on www.michigan.gov/homeschool. Before special education services are established, the school will contact MDE for verification that this process is complete. A list of registered home schools is provided to intermediate school district superintendents each December and March. It is not required that a parent inform their local school of the decision to home school, however, it is suggested. Failure to do so may result in the student being marked absent and the involvement of the truancy officer. Notification may be a phone call or a written note to the district. Keep in mind that a written note can be placed in the student’s school record indicating when the student has withdrawn from the school district. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 It is not required that a parent inform their local school of the decision to home school, however, it is suggested. Failure to do so may result in the student being marked absent and the involvement of the truancy officer. Notification may be a phone call or a written note to the district. Keep in mind that a written note can be placed in the student’s school record indicating when the student has withdrawn from the school district. In almost all cases, in all states, even if not required by law, parents would be wise to notify their children's schools that the children are being withdrawn. :-) It is usually recommended, of course, that the parents have done everything necessary to make their homeschooling legal (which will vary according to state) before notifying the school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 It is not required that a parent inform their local school of the decision to home school, however, it is suggested. :iagree: I did let them know when I pulled my oldest out so they would not be calling me to see where he was. They don't even know my other kids exist as far as I know. Michigan does not have what I would call "regulations". If you have no intentions of putting your child into the school or using their services, I would not contact them at all. Teach your kids. That's it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 If you have no intentions of putting your child into the school or using their services, I would not contact them at all. Teach your kids. That's it! :iagree: :iagree: :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisamarie Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I pulled my kids out of two different school districts with no problem at all--DD finished up kindergarten at our local school and just didn't go back. DS and DD started at a charter school in the fall of 2011. We pulled them out over Christmas break. I had to fill out a notice of withdrawal form and that's it. The school later sent me a form to register with the state but I threw it away. I never heard from them again. At this point Michigan is a very easy state to HS in. No reporting, no filing of intent to HS, no day counting. And yes, if you ever did need services, you'd need to register. I tried to get speech therapy for my DS through the school and they wouldn't even look at him unless I registered. I decided to go through our hospital instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 If you have no intentions of putting your child into the school or using their services, I would not contact them at all. Teach your kids. That's it! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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