Pulling kids out of school? (Houston: homes, elementary school, kosher)

[houston-nomad]

If we wanted to pull our kids out of school a month before the school year ended, how would we avoid problems with truancy? Homeschooling is allowed, right? So what's the difference... how do you make the claim that your kids are being homeschooled, not truant?

(We might work out of the country for a while next year, which is why I'm asking. But not long enough that we would enroll them in school overseas).

[JasonAndJulie]

You notify the district in writing that you will be homeschooling. That is no problem. Upon re-entry to most public schools though, they will have to take proficiency tests.

[houston-nomad]

Thanks. I guess we better think this through, make sure we won't lose g/t status and magnet spots for the following school year.

[lowndes]

Originally Posted by houston-nomad

Thanks. I guess we better think this through, make sure we won't lose g/t status and magnet spots for the following school year.

I would just talk to the school about it now and what you plan to do. I did something similar when I was in elementary school and it was no big deal school wise and was one of the most educational experiences of my childhood. The educational opportunities gained from spending time overseas will greatly outweigh whatever your kids will learn in that last month of school and most likely the school will recognize this (or one would hope so).

[HoustonRonnie]

Good luck with that. Others have tried and the schools have said "no way". Progression from class to class requires a certain number of attendance days. Doubt a whole month would be kosher.

In some states, parents are required to file sworn affidavits when they withdraw their children. Many states also require families to submit curriculum, attendance records or test scores when they opt to home-school.

In Texas, the Texas Education Agency requires a “signed statement from a parent/guardian or qualified student” or “documentation of an oral statement by the parent/guardian or qualified student made within 10 days of the time the student quits attending school in the district, signed and dated by an authorized representative of the district” noting that they intend to attend home-school

Ronnie

[Felixmp]

Can't they stay with friends/relatives to finish out the school year?

[colcat]

Originally Posted by HoustonRonnie

Good luck with that. Others have tried and the schools have said "no way". Progression from class to class requires a certain number of attendance days. Doubt a whole month would be kosher.

In some states, parents are required to file sworn affidavits when they withdraw their children. Many states also require families to submit curriculum, attendance records or test scores when they opt to home-school.

In Texas, the Texas Education Agency requires a “signed statement from a parent/guardian or qualified student” or “documentation of an oral statement by the parent/guardian or qualified student made within 10 days of the time the student quits attending school in the district, signed and dated by an authorized representative of the district” noting that they intend to attend home-school

Ronnie

Unfortunately in Texas, you do not have to prove that you are homeschooling. You just say you are and no one checks to make sure the kids are being taught what they are supposed to be taught. It really is a shame because these kids will pay dearly in the end for not being educated.

[testmo]

Aren't you the same person that last year asked about pulling kids out of school for a significant period of time?

[houston-nomad]

Nope.

[CAHomeschoolMom]

Originally Posted by colcat

Unfortunately in Texas, you do not have to prove that you are homeschooling. You just say you are and no one checks to make sure the kids are being taught what they are supposed to be taught. It really is a shame because these kids will pay dearly in the end for not being educated.

The vast majority of homeschool families are working very hard to educate their children....with or without government oversight. Test scores/many studies have proven as much. The ones who are from "slacker" homes would probably be flunking out of a brick and mortar school anyway,due to the dysfunction of the home/lack of parental oversight. The real problem is not government oversight/interference, but the functionality, or the lack thereof, of the family unit.