Oklahoma Requirements for Homeschooling
Once you`ve made sure you`re following Oklahoma`s homeschooling law and meeting Oklahoma`s homeschooling requirements, here are some other things you need to know: When it comes to post-secondary options after homeschooling, the Oklahoma State Department of Education recommends the following: “For college-affiliated students, refer to the Oklahoma State Board of Education`s graduation regulations, listed on our website, or the required courses of the college of your choice. It seems fairly obvious that the wording of “alternative means of education” is directly applicable to homeschooling, as it was added specifically to protect the right of parents to opt for homeschooling. In 1907, at the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, one of the delegates, Mr. Buchanan, proposed including the phrase “unless other means of education are provided” in Article 13, Section 4. Another delegate, Mr. Buchanan, responded positively to Mr. Buchanan`s proposal. Baker explained: How to Homeschool in Oklahoma Homeschooling is legal in the United States, and each state establishes its own policies and procedures for homeschooling. Some states have no requirements at all, while others want parents to submit certain forms and follow certain procedures.
[Note: The following two regulations are requirements for public schools that may apply to homeschooling on an equivalency basis.] In Snyder v. Asbery (No. 78,045, Oklahoma Court of Appeals, Div. 2, 18. May 1993), the Oklahoma Court of Appeals placed two children in the care of their father, who was homeschooled, and overturned a lower court decision. On page 4 of the decision, the court agreed with the homeschooling father and stated: “. the State Department of Education has no jurisdiction over homeschooling. See 70 O.S.1991 § 3-104. Okla. Const.
13, § 5. (…) However, if you are a foster parent, the homeschooling option may be set by your social worker. “Because home schools are not accredited by the State Board of Education, a student must take a standardized pass test when he/she re-enters the public school system. Test results can be used to determine class placement and/or credit for the student. All exams are conducted by the host school and the results and copies of the exam taken are kept for one year. When returning to a public school, the parent or guardian must provide proof of compliance with [homeschooling] requirements. This documentation will determine whether equivalent instruction was given during homeschooling” (Oklahoma State Department of Education). Oklahoma law does not require parents to use certified teachers or state-approved programs, contact state or local officials, register or obtain state or local approval, test their students, or allow public school officials to visit or inspect homes. Homeschooling is not regulated because the framers of the Oklahoma Constitution explicitly intended “other means of education” to include homeschooling and gave the state no authority to regulate. To learn more about the legal requirements for homeschooling in Oklahoma, Discovery K12 recommends visiting the Oklahoma Department of Education website. Since the state of Oklahoma strongly recommends that you teach 180 days per school year, you need to record it somehow.
A good rule of thumb is to always keep diligent records for every homeschooled student – record number of days spent homeschooling, lesson plans, books read, field trips, etc. Download this FREE resource where experienced homeschoolers share their stories on how to get started with homeschooling, understand your child academically, plan your days and more. The Oklahoma State Department of Education suggests that “academic progress should be graded and maintained for the child” during homeschooling, but does not require specific records. However, we recommend that you keep some personal records to verify education in case you need to provide proof of education to the state or other legal entities or prepare to return to public schools or post-secondary pathways. The Oklahoma State Department of Education website states that home schools are not regulated or required for parents to register with local or state authorities. There are no homeschooling requirements that must be met other than teaching at least 180 days per year for children aged 5 to 18. There you go! Easy, right? Have more questions about homeschooling in Oklahoma? The following pages may be helpful. This information should in no way be construed as legal advice.
It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws under which you are homeschooled. As a result of this discussion of homeschooling, the language “other means of education” was included in Article 13, Section 4. Because the HSLDA Board wants to focus its resources on protecting the freedom of homeschooled children to monitor public schools, we cannot help homeschooled students access special education in public schools. However, HSLDA can support member families seeking related services that have been turned away due to homeschooling. We see this as a fundamental issue of equity because, according to the U.S. Department of Education, students in states where homeschooling is considered private schools are eligible for related services, but not in other states. Learn more about your state`s regulations here. In Oklahoma, there are no reporting and testing requirements for homeschooling programs. As long as you teach for 180 days, you can legally run a homeschooling program according to your own policies.
Although homeschooling is quite relaxed in Oklahoma, knowing the requirements is key to a successful homeschooling experience. If you decide to stop homeschooling and decide you want to send your child to a public school, your child must take a standardized test administered by the school they will attend.