Homeschooling is becoming a popular choice for many families in the United States. With its flexibility and the ability to customize a curriculum to the individual needs of a student, it has seen an influx of those looking to educate their children outside the traditional school system.
In Texas, homeschoolers must still meet a certain number of hours to validate the success of their child’s education.
What Are Homeschooling Requirements in Texas?
In Texas, the law requires homeschoolers to adhere to certain regulations to ensure a high-quality education for their children. To do this, the student needs to attend school for a minimum of 180 days per year or a total of nine hours a day and attend classes in the required core subjects of math, science, and social studies.
What Are the Hours Required by the State Laws?
According to state laws, homeschoolers must complete 180 days of school per year, which, when broken down, is about nine hours a day, 45 hours a week, or 1,560 hours a year. It is important to note, however, that although the State of Texas requires 1,560 hours of schooling a year, these hours do not necessarily have to be done in a consecutive 45-hour week.
How Are the Hours Counted?
When trying to determine the total hours required of a Texas homeschooling student, it is important to remember that not all of those hours must be in a consecutive 45-hour week. Some of those hours can be spread out over the course of the week in order to complete the required 180 days of school which adds up to 1,560 hours. Therefore, if the student is doing lessons and activities for three hours a day over the course of three days, that is considered nine hours and can be added into the 180 days of school.
What Can Be Counted Towards the Hours?
When trying to complete the 1,560 hours required for school in Texas, activities such as instructions in courses or lessons, educational workbooks, homework, drills and reviews, field trips, and other activities that involve a student’s education may be counted. Additionally, activities that involve the students’ extracurricular activities can also be used to meet the required hours.
What Cannot Be Counted Toward the Hours?
There are certain activities that cannot be counted towards the 1,560 hours required in Texas. First and foremost, activities such as playtime, recess, deciding what to do in the classroom, or conferring with parents are not valid activities.
Additionally, activities such as entertainment including listening to the radio, watching TV, or playing video games are not considered hours and can not count. Finally, any activities outside the school’s institutional function such as school clubs, band, clubs outside of school, etc. , are also not allowed.
How Are Hours Monitored?
The main way that the State of Texas monitors the hours that homeschoolers need to log is through the use of records. Records should be kept of all schooling activities, hours, and related curricula that is used for the student’s education. This information should be kept for at least three years and must be provided to the school district upon request.
Additionally, homeschooling students should be evaluated after their 180 days of education to ensure that progress is attained and documented.
Are There Any Exception To the Hours Required?
There are some exceptions to the rule that Texas homeschoolers must attend 180 days of school/1,560 hours a year. First, if a student has been ill or is receiving medical treatment, these absences may be excused by the school district when it comes to determining the 1,560 hours. Additionally, any hours that a student spends in a special education program that is not provided at home and accredited by the school district count towards the 1,560 hours and can be used as an exemption.
Are There Any Challenges With Completing the Hours?
For some families, completing the required 1,560 hours per year can be a tedious and challenging task, especially for those who also need to take care of children who are too young for homeschooling. Not only do families have to find enough activities that meet the 1,560 hour requirement, but they also have to make sure that their children are staying on track. To tackle this, some families like to create a flexible schedule that can work for all of the family members.
Additionally, many times families will look for help from other homeschoolers or tutors to help provide extra assistance in the education of their children.
What Resources Are Available for Homeschooling in Texas?
There are numerous resources available, both online and in person, that can be used dedicated to help Texas homeschoolers. These resources range from guides and curriculum help to support groups and online forums. Additionally, there are many online online homeschooling programs that provide Texans with an array of comprehensive education materials to help tailor a lesson plan specific to their needs.
Are There Any Penalties For Not Meeting the Hours Requirement?
In the State of Texas, if a family does not complete the required 1,560 homeschooling hours, the student’s transcripts will not be accepted. This means, in order to graduate, the student must have the required hours completed.
Additionally, if a school district requests the records and they are incomplete, the family will have to provide them with a breakdown of the hours and activities that were completed to validate the student’s education.
Are Any Special Landing Permissions Required?
For most families, as long as the state laws are followed, no special permissions are needed for homeschooling. However, for families who want to actively participate in extracurricular activities and sports programs, it is best to consult with the school district to make sure permission has been granted.
Are Any Tests Required?
The State of Texas does not require any tests for homeschoolers. However, at the end of the 180 days/1,560 hours of homeschooling, the student’s progress should be evaluated. Although there are no specific tests that are mandated, it is highly recommended to do some type of formal evaluation, like a portfolio review or achievement tests, to show the proficiency of the student in their subject areas.
Conclusion
Homeschooling is an excellent option for families who are looking for academic flexibility. In order to be able to meet the state requirements, homeschoolers in Texas must follow certain steps such as completing 180 days of school/1,560 hours a year, using certain activities to meet the requirement, and monitoring their educational hours regularly.
As long as families adhere to the regulations in Texas, they should have no problem completing the required hours and if need be, can always turn to the many resources available to help make the process smoother.