| Author | |
mom2mpr
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 9:07am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Bookswithtea wrote:
| [QUOTE=JodieLyn] I I think VA would be a great state to hs in, as a Catholic, but I hear its mighty hard to afford a house in the Arlington Diocese... |
|
|
When we lived in Charlottesville we had friends who went to church up in Madison because it is part of the Arlington diocese. They loved it. I think homes out that way, Culpepper and Madison are not all that expensive. At least they were reasonable 5 years ago. Of course, if you are working in NOVA it might be a bit of a commute.
All that to say, a diocese probably encompasses more than where the masses of people and jobs are 
Anne
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bethany
Forum Pro
Joined: Oct 16 2006
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 299
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 9:15am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'll also add, for the 4th or 5th time, Texas. I'm also in the DFW area and it's great. Our cities Parks and Rec has several classes geared to HS students, including swimming during the day and some art classes. It's so easy to HS in Texas, I haven't had to file or notify anyone.
__________________
Bethany
Wife to Mike, Mommy to Amelia (6/02), Sarah (10/03), Martha Grace (10/05), Rebecca Anne (12/07), Laura Catherine (3/10) and Reed Michael 7/4/14.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mrsgranola
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: North Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 442
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 9:19am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Red Cardigan wrote:
In NC, where dh and I used to live, the unfriendliness of the laws to homeschooling worried us; the unfriendliness (back then) of the people to it too. Once when my parents came to visit, they stayed in a hotel near us, and my youngest sister (then a young teen) was stopped in the hotel lobby by a total stranger and asked sternly why she wasn't in school. My sister answered, "Ummmm, because it's Sunday..." and the stranger got embarrassed and left her alone.
|
|
|
Well, I really don't think the NC laws are unfriendly to homeschoolers. We are listed with the dept. of non-public education once we start our homeschool and we take our own standardized test each year and keep our results at home. Other than that, the state pretty much stays out of our business. In fact, I bet that stranger who asked your sister about school wasn't from NC.  We natives are pretty out-numbered these days... 
But seriously, I really don't see it as difficult. I have heard from many folks that TX is the wild west of homeschool freedoms, however. 
JoAnna
__________________
Mom to Jacob, Grace, Mary, Lucas, Emma, Carrie and Gianna
Parente Adventures
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 9:38am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We lived right in DC for years and loved it for homeschooling. So much to do that was free for the kids. The laws are very easy as well but the urban thing is not for everyone and it is expensive.
Susan
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Barbara C.
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 11 2007
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 882
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 9:47am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We're in IL in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.
IL has very liberal homeschooling laws. The only requirement is to teach all the same basic subjects as the schools in English. No documentation, testing, or anything. Burden of proof is on the state to prove you are not homeschooling.
Lots of Catholic Churches, lots of homeschooling support groups, lots of VERY nice libraries. The cost of living is pretty high (especially coming from KY originally), but there's access to tons of field trip resources in downtown. And did I mention how nice the library systems are?
__________________
Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
AndieF
Forum Rookie
Joined: Nov 21 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 86
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 10:38am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I live in Illinois too, but in the central part of the state. No reporting or anything needed for homeschooling, and TONS of homeschooling resources are available here. Good libraries in our part of the state too. And although it would be nice to be a little closer to the museums and such in Chicago, it is only two hours away, so we can do it in a daytrip.
Andie, homeschooling 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and preschoolers!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Red Cardigan
Forum Pro
Joined: June 16 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 470
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 10:41am | IP Logged
|
|
|
mrsgranola wrote:
Well, I really don't think the NC laws are unfriendly to homeschoolers. We are listed with the dept. of non-public education once we start our homeschool and we take our own standardized test each year and keep our results at home. Other than that, the state pretty much stays out of our business. In fact, I bet that stranger who asked your sister about school wasn't from NC. We natives are pretty out-numbered these days...
But seriously, I really don't see it as difficult. I have heard from many folks that TX is the wild west of homeschool freedoms, however.
JoAnna |
|
|
 Well, it was over a decade ago when we lived in NC. I know things have changed some since then.
Also, in the rural community where we lived people were CPS-crazy. A co-worker of my dh's left the state with his family after they had to go through a CPS investigation. Their "crime"? The wife parked in front of a dry-cleaners and left the children (oldest, around ten I think, keeping an eye on the littler ones) while she stepped inside the store for approximately 30 seconds. She could see the car and the kids through the store's glass front the whole time, but a passer-by took down her license plate number and called the police. They had to bring the kids in to be interviewed separately and were asked all kinds of insulting and intrusive questions.
One time I was sitting in the car with our (then) two toddlers while dh ran into a store. I'm short (5'2"). A total stranger came up to our car and started to peer suspiciously into the back window where he could see the carseats; apparently he'd seen me but had mistakenly thought I was a child, too.  I leaned forward in the front window so he could see I was an adult (I was expecting #3 at the time!) He waved sheepishly and left, but it rattled me, as did the constant questions we'd get about oldest dd--her allergies were terrible there, so she'd have watery eyes a lot, and total strangers would approach us in the grocery store to ask us if she had been crying and why (!).  She wasn't even two years old yet, but apparently any sign of tears was "suspicious" to these people.
Sorry, this is OT. But it took me a while to relax, once we moved to Texas, and I found out that not all people are like this, and that people here are more inclined to smile at a mom with kids than start grilling her about her parenting practices.
__________________
http://www.redcardigan.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Kristie 4
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 20 2006
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1508
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 12:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Here in Manitoba it is pretty easy- but Ontario topped the cake. No need to notify, no reports, nothing- just homeschool whatever you wish. B.C. was good too- just let them know you are doing it or you could 'enroll' get the thousand bucks and send in a couple of samples (now in B.C. from talking with friend, there seems like there are a lot more strings attatched to the cheque!)....
__________________
Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Michaela
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2052
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 1:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've only had experiece homeschooling in NV and WA.
NV is super easy. Plus since many of the PS schools in Vegas are year around, there were always children on break. Which meant being out during school hours never ever raised an eyebrow. I never felt like I had to hide my kids indoors until 3pm.
Here is WA the requirements are minimal...just file an intent form at the beginning of the year and test at the end of the year. Parents keep tests. No one from the school district "collects" them. I don't think there are as many classes and activities for homeschoolers compared to Vegas though.
We were out and about more in Vegas. Year around homeschool parks days there vs. only in the summer here because of the rain.
I couldn't answer about being Catholic in Vegas....I wasn't then. I belonged to an inclusive group we created based on that fact that most of us (20 families or more) lived within 10 minutes of each other.
__________________
Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Maddie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1804
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We're in MI and the laws at present are great; however, the MEA/NEA here are very aggressively trying to change that. An attorney from HSLDA once told me MI laws are good but to be vigilant because of the MEA/NEA- he called them the Michigan Mafia. There is also a CPS mentality in MI which is pretty creepy (even among homeschoolers). MI keeps trying to lower/raise compulsory attendance to 5 from 6 and from 16 to 18.
VA laws were great, especially when we lived in HSLDA's backyard. We use Seton and we didn't have to report as Seton is a recognized Catholic school in the Diocese of Arlington. Otherwise we would have filed religious exemption.
__________________
~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 4:45pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Another  to St. Louis and MO.
And another  to NY. We have actually lucked into a great, but small, group of Catholic homeschooling families in our area, but Catholics really feel under attack here. Homeschooling isn't tough, but there are a lot of legal hoops to jump through. Our school district leaves us alone, but you never know when a superintendent will change.
__________________
Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LisaD
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 526
|
| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 5:37pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We've only homeschooled in CA, and so far it's been easy. We do file our own affidavit with the state, so aren't required to do any reporting or standardized testing. We also live in an area with a large Catholic homeschooling support group and our city has a great homeschool resource center. That said, I have noticed that more and more families in our support group are signing up with charter schools. I don't know if that's because they feel more secure legally that way, or because the charters pay for all the curriculum and neat classes (you usually have $1500-$1800 a year per child to spend on curriculum, supplies, classes, etc.).
__________________
~Lisa
Mama to dd(99), ds(01), ds(03) and ds(06)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
acystay
Forum Pro
Joined: May 31 2007
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 99
|
| Posted: Sept 29 2009 at 7:30pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have only hsing experience in CA. It isn't that difficult to file an R4 if you want. I was going to do this, but we changed our mind when a new charter came in our area.
LisaD, to answer your question on why we chose the charter school route...Yes, I did it b/c I get money. I figure it is tax money I've paid so shouldn't I get some back? I am with Sky Mountain and am fairly happy. There are a few things that make me upset, but still it is not enough to have me pull out at this time. I know my ES and felt comfortable doing that b/c I know here. I didn't do it to be legal at all. Sky Mountain provides $1,800 a year/child while others here in my area are doing about $800 with big restrictions on either the amount going to classes and/or only purchasing through a few vendors for TEXTBOOKS. I'm not a textbookey kinda gal 
What area are you in Lisa? Just curious if I have crossed paths with you b/c our Catholic hsing group is pretty large as well.
One thing for those that feel CPS is harsh in CA. Things I think may have changed. Recently my ds1 and I were at B&N. I rarely go there. Anyway, we purchased a ton of Kumon books and a few other things. The person asked if we had a the discount card you pay for. I said no, don't come here often. Then the manager said, oh are you a teacher (seeing all the schooley books I have). Well, not exactly...then she replies, do you homeschool...YES!!! I think people are seeing it as a more common thing now. It is widespread in CA and MANY MANY families are homeschooling here for various reasons.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
|
| Posted: Sept 29 2009 at 9:05pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Alaska was great. Of the three states in which I've homeschooled, it was the best--no restrictions, no reporting, no notifications, no nothing.Plenty of Catholics, plenty of homeschoolers, and plenty of resources.Loved it.They also offer the public school partnership programs that a lot of homeschoolers sign on with. Very generous stipends, but then you have to do all the reporting and testing and such, so it's a trade-off for sure.
NC was fine. They have some minimal testing requirements but I never did them and never had anyone even bat an eye at me.The main problems there in rural western NC were the extreme lack of other Catholics and the lack of resources other than the great outdoors.
FL is good. Standardized testing or portfolio review. No problems at all. Lots of Catholics, lots of homeschoolers here in the Keys and also when we lived in Gainesville. Very good resources.
After being spoiled so far living in places with very little requirements (esp Alaska)I don't think I could live somewhere where homeschooling was more restrictive.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LisaD
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 526
|
| Posted: Sept 30 2009 at 12:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
acystay wrote:
What area are you in Lisa? Just curious if I have crossed paths with you b/c our Catholic hsing group is pretty large as well.
|
|
|
We are in the Los Angeles suburbs, and part of Christ the King homeschool group. How about you?
__________________
~Lisa
Mama to dd(99), ds(01), ds(03) and ds(06)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Amanda
Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 21 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 116
|
| Posted: Sept 30 2009 at 3:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We live in PA, and I have to defend it as a place to homeschool. :-)
Yes, the requirements are a pain. However, they're only a pain in terms of record-keeping, as far as I'm concerned--we've never let the way we school be affected by what we have to turn in at the end of the year. Also, there are *no* requirements until the year your child turns 8.
I've also homeschooled in NJ, where you don't even have to let the school district know you're homeschooling (although it's usually recommended that you do so, in order to avoid questions of truancy), and while I feel a little wistful for that freedom, it doesn't affect my kids' education not to have it.
To me, local resources (such as libraries, museums, etc.) and the Catholic community are much more important. For example, I would love to live way out in the country, but wouldn't want to be that far from a biggish library--so the local area is more important to me than the state.
In PA, you can get a sticker on your library card that gives you borrowing privileges at any library in the state, which has been really helpful and convenient.
My autistic son also gets more free services here than he would in NJ. Since we don't use school services, that makes a difference to where we'd like to homeschool.
So, in my rambling way, I'm trying to say that there is more to a homeschooling-friendly area than favorable homeschooling laws!
__________________
mom to ds '97, dd '03, ds '07, and dd 1/11
St. Margaret Clitherow Homeschool
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lisa H
Forum Newbie
Joined: March 04 2007
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17
|
| Posted: Oct 01 2009 at 12:33am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We live and homeschool in La. I think it is very easy. All we have to do is send in a letter of intent each year and that's it. Easy! [:D
We can even claim our homeschooling expenses (up to $5,000) on our state income tax!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: where would you like or dislike to hs?
