This step-by-step homeschooling guide will show you how to start homeschooling your kids in the 2024-2025 school year. If you have questions and want to talk to a homeschool consultant, click the button below to get a free consultation.
How to Homeschool Your Kids in the 2024-2025 School Year: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Homeschooling
The information in this article will help you start homeschooling your kids. Overall, there are five important steps to take before registering your kids as homeschoolers.
- Learn about the homeschool laws where you live.
- Connect with local homeschool support groups.
- Learn about different styles of homeschooling.
- Get homeschool guidance.
- Choose curriculum and get educational supplies.
Once you take these steps, you’ll have the information you need to register your kids as homeschoolers. This page details each of these five steps.
You’ll also want to check out the following homeschool resources:
- Video: How to Start Homeschooling
- FAQ’s about homeschooling.
- The HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast.
- Our helpful homeschooling newsletter.
- Learn about the next homeschooling workshop.
Whether your child is starting kindergarten or high school, the steps to begin homeschooling are similar. So, if you want to know how to homeschool, read on!
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Start homeschooling with helpful homeschooling information!
- Listen to the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast.
- Get our helpful homeschooling newsletter.
- Register for the next homeschooling workshop.
- Sign up for your homeschool consultation.
- Learn more about how we serve homeschooling parents.
Start Homeschooling Video
Step 1: Learn About Your Homeschool Laws
If you have made the decision to homeschool your kids, you need to understand the laws where you live. Please note that laws vary widely from state to state and worldwide.
The Department of Education vs Homeschooling Organizations
While visiting your Department of Education website is important, we also recommend contacting your State’s Homeschooling Organization and visiting local homeschooling families before taking action to homeschool your kids.
The reason you need to visit with local homeschooling organizations and parents is because your Department of Education and homeschooling organizations have different agendas.
- The Department of Education has an agenda to enroll children in their system. When your children are enrolled in a local school, the school district receives monetary compensation. In addition, a government socializes and indoctrinates people through the public education system.
- Homeschooling Organizations exist to support, educate, and encourage parents as they raise and educate their children from home.
It’s important to know that some states offer publically funded “homeschool programs.” Please note that these programs are not homeschooling. There is a significant difference between “true homeschooling” and publically funded “homeschooling programs.”
Homeschooling vs Public School
While homeschooling organizations will likely encourage you to homeschool your kids, your local school district will likely discourage you from homeschooling your kids. Additionally, it is not uncommon for parents to receive inaccurate information from their local school district.
While school district employees don’t necessarily have ill intentions, they simply are not experts on homeschooling. For example, you may be told that you “must” do certain things to homeschool your kids. For the greater good of the homeschooling community, it is important only to provide your school district and state what is legally required where you live.
Three Ways to Get Started With HomeSchool ThinkTank
Common Homeschooling Requirements to Consider
These are common requirements for homeschooling. However, homeschool requirements vary based on where you reside.
Click here to learn more about the laws where you live.
- Register to homeschool where you live.
- Record-keeping requirements.
- Individualized home instruction plan.
- Immunization records.
- Reporting procedures.
- A minimum number of days of school.
- Number of hours per school day.
- Specific subjects studied.
- Mandated testing.
- Compulsory school age.
- Parent GED or high school diploma.
Step 2: Search Online for Local Homeschool Support Groups
To find a homeschool group near you, search social media platforms like Facebook and search engines like Google.
Type your state, town, county, or country plus one of the following terms.
- Homeschool
- Homeschooling
- Home school
- Home schooling
- Home Education
- Alternative Education
- Homeschool Groups
Step 3: Learn About Different Styles of Homeschooling
When parents start homeschooling their kids, it is common to model the public education system and do “school-at-home.” However, it’s important to understand that there are many approaches to educating your kids.
We recommend learning about different styles of homeschooling before purchasing homeschool curriculum.
Listen to the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast
My name is Jackie, and I’m the founder of HomeSchool ThinkTank and host of the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast. As a long-time homeschooling mom, licensed educator, homeschool consultant, and certified life coach, I am passionate about helping parents succeed at homeschooling their kids.
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Step 4: Get Homeschool Guidance
Do you feel overwhelmed by the abundance of information about homeschooling? If so, you are not alone.
When you sign up for a homeschool consultation, you can ask questions and get the homeschooling guidance you need.
Sign Up for Your Free Homeschool Consultation
When you sign up for a free consultation with HomeSchool ThinkTank, we will help you figure out your next steps.
- Sign up for your free consultation now.
- Get more information about our homeschool consulting services.
Step 5: Choose Homeschooling Curriculum & Resources
If you haven’t learned about different approaches to homeschooling yet, go back and do step three. Some homeschoolers don’t use traditional curriculum, and you’ll want to understand different approaches to homeschooling before purchasing materials.
When possible, we suggest previewing curricula before purchasing.
Click here to learn more about homeschool curriculum.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschooling
While the law and requirements vary from state to state and country to country, below we’ve answered common questions parents have when they begin homeschooling their kids.
While requirements vary depending on where you live, commonly required subjects are as follows: reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science.
Generally speaking, a parent possessing a high school diploma or equivalent may homeschool their child. However, laws differ depending on where you live.
It is common for children to start school when they are five years old. However, compulsory school age varies depending on where you live.
The law in every state and country is different. You may or may not have to notify your local government that you intend to homeschool your child.
Homeschool laws vary based on where you live.
Click here to learn more about homeschooling requirements.
Many states require 180 days of homeschooling. However, this varies depending on where you live, so check your local compulsory school attendance law.
We’ve answered dozens of questions that parents have about homeschooling.
Click here to see our article about common homeschooling questions.
Are You Still Thinking About Homeschooling Your Kids?
THINK HOMESCHOOL was written to help you decide whether homeschooling is right for your family.
Helpful Information About Homeschooling & Education
- Free Course: Homeschool with Confidence
- Learn about the benefits of homeschooling.
- Discover books about homeschooling.
- Get answers to common homeschooling questions.
- Learn about our homeschool consulting services.
Podcast Episode: How to Start Homeschooling
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