Do You Live in a Great State to Homeschool in ? Tell me why...

[watertribe]

We are newly arrived back in the U.S. and are looking for a place to settle down (our options are open at this point). If you live in a great Homeschool state, I'd love to hear why. I'm not as concerned about what hoops the state makes you jump through (although it counts), but what kind of resources you have available to homeschoolers. Any comments are welcome.

[trulycrabby]

North Alabama! We have lots of homeschooling families, three in my neighborhood alone! Several co-ops, museums, organizations such as the Botanical Gardens, and businesses offer programs and classes for homeschoolers. Also, great parks, hiking trails, lakes and rivers, YMCA's, libraries, a science museum, and a space museum mean there are wonderful opportunities for field trips, activities, and get-togethers. The area is full of engineers, scientists, and other well- educated, intellectually curious people.

 

NASA, a large military base, and a top science and engineering university university are also located here; it's not uncommon to see somone with a tshirt that says, "Well, actually it IS rocket science."

[CAmomof4]

Believe it or not, California is a low-regulation state, and there are a LOT of HSers here. I live in the southern part, inland from L.A., and there are tons of meetup groups, co-ops, satellite programs, you name it. The libraries are great. There are museums and field trip opportunities everywhere. Also, if you were interested in enrolling your kids in a public charter school homeschool, the state will pay for your materials including computers, etc. (But if you do, you are subject to the school system's oversight and their approval of said materials.)

[twoxcell]

We live in Oregon and it is a great state to live and home school in. There are a lot of home schoolers in Oregon and the regulations are fairly minimal. We are required to report our kids to the local ESD the year they turn 7 before September 1st and only have to do that once unless we move to a different school district. The ESD will assume your child is in 1st at that point unless you tell them otherwise. Also testing is required at the end of 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 10th grades. Tests are submitted to you local ESD. Until this year we weren't even required to submit the tests in my district.

[Erin]

Kansas and Nebraska both have VERY limited regulation (just filing paperwork once a year in NE, and once at all in KS), but they also restrict homeschoolers from public school extra-curricular competition. That is, if the school allows it, your child can play basketball, for example. But in high school, they can't actually compete in anything against other schools.

[AngelaNYC]

New York (specifically NYC)

 

We have it all. I think it's the most incredible place to homeschool. The regulations are not an issue.

 

Ds has done classes at all the major museums, art galleries, science centers, parks, gardens, zoos, nature preserves, etc. Within an hour I can drive to the beach, mountains, farms, lakes, and vineyards. In any NYC neighborhood it's less than a 20-minute walk to several libraries, stores, playgrounds, movie theaters, and farmers markets. It's wonderful.

[Farrar]

I live in DC. From a straight homeschooling perspective, it is pretty great. Low regulation (in practical terms - we're a notification only "state"). Most of the museums are free and world class level museums. Most of them offer free or low cost programs - there are even some free classes - for example, we take a free botony class at the Botanic Gardens that is excellent. Great parks. Close to lots and lots of other resources, especially lots of American history stuff. Classes for nearly everything. Plenty of homeschoolers around the city.

 

The drawbacks are mostly about life in general here. Expensive. Some people don't like urban living. Also, did I mention how expensive it is?

[happypamama]

Well, I think PA is pretty great for the homeschooling community, although the laws could be more lenient. (But once you jump through the hoops, you end up with a nice keepsake of your child's year, which otherwise you might or might not get done. And the laws have a lot of loopholes in them too. You can get a philosophical exemption from vaccinations and don't need a clergy to sign anything.) You have the option to do classes and/or sports/activities at the local public schools. The community at large (at least in the south central part of the state) is very homeschooling-friendly; nobody bats an eye at it, and there are lots of co-ops and support groups. Lots of places offer homeschool day specials or homeschool events/classes or free field trips. State parks are free, plentiful, and beautiful, and you can get a family membership that gets you into about 17 or so historic sites of various types around the state; a family of five only needs about two visits before it pays for itself. At least in my part of the state, the libraries ROCK -- great selections, pleasant staff, lenient policies, e-books, audio books, you name it. Beautiful place to live, plenty of rural areas or small towns, plus short drives to several major cities. Lots of homeschoolers around here.

 

ETA: Weather-wise, we're great. Four distinct seasons, fairly equal in length. We'll have winter, and we've had winters with lots of snow -- but not like New England. We have summer; it'll hit 90 but 100 is rare, and it's not as humid here as areas closer to the water. Just enough heat and cold to make us appreciate the opposites. Might have a few tornado warnings, but nothing like the midwest. Not really prone to natural disasters. Spring and fall are like little pieces of heaven -- stunning and pleasant. (This year, spring has been a little on the rainy side, but it's also been a fairly long spring; sometimes at this time of year, it's 90 and hot in the middle of the day, but this year, it's been pretty nice most days. This is great for us, because we school from July 1 to Memorial Day, so my kids have had great outside time on their break.)

[KrissiK]

California is a very easy state to homeschool in. But my theory regarding that is, they have my tax money, but not my kid taking up space in their school. I think they like to keep it that way. However, with that said, the only other things Ca. Has going for it is the weather and natural beauty. The taxes are too high, the legislature has run amuck and stay up late passing wildly insane laws, the regulations on everything else have a stranglehold on the citizens... Need I say more? You really don't want to move here. We'd leave, but our family is here.

[unfrumpable.]

Well, I think TX is pretty awesome for homeschooling from a regulation standpoint.

 

We live in Houston and there are many homeschool activities and opportunities here. Lots of museums,, the zoo, many nature centers, etc. These places all have programs and/or activities geared toward homeschoolers. We've done so much here compared to how little we did in Jacksonville, FL.

 

I'm not a huge TX fan in general and never wanted to live here, but this has been our best homeschool year ever. :)

 

ETA: We did a good amount of activities this past year and actually passed on many more. There are so many things to do here in Houston. I don't know about other parts of the state though, TX is a very large state. I've driven through some very desolate areas. :laugh:

[Mom2OandE]

We are in Florida and I think it's great for homeschoolers. Hoops are very minimal here. In our area we have multiple homeschool groups with lots of options for classes, co-ops, sport teams and community.

 

We are 1 hour from Disney, 40 min from Busch Gardens and beaches all around! There is so much to do!

 

Edited to add I'm just SW of Tampa.

[unfrumpable.]

We are in Florida and I think it's great for homeschoolers. Hoops are very minimal here. In our area we have multiple homeschool groups with lots of options for classes, co-ops, sport teams and community.

 

We are 1 hour from Disney, 40 min from Busch Gardens and beaches all around! There is so much to do!

 

Edited to add I'm just SW of Tampa.

 

 

 

Beautiful area too! Plus, in FL there are umbrella schools to join if you don't want to jump through any hoops. :)

[tammyw]

Believe it or not, California is a low-regulation state, and there are a LOT of HSers here. I live in the southern part, inland from L.A., and there are tons of meetup groups, co-ops, satellite programs, you name it. The libraries are great. There are museums and field trip opportunities everywhere. Also, if you were interested in enrolling your kids in a public charter school homeschool, the state will pay for your materials including computers, etc. (But if you do, you are subject to the school system's oversight and their approval of said materials.)

 

 

I agree with the above! I just wish it wasn't so ridiculously expensive and packed with people!

[Wheres Toto]

Well, if you live in NJ, it's an easy ride to both NYC and Pennsylvania. No regulation, tons of homeschool specific activities, museums (even without going into NYC), great libraries, lots of diversity. Downsides - it's up to the school district if they allow homeschoolers to participate in school activities and I only know of one that does (except high school sports which are supposedly allowed but the kinks are still being worked out). High cost of living - better in some areas than others. Population density can be a downer but there are rural areas.

[weederberries]

Texas again. I live in North Texas, in the Dallas suburbs.

 

There is no TX regulation of homeschooling, no reporting or hoop jumping. If you withdraw from school you need a letter of intent, otherwise, you just don't enroll. The district doesn't even know my children exist (to my knowledge). Texas law requires that HS students be allowed to participate in academic and extra curricular activities, if they qualify.

 

There are lots of museums, nature, and outings to enjoy. We have about 6 co-ops to choose from within 5 miles of my house and dozens more within 20 miles. There are co-ops, support groups, social groups, church homeschooling groups , HS scout packs/troops, HS gymnastics classes, HS library programs, etc. I personally know two dozen other homeschool families living nearby. My next door neighbor home schools.

 

Lots of community colleges and Universities in the area and they welcome home-schooled students. It is pretty normal/acceptable around here.

 

EDIT: Property values here are lower than most other areas of the country, meaning, you get a lot of quality house for your money. No state income tax.

[Crimson Wife]

In terms of homeschooling, California is great. There is no such thing as "homeschooling" under the state ed code, so all students who HS are legally either private or public school students. If you go the private school route, it's super-easy and very minimal hoop-jumping. No need to test, have a portfolio review, or get your curricula approved by anyone.

 

If you choose the public school route, you get a curriculum stipend of several hundred dollars per semester that you can spend on the secular classes and curricula of your choice. You would have to turn in a learning log and a work sample in each subject monthly, plus take the STAR test each spring. My kids test well, so our charter is pretty "hands off" when it comes to letting me HS the way I want. OTOH, kids who don't test well I've heard get a lot more scrutiny and micromanaging. So that's something to keep in mind if you do decide to come to CA.

[EKS]

Washington seems quite good. All we have to do is file an Intent to Homeschool form or letter with the local district telling them the child's name and age. We are required to test or have a portfolio evaluation each year, but no one checks on the results. And we are required to maintain a record of the child's vaccination status.

 

Homeschooled children are allowed to participate as much or as little in public school activities and classes as they wish. We have a program called Running Start that allows kids who are high school juniors and seniors (including homeschooled students) to attend the community colleges for free.

[NittanyJen]

We are newly arrived back in the U.S. and are looking for a place to settle down (our options are open at this point). If you live in a great Homeschool state, I'd love to hear why. I'm not as concerned about what hoops the state makes you jump through (although it counts), but what kind of resources you have available to homeschoolers. Any comments are welcome.

 

 

Delaware is an amazing state to live in for homeschooling.

 

We are right on the I-95 corridor (from pretty much anywhere in the state-- it's a pretty small state LOL) which means it is a relatively easy drive to Philadelphia, DC, Baltimore, Lancaster, or NYC. In the northern part of the state, we have easy access to Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Fort Delaware, Chadds Ford, the Brandywine, and a host of other nearby areas steeped in American history.

 

We are within an hour's drive of Longwood Gardens, many beaches, numerous wildlife preserves, an amazing array of state parks and natural areas, the array of assorted duPont estates, a host of museums (Brandywine River Museum, DE Museum of Natural History, Winterthur, Hagley, Iron Hill . . . .). Thanks to the Wyeths, Scarboroughs, and Kuerners, we have a thriving arts community. Thanks to the duPont legacy, we have a thriving science community.

 

There are homeschoolers of every stripe here. There are classical homeschool groups, secular groups, and non-secular groups. There are unschooling groups, and inclusive groups. Some are academic, some are social. There is much intermixing between the groups; there are a few "walls" but mostly people from the different "groups" socialize and support each other well.

 

We are such a small state that families share resources frequently and are just really supportive of one another.

 

Toss in that we are a very low-regulation state (file an intent to homeschool with the state in fall, aggregate attendance in July, that's it), no sales tax, relatively low property and school taxes, very mild weather (but still four seasons) and it's hard to ask for much more!

[Chelli]

Well, I think TX is pretty awesome for homeschooling from a regulation standpoint.

 

We live in Houston and there are many homeschool activities and opportunities here. Lots of museums,, the zoo, many nature centers, etc. These places all have programs and/or activities geared toward homeschoolers. We've done so much here compared to how little we did in Jacksonville, FL.

 

I'm not a huge TX fan in general and never wanted to live here, but this has been our best homeschool year ever. :)

 

ETA: We did a good amount of activities this past year and actually passed on many more. There are so many things to do here in Houston. I don't know about other parts of the state though, TX is a very large state. I've driven through some very desolate areas. :laugh:

 

:iagree: Ditto to everything she said including the fact that I live in the Houston area.

