Step By Step Guide
Step 1 - Research Your State & County Homeschool Policies
The very first step is to research the laws and policies of your state and county. Some states need for you to write a letter of intent (or religious exemption), which in turn needs to be submitted to the Department of Education, specifying why your child needs to be homeschooled. Other states do not have this requirement, you'll need to research what the requirements are of your state.
Step 2 - School Options
There are several options when picking a school: public homeschools, independent study charter schools, and private; however, not every option is available in each state. Below I have outlined the options that may be available in certain counties in California.
The first option is public (home) school. Sometimes the school that your child is already designated to go to (based on your geographical location/ home) has homeschool options. There you can enroll and receive textbooks and materials that mirror the curriculum of that school. Since the COVID pandemic, many public schools now offer online components as well as hybrid (in-person part of the week) learning options. You can inquire about teacher meetings, student work samples, and outings/ field trip participation.
The next option is a public homeschool- online-based. In the state of California, there is California Virtual Academy (CAVA) which educates through k12.com. CAVA provides a certified teacher, textbooks, reading materials, workbooks, manipulatives, an online program, and an individualized learning plan. They also offer a hybrid option for some in-person classes, park days & field trips. Homeschooling families are required to meet with teachers, submit student work samples, and participate in student growth assessments and CA State Testing.
If you are looking for choice and support then consider an independent study charter school. The charter school option offers homeschooling families choice and student funds. The curriculum is tailored to meet your child's needs and learning style. Independent study charter schools provide funds through your child's school student account to allocate towards curriculum, materials, classes, and enrichment activities of your choosing. Your family is assigned a certified teacher who helps navigate curriculum options and customizes an individual learning plan (ILP) unique to each student. There are necessary student assessments, State of California testing requirements, teacher meetings, and student sample submissions. This is a customizable option that gives you a lot of control over learning materials.
The last option is private. This option is customizable as far as curriculum choices, but it you will pay out of pocket for all of your curriculum choices, books, and materials. This is the option that many families pick whose state has a letter of intent requirement (explained in Step 1). There are student samples that need to be submitted to the Department of Education as well as testing requirements. There are homeschool co-op groups and park days as well as outings that vary depending on the homeschool group.
Step 3 - Enrollment
This is an exciting step- you have done your research and taken the leap into homeschooling!
Step 4 - Join Homeschool Groups
You are not alone: there are many homeschool groups and it helps to connect. The school of your choice is a tremendous resource for clubs, field trips, curriculum ideas, lessons and so on. Also, there are many homeschool families that connect over social media platforms (such as Facebook) and organize park days & outings independent of belonging to a particular school.