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HOW TO GET STARTED WITH HOME EDUCATION IN OHIO
The ideal situation is for the interested person(s) to interact with other home educators, read materials about home education, and look over different curricula, thinking about what will work best in their particular situation, for weeks before actual home schooling.
IF THE NEED IS IMMEDIATE: Select your curriculum and be prepared. Obtain a notification form (located here in PDF format) and fill it out completely. Instructions are attached to the form. Send notification form to your city or county superintendent by certified mail two days before keeping your child home from school, or hand-deliver to the superintendent's office before or the morning of the first day you keep your child home. Keep your child home and begin home education!
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION: Curriculum dollar amount can vary depending on child or family needs, from $50 or less to hundreds of dollars. Legal coverage: Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) annual membership fee is $115. Support groups: Local Clark County support group address and phone number at end of this page (Cost: $25/year). There is also a state organization, Christian Home Educator of Ohio (CHEO). They have an annual membership fee of $30. A CHEO member also gets a $20 discount on the annual membership fee for HSLDA. For more on what the state organization can provide, please visit the CHEO website, or contact them via mail at 117 W. Main St., Suite 103, Lancaster, Oh. 43130, or via E-mail: cheo.org@usa.net Memberships in HSLDA and support groups is optional. Membership is not required in order for you to homeschool.
Field trips and classes: varies depending on how many free and paying activities used. Discounted prices available through CHECC (members only). Classroom materials: can be basic and gradually added to as time and money permit-educational games included here. Books and workshops at CHEO Convention, local used book sales (CHECC has theirs in June-3 Thursday), seminars, meeting, etc., to help you do your best job.
STATE REGULATIONS: Familiarize yourself with Ohio's State Regulations regarding home education enacted in 1989. A copy of the simplified regulations is accessible via the navigation menu on the left margin of this page. Another helpful resource is Home Education: Answers for Ohio Parents by Diana Fessler available at the Clark County Library or CHECC. Please note 1) what the parent's responsibilities are; 2) what the school district's responsibilities are. Determine to function within the regulations.
LEGAL COVERAGE — strongly encouraged. Home School Legal Defense Association: P.O. Box 3000, Purcellville, Va. 20134 (540-338-5600). HSLDA offers coverage of attorney fees if a home school legal problem occurs for you as a member. You also help to fight legal battles for other home educators across the country when you renew your membership every year. Annual fee: $115.00 (CHEO members receive discount rate of $95.00). Other discounts may apply. Check with HSLDA.
NOTIFICATION - your responsibility. Obtain notification form (in the packets located at Park Branch Library on Bechtle Ave or Logos Bookstore, or download here) and fill it out neatly and completely. Instructions are included with the form. Prepare a brief outline of your proposed curriculum and a list of textbooks, teaching materials, etc., you intend to use. Make a copy for your records, and either hand deliver or send by registered or certified mail to the city or county superintendent.
CURRICULUM — Investigate curriculum options, trying to picture what approach would work best for your circumstances. Consider student's learning style and your teaching style as well as the makeup of your family and financial situation. Helpful resources include: Big Book of Home Learning by Mary Pride volumes 1 - 4 and Cathy Duffy"s Christian Home Educator's Curriculum Manuals - elementary and junior/senior high. These books may be available through the main library. Christian and secular home education material suppliers are numerous. Satellite programs and video/computer programs are also available. Check with your local support group for more information. Take advantage of local used book sales or opportunities to rent or borrow curriculum.
TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOK APPROACH - Bob Jones University Press Greenville, SC 29614 (800-845-5731)
ABeka Books Pensacola, FL 32523 (800-874-BEKA)
Rod and Staff Publishers Crockett, KY 41413 (606-522-4348)
Konos Curriculum 5441 County Road 424 Anna, TX 75409 (979-924-2712)
Weaver (Published by Alpha Omega) 804 N. Second Ave. East Rock Rapids, IA 51246 (800-682-7391)
SELF-PACED APPROACH - Alpha Omega Publishing 804 N. Second Avenue East Rock Rapids, IA 51246 (800-682-7391)
RECORDS AND PLANS... 900 hours of schooling is required by state regulations... remember to include all interactions and teachable moments (include field trips and co-ops also). A scrapbook of photos, mementos and samples of work can provide a portfolio. Record keeping materials such as grade books are available through office suppliers and support group sales.
ASSESSMENT — PLAN AHEAD " Standardized Testing - a variety of resources are available: Bob Jones University Press mails the test to a "test giver" (must have a BA degree) and you pay for the test and charge the "test giver" requires. Usually takes 3 days to complete. Check with your local support group for more information. Written Narrative - Keep samples of child's work in each subject showing progress. Photos of extracurricular events helps. This must be done by a certified teacher (CHECC has assessments done each spring - call to get info). Send test results or assessment form along with your notification form for the next year... usually mid-August. Make sure and send certified mail.
Helpful Links Achievement Tests/Teaching Aids
Used Textbooks/Supplies
This document was prepared by: Christian Home Educators of Clark County P.O. Box 187 North Hampton, Ohio 45349 (937-399-7102) Carolyn Strong, Secretary
TAKE ADVANTAGE OP SUPPORT GROUPS!
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