Homeschooling has grown increasingly popular throughout the years as an educational option for students and families that prefer an independent, personalized education in an environment often absent from conventional classrooms. If you’re considering homeschooling your child in New Mexico, you should know about the regulations and requirements for registering for homeschool in New Mexico and the resources available to help you throughout the process.
To help you become more informed, here’s a comprehensive guide to registering your child to homeschool in New Mexico.
What is the legal status of homeschooling in New Mexico?
Homeschooling is legal in New Mexico as long as families adhere to the New Mexico homeschool laws. In New Mexico, if you plan to homeschool your children, you must notify the state of your plan to homeschool, document attendance and (optionally) participate in standardized testing. Parents should familiarize themselves with the laws and regulations that apply to homeschooling in the state of New Mexico to ensure they adhere to the necessary requirements.
What is the process for registering to homeschool in New Mexico?
The process for registering to homeschool in New Mexico includes two steps: notifying the state of your intent to home school and setting up a homeschool program. To start the process of registering to homeschool in New Mexico, parents must send a letter of intent to their local school district superintendent. The letter of intent must include the child’s full name, date of birth and address, as well as the names, birthdates and addresses of anyone in your household that will be homeschooled.
You should also include in the letter that you are taking responsibility as your child’s teacher and describe in detail the curriculum you plan to use. Once the letter is received, your local school district superintendent must then send you a “Notice of Intent to Homeschool” form.
You must complete and return the form to the school district, though the local school district may decide not to send this form if your letter of intent contains enough information or if your district already keeps records of homeschooling families. Once you have completed and returned the Notice of Intent to Homeschool form, you will officially be registered to homeschool in the state of New Mexico.
Who has to submit a letter of intent to homeschool in New Mexico?
Any person that intends to homeschool in the state of New Mexico must submit a letter of intent to their local school district superintendent. This includes both public school students that are opting out of public schools to be homeschooled and students that have never attended public schools prior to homeschooling.
What information is required in the letter of intent?
The letter of intent must include the child’s full name, date of birth and address, as well as the names, birthdates and addresses of anyone in your household that will be homeschooled. You should also include in the letter that you are taking responsibility as your child’s teacher and describe in detail the curriculum you plan to use.
What happens once you have submitted your letter of intent?
Once your letter of intent has been received, your local school district superintendent must then send you a “Notice of Intent to Homeschool” form. You must complete and return the form to the school district, though the local school district may decide not to send this form if your letter of intent contains enough information or if your district already keeps records of homeschooling families. The form must also include the child’s full name, date of birth, address, and enrolled grade level, as well as the parent/guardian’s full name, address and telephone number, and must be properly signed and dated.
The form must also be signed by the parent or legal guardian taking responsibility for the homeschool program, and the signature must be consistent with other forms of identification.
What information is required on the Notice of Intent form?
The form must include the child’s full name, date of birth, address, and enrolled grade level, as well as the parent/guardian’s full name, address and telephone number, and must be properly signed and dated. The form must also be signed by the parent or legal guardian taking responsibility for the homeschool program, and the signature must be consistent with other forms of identification.
In addition, you must include a description of the curriculum that you plan to use for your homeschool program, as well as a statement that the homeschooled student will not participate in any form of assessment, examination or testing conducted by the school district, except if your local district requires it. You must also include a schedule of the instructional days, hours and activities, as well as a list of textbooks, materials and other resources that you plan to use in your homeschool program.
What other documentation might be required?
The New Mexico Department of Education also requires certain documentation depending on the age of the student who will be homeschooled. Homeschooled kindergarten students are required to present a birth certificate for the student and a valid immunization record, and homeschooled students aged 7-17 must present a valid immunization record.
Additionally, homeschooled students aged 7-17 must submit a certified copy of the child’s last report card, a signed statement from the “previous school” certifying withdrawal, or similar documentation.
Do parents have to register homeschoolers in New Mexico every year?
In New Mexico, homeschoolers do not need to register every year; homeschoolers are only required to register once and the same letter of intent to homeschool must be re-submitted if the student moves to a new school district. However, parents should submit an updated Notice of Intent form any time that the homeschooling program changes significantly (for example, if you switch curriculum or if your student changes grade level).
What resources are available to help homeschoolers in New Mexico?
There are numerous resources available to help homeschoolers in New Mexico. The New Mexico Department of Education offers a comprehensive list of homeschooling rules, