Homeschooling in TX?

[Porridge]

Hello, We are potentially relocating to TX and I'm researching the homeschool transition. I googled the Texas Homeschool Coalition, and it looks like there are pretty much no logistical requirements (other than actually teaching my kids, which I'll definitely do): no paperwork to file, no tests to take, no reports to make to the government or local school district????  I just want to make sure I have that straight. 

Is the Texas Homeschool Coalition a legit website?  Could anyone point me to other websites or resources to look at as we consider a TX relo?

Thank you!!

[Slache]

Yes, Texas is the bestest. I don't know if that's a legal website. Here.

See you soon!

[Bambam]

The Texas Home School Coalition is a legit website. For years, Texans joined them instead of HSLDA. For the past several years, many of us have felt that THSC is abandoning championing the freedom to homeschool in Texas and has a different agenda.  So, another group started in Texas- Texas Home Educators - https://texashomeeducators.org/

But you have the facts on homeschooling in Texas- no reporting, no testing, no filing, just teach.  If you are looking for homeschool resources for a specific area (support groups, classes, clubs, etc), the THE has a nice list under their resources tab. 

And Texas is one of the best states to homeschool in!

[Bootsie]

Private schools, which homeschools are considered, do not come under the state educational requirements in Texas.  So, homeschooling is easy--unless you want to teach your child to drive.  Then you have to get permission from the state and purchase a state-approved curriculum.  

[Porridge]

Back with another question -- If you homeschool high school, are you committing to homeschool all 4 years of high school? I heard that TX public high schools will not accept homeschool high school classes, and thus, that you can't move your child into public high school unless they start over at 9th grade. If you wanted to move your child into a brick and mortar school mid-way through high school, would you have to do private school? Or would even private schools require the child to start over at 9th grade?  

I couldn't find info about this on the TX Home Educators website.

[Ellie]

2 hours ago, JHLWTM said:

Back with another question -- If you homeschool high school, are you committing to homeschool all 4 years of high school? I heard that TX public high schools will not accept homeschool high school classes, and thus, that you can't move your child into public high school unless they start over at 9th grade. If you wanted to move your child into a brick and mortar school mid-way through high school, would you have to do private school? Or would even private schools require the child to start over at 9th grade?  

I couldn't find info about this on the TX Home Educators website.

Most states are reluctant to accept any credits earned at home; it isn't just a Texas thing.

Also, it isn't that your dc would start back at 9th grade; he could very well be 10th or 11th or 12th. He just won't have the credits to graduate.

This letter is from Mike Morath, Commissioner of Education in Texas. He addresses homeschooled children returning to public school, and I kind of feel like he's really encouraging the schools to award credit...but they are not required to, and mostly they don't.

[almondbutterandjelly]

Generally speaking, that is correct.  Occasionally you hear about a fluke district that allows it, but no hardly ever.  I  think it also varies by private school.  Our local classical private school would test and place accordingly.  

[Bambam]

Pretty much. Most districts will not accept homeschool credit. You do have some options - take the STAAR EOC exams for those few courses it is available for (I know one child who did this). Texas Tech's online school has CBE (Credit by Exam) options - I think those are like $85/exam? Some start dual credit in 9th grade. Any TX public school would have a hard time not awarding credit for a college English 1301 class.  

If I had any doubts, I'd go to my local school and talk with them. 

[Jann in TX]

On 6/16/2020 at 1:21 PM, Bootsie said:

Private schools, which homeschools are considered, do not come under the state educational requirements in Texas.  So, homeschooling is easy--unless you want to teach your child to drive.  Then you have to get permission from the state and purchase a state-approved curriculum.  

This has been a 'no big deal' thing for our family-- just a quick signature thing... there are lots of programs to choose from-- even a 'free' one from state... 

Edited January 17, 2021 by Jann in TX

[Bambam]

On 6/16/2020 at 1:21 PM, Bootsie said:

Private schools, which homeschools are considered, do not come under the state educational requirements in Texas.  So, homeschooling is easy--unless you want to teach your child to drive.  Then you have to get permission from the state and purchase a state-approved curriculum.  

I taught 2 to drive. No problems. I had to fill out a VOE (Verification of Enrollment) which I believe any traditionally schooled kid would have to get from his school anyway. Every parent-taught drivers up course must come from the state-approved list. I know some public schoolers who do the parent taught route too - because they want it done before the school will get around to it.  Homeschoolers are not jumping through hoops "getting permission from the state" any more than anyone else electing to do the parent taught Drivers Ed. And you need the state's permission in any state to get a driving permit. The state issues them. 

