Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular in many states, including Indiana and is an alternative way of educating a child. When enrolling a child in homeschool, parents must comply with several state-specific regulations and requirements that must be met in order for the child to receive an education in the comfort of their own home. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to register your child for homeschool in Indiana.
What are the Registration Requirements for Homeschooling in Indiana?
Before registering your child for homeschool in Indiana, there are several requirements that must be met. For starters, parents are required to submit a notice of intent to the school corporation in the county where they reside. This notice of intent must specify that the child will receive instruction through homeschooling, which follows the standards as prescribed by Indiana state law.
Additionally, the notice of intent must include the child’s name, age, and proof of immunizations. Parents of homeschooled children must also submit a homeschooling plan, which includes the types of instruction, materials, and activities used to demonstrate that the child is meeting the educational standards set forth by Indiana state law.
Each plan must also include a summary of the proposed curriculum and information about the qualifications of the parental teacher or teacher, if the child will be receiving instruction from someone other than the parent or guardian. In addition, homeschooled children in Indiana must be tested each year, according to the homeschooling plan presented in the notice of intent.
These tests are typically administered at third, fifth, seventh, and ninth grade levels, and must be approved by the superintendent of the school district in which the parents have submitted notice of intent.
How to Submit Notice of Intent and Homeschool Plan to the School Corporation in Indiana?
Once the requirements listed above have been met, the next step is to submit the notice of intent and homeschool plan to the school corporation. In most cases, this can be done in one of two ways. First, the parents can either print a Notice of Intent and a Homeschool plan from the Indiana Department of Education’s web site, fill out the necessary information, and mail the forms to the school corporation.
Alternatively, the parents can submit the documents electronically through the Jefferson County Schools’ portal. Once the documents have been received, the local school district will review the Notice of Intent and the Homeschool plan, and either approve or deny the application.
If the application is approved, the child is officially registered as a homeschooler in Indiana.
What are the Homeschooling Requirements in Indiana?
Once your child is officially registered as a homeschooler in Indiana, there are certain requirements or expectations that must be met in order for the educational standards to be met. These requirements include: Instructing the child in reading and mathematics or an equivalent instruction program.
Providing instruction in social studies, science, health, and safety instruction that complies with Indiana state law. Providing at least 180 days of instruction throughout the year. Using instructional materials, books, and activities that are age appropriate and based on accepted educational practices.
Conducting instruction in English, unless the parent has made prior arrangements with the local school board.
What are the Guidelines for Homeschooling in Indiana?
In addition to the requirements mentioned above, parents must also follow certain guidelines when homeschooling a child in Indiana. To begin with, homeschooling is provided as an educational alternative for students that must be consistent with the Indiana Core Curriculum. As such, the parental teacher must provide instruction that meets state standards in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, health, and safety.
In this regard, instruction of these subjects must be given at a level that is appropriate to the child’s grade level and ability. Secondly, homeschooling parents or the parental teacher must provide instruction to the child for at least 180 days throughout the year and require the child to complete various assignments, work, and tests that demonstrate they are making educational progress.
Lastly, homeschooling parents must implement a reasonable plan to update their child’s progress, which must include written evaluations sent to either the school superintendent or other designated district administrator.
How to Track and Monitor Progress of Homeschooled Child in Indiana?
It is important for homeschooling parents in Indiana to track and monitor the progress of their child to ensure he or she is making satisfactory academic progress. In this regard, homeschooling parents are required to submit to the local school corporation quarterly narrative reports that detail the instruction the child has received, which includes language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, health, and safety instruction.
Additionally, parents must provide copies of the instruction materials, book reviews, and student’s completed work to demonstrate the child is making enough progress in their studies. These quarterly narrative reports must also include a written summary of the child’s current academic progress, along with written evaluations of the child’s progress in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Lastly, the quarterly narrative reports should include suggested strategies for strengthening the child’s school performance in various subjects as well as an outline of further learning activities to be undertaken by the child.
Are there Any Additional Recordkeeping Requirements for Homeschoolers in Indiana?
In addition to providing quarterly narrative reports, homeschooling parents must also keep accurate records of their child’s instruction and activities, which include attendance records and transcripts. Attendance records must indicate the days in which the child received instruction, which includes but is not limited to music, art, physical education, and community activities.
The transcripts should include the kinds of courses your child has taken, the credits earned, any exams or tests taken, and the grades earned. Lastly, the records must be such that they can be easily sorted, read, and copied by a school principal, superintendent or any other official representative of the school district in which notice of intent to homeschool has been submitted.
What if the Local School Corporation Requires Additional Testing for Homeschoolers in Indiana?
In some instances, the local school corporation may require additional testing for homeschoolers in Indiana to determine whether the educational objectives and learning outcomes of the homeschooling plan are being met. This additional testing, which is referred to as the “program performance evaluation”, requires the parents to provide the local superintendent a copy of any tests the child has taken, or has completed that are assignable to a standardized assessment.
These tests should be administered once annually, and must be conducted with either an accredited organization or under the direct supervision of a licensed Indiana Educator. Additionally, the tests must be age appropriate and approved by the Indiana State Board of Education.
Are There any Support Services or Special Education Programs Available for Homeschoolers in Indiana?
While homeschoolers are not eligible to directly receive special education or other services from their local school district or the state of Indiana, there are local support services that can help parents teach their child. These services include (but are not limited to) curriculum support, extracurricular activities, speech-language therapy, and vision and hearing screenings. Furthermore, the Indiana General Assembly has established the Charter School for Home Educated Students, which provides financial assistance to homeschooling families.
The charter school also offers support services, including extracurricular classes, individualized learning plans, specialized programming for gifted children, and an annual academic assessment program.
Conclusion
In conclusion, homeschooling a child in Indiana requires parents to meet certain registration requirements, provide instruction that meets state standards, track and monitor the child’s progress, and keep accurate records of their child’s instruction and activities. Parents should also be aware of any additional testing requirements imposed by their local school district, as well as the availability of support services and special education programs offered by the Charter School for Home Educated Students.
Following these steps will help ensure that a child’s homeschooling experience in Indiana is successful and that they have the necessary environment and resources to learn, grow, and develop.