 

Hello fellow Houstonian! :seeya:

[UrbanSue]

I was the most "active" homeschooler when we lived in DC. My kids were younger and we weren't doing too much yet but it just seemed very easy to hook up with other families and take advantage of tons of (FREE!) cultural opportunities and classes. I'd pretty much move back there in a heartbeat if we could.

[Spetzi]

I want to give another plug for the ease of NJ. There are huge numbers of homeschoolers so lots of support and activities. There is NO, Zero regulation. You would be close to NYC and/or Philly (two great cities with lots and lots to do). There is the beach, skiing, hiking, museums, great restaurants (that's for mom and dad), etc.

 

Housing price and property taxes are very high in some parts, but less so northwest and in the southern parts of the state.

[unfrumpable.]

 

:iagree: Ditto to everything she said including the fact that I live in the Houston area.

 

Hello fellow Houstonian! :seeya:

 

 

:seeya: Hi! Nice to meet another Houstonian on the board. :)

[MyLittleBears]

I want to give another plug for the ease of NJ. There are huge numbers of homeschoolers so lots of support and activities. There is NO, Zero regulation. You would be close to NYC and/or Philly (two great cities with lots and lots to do). There is the beach, skiing, hiking, museums, great restaurants (that's for mom and dad), etc.

 

Housing price and property taxes are very high in some parts, but less so northwest and in the southern parts of the state.

 

 

 

:iagree: This is exactly why we miss and don't miss NJ.

[Jilly]

I agree with all those saying California. The natural beauty is wonderful. Our nature studies are great year round. The museums are endless. There are wonderful cultural opportunities, and there is a fairly large, diverse community of homeschoolers. On top of all this it is very easy to homeschool here. You file a piece of paper once a year declaring yourself a private school, and that is it.

[watertribe]

This is all really great feedback. Thanks for taking the time to write! I'm still listening....

[Cricket]

We are in Arizona. When your child turns six, you file a notice of intent to homeschool with the school district and that's it. Home schooled kids are allowed to participate in public school sports and extramural activities. There are many homeschool support groups in the Phoenix area.

 

On the downside, it was about 110 today.

[craftyerin]

As far as regulation, Louisiana is super easy. Letter of intent only, no testing requirements or anything like that. Homeschooling organizations and opportunities are growing rapidly. I'm in New Orleans (or, the suburbs) and we have more new stuff crop up for HSers every year. I do sort of get jealous of my Texas friends for the ZERO regulation and TONS of opportunity, but we're getting there, and NOLA is a super fun place to live!!

[Meadowlark]

Oh, you all are making me want to move! I guess we always want what we don't have.

 

Now tell me, are any of these wonderful places close to a John Deere plant? If so, I might really consider moving!

[jenn&charles]

Believe it or not, California is a low-regulation state, and there are a LOT of HSers here. I live in the southern part, inland from L.A., and there are tons of meetup groups, co-ops, satellite programs, you name it. The libraries are great. There are museums and field trip opportunities everywhere. Also, if you were interested in enrolling your kids in a public charter school homeschool, the state will pay for your materials including computers, etc. (But if you do, you are subject to the school system's oversight and their approval of said materials.)

 

 

I agree with the above. We are in CA and have homeschooled through a variety of ways. You can enroll as a private school and no one will mess with you. That makes you "legal". It's an easy process that can be done online and doesn't cost any money. Once you've done that, there is pretty much no oversight and minimal requirements to meet like keeping attendance (at least last time I checked - so don't quote me).

 

The charter schools are also pretty good but vary in their requirements and benefits. A charter school local to me gives you $800 to spend each semester per student on curricula, supplies, Internet, computers, lessons, etc. You can spend it on almost anything as long as it's not religious. You have to meet with an "educational specialist" every 21 days (they will go to your house) and to turn in one example of work per subject per semester. There are options to be involved in classes and field trips, but that's not required. Students have to do state testing once a year. Parents have total choice as to what their student(s) use for curriculum.

 

 

Having said all that though, I wouldn't recommend moving to CA to most, LOL... It's a hugely expensive state to live in (except for the fresh produce!). There are other reasons I don't care for CA as well, but won't get into that here. ;-)