[Bootsie]

1 hour ago, Bambam said:

I taught 2 to drive. No problems. I had to fill out a VOE (Verification of Enrollment) which I believe any traditionally schooled kid would have to get from his school anyway. Every parent-taught drivers up course must come from the state-approved list. I know some public schoolers who do the parent taught route too - because they want it done before the school will get around to it.  Homeschoolers are not jumping through hoops "getting permission from the state" any more than anyone else electing to do the parent taught Drivers Ed. And you need the state's permission in any state to get a driving permit. The state issues them. 

My statement was not that homeschoolers are having to jump through more hoops than others.  My point was that the state of Texas regulates driver's ed more than anything else.  In addition from using curriculum from a state-approved list, you must get permission from the state to teach the curriculum.  Not everyone can get permission--someone who has been Commander-in-Chief and President of the US would not be approved to teach his own kids drivers ed in Texas.  

There is no other curriculum area that Texas parents must use approved curriculum or receive permission from the state to teach.  

[Tree Frog]

5 hours ago, Bambam said:

because they want it done before the school will get around to it.

As far as I know, our large ISD doesn't offer driver's ed at all. I didn't know some schools still offered it. We had to go through a company or teach them ourselves. We opted to teach them. It was easier, we could be more specific about how to do particular actions (like increase speed to match traffic when merging--one of my pet peeves that isn't often done here), and it was a lot less expensive.

[Bambam]

14 hours ago, Bootsie said:

My statement was not that homeschoolers are having to jump through more hoops than others.  My point was that the state of Texas regulates driver's ed more than anything else.  In addition from using curriculum from a state-approved list, you must get permission from the state to teach the curriculum.  Not everyone can get permission--someone who has been Commander-in-Chief and President of the US would not be approved to teach his own kids drivers ed in Texas.  

There is no other curriculum area that Texas parents must use approved curriculum or receive permission from the state to teach.  

I'm going to admit it's probably been four years since I taught my last kid to drive. I don't remember getting permission. I remember ordering the parent-taught kit from the state ($20, I think), reading through that, ordering the curriculum from their approved list, waiting for access to that, doing the first 8 hours maybe, taking my child to the DMV to fill out the paperwork, provide the documents (proof of id, proof of residency, etc), kid took test, pay the fee, kid walks out with paper copy of driving permit.  I never got permission to teach her. I think I did have to sign something that said I had a DL for x years and that I was her teacher, but I don't remember anyone saying anything like, "Okay you are qualified to teach your child to drive". Have things changed?  

[Jann in TX]

18 hours ago, Bootsie said:

My statement was not that homeschoolers are having to jump through more hoops than others.  My point was that the state of Texas regulates driver's ed more than anything else.  In addition from using curriculum from a state-approved list, you must get permission from the state to teach the curriculum.  Not everyone can get permission--someone who has been Commander-in-Chief and President of the US would not be approved to teach his own kids drivers ed in Texas.  

There is no other curriculum area that Texas parents must use approved curriculum or receive permission from the state to teach.  

Parent must have valid TX drivers license...no offenses...

I taught my 3 daughters (youngest is now 18)-- no issues... no 'waiting for permission'... My youngest was a PS student so I needed a verification of enrollment from her school... my others were homeschooled-- I needed my own VOE for them (might have been notarized) but again-- no big deal.   No more hoops to jump through than my PS student had.

[Bootsie]

3 hours ago, Bambam said:

I'm going to admit it's probably been four years since I taught my last kid to drive. I don't remember getting permission. I remember ordering the parent-taught kit from the state ($20, I think), reading through that, ordering the curriculum from their approved list, waiting for access to that, doing the first 8 hours maybe, taking my child to the DMV to fill out the paperwork, provide the documents (proof of id, proof of residency, etc), kid took test, pay the fee, kid walks out with paper copy of driving permit.  I never got permission to teach her. I think I did have to sign something that said I had a DL for x years and that I was her teacher, but I don't remember anyone saying anything like, "Okay you are qualified to teach your child to drive". Have things changed?  

The $20 fee is for a parent taught driver instructor registration.  Parent Taught Driver Education (texas.gov)  You have to meet the state's qualifications to do this.  DPS approves or denies the request.  I would consider this as getting permission from the state.  I do not need any permission to homeschool; I simply state that I am homeschooling.

(It does appear that some of the qualifications have changed since I did this with my kids; at one time time there was a restriction if you had ever been involved in a fatal crash or ever had a DUI--I do not see the fatal crash restriction now and the DUI has been changed to the past 7 years.)  

Then you must purchase a state approved curriculum--the cheapest of which I see in a quick glance is $58.  Then you have to do 32 hours of course work, which cannot be completed in less than 16 days.  And then 44 hours of driving, which cannot be completed in less than 44 days.  

[Bambam]

2 hours ago, Bootsie said:

The $20 fee is for a parent taught driver instructor registration.  Parent Taught Driver Education (texas.gov)  You have to meet the state's qualifications to do this.  DPS approves or denies the request.  I would consider this as getting permission from the state.  I do not need any permission to homeschool; I simply state that I am homeschooling.

(It does appear that some of the qualifications have changed since I did this with my kids; at one time time there was a restriction if you had ever been involved in a fatal crash or ever had a DUI--I do not see the fatal crash restriction now and the DUI has been changed to the past 7 years.)  

Then you must purchase a state approved curriculum--the cheapest of which I see in a quick glance is $58.  Then you have to do 32 hours of course work, which cannot be completed in less than 16 days.  And then 44 hours of driving, which cannot be completed in less than 44 days.  

I guess I don't see where DPS approves or denies the request.  And I think their restrictions of having at least 7 years of driving experience is sound (I don't know where the magic number 7 comes from, but I do think having several years experience is valid. I wouldn't want someone's 17 yo teaching their 16 yo sibling to drive. 

I wonder if these prices are out of line with what other states have to pay. A friend who put her child in the one of the driving schools paid $400 for the course.  That $78 ($20 for the the PTDE package, plus $58 for the actual program) seems very inexpensive compared to what she had to pay (not including the fees for the permit nor license as she had to pay those too).

From https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/driver/parenttaughtfaq.htm

"5. Who can teach my son/daughter?

The following persons may instruct the Parent Taught program:

• Parent
• Stepparent
• Grandparent
• Step-grandparent
• Foster Parent
• Legal guardian

Additionally, a parent, legal guardian, or a judge of a court with jurisdiction over the student can designate a person to instruct the course who meet the following requirements:

• Is at least 25 years old;
• Does not charge a fee for conducting the course; and
• Has at least seven years of driving experience"
  
   

[Bootsie]

5 minutes ago, Bambam said:

I guess I don't see where DPS approves or denies the request.  And I think their restrictions of having at least 7 years of driving experience is sound (I don't know where the magic number 7 comes from, but I do think having several years experience is valid. I wouldn't want someone's 17 yo teaching their 16 yo sibling to drive. 

I wonder if these prices are out of line with what other states have to pay. A friend who put her child in the one of the driving schools paid $400 for the course.  That $78 ($20 for the the PTDE package, plus $58 for the actual program) seems very inexpensive compared to what she had to pay (not including the fees for the permit nor license as she had to pay those too).

From https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/driver/parenttaughtfaq.htm

"5. Who can teach my son/daughter?

The following persons may instruct the Parent Taught program:

• Parent
• Stepparent
• Grandparent
• Step-grandparent
• Foster Parent
• Legal guardian

Additionally, a parent, legal guardian, or a judge of a court with jurisdiction over the student can designate a person to instruct the course who meet the following requirements:

• Is at least 25 years old;
• Does not charge a fee for conducting the course; and
• Has at least seven years of driving experience"
  
   

My point is not comparing the cost of a curriculum in one state with that in another state.  My point is that it does NOT matter if someone knows all of the material on the test and can pass a driving test.  The state approves or disapproves of a teacher for a class AND requires that a state-approved curriculum is purchased and used.  Unless it has changed, when my kids were taking drivers ed, you had to purchase curriculum for EACH child.  Curriculum could not be reused.  

This is very different than other education for children in the state.  I do not need to get approval to teach my child to read; I do not need to prove that I can read; I do not need to purchase and use a state approved curriculum to teach my child to read.  

This states that DPS can approve and deny parent instructors.  

 

 

 

[Bambam]

4 hours ago, Bootsie said:

My point is not comparing the cost of a curriculum in one state with that in another state.  My point is that it does NOT matter if someone knows all of the material on the test and can pass a driving test.  The state approves or disapproves of a teacher for a class AND requires that a state-approved curriculum is purchased and used.  Unless it has changed, when my kids were taking drivers ed, you had to purchase curriculum for EACH child.  Curriculum could not be reused.  

This is very different than other education for children in the state.  I do not need to get approval to teach my child to read; I do not need to prove that I can read; I do not need to purchase and use a state approved curriculum to teach my child to read.  

This states that DPS can approve and deny parent instructors.  

 

 

 

Wow. I had never seen that. 
But, it some ways it makes sense. DPS is the issuing authority for permits and licenses. I issue my own diploma for my children that I am homeschooling. 

[ktgrok]

Wow - in Florida you teach your kid to drive - no curriculum required. you just...teach them. And there are free resources on the website, etc. You CAN pay for curriculum, or an online course, or private instruction, but you don't have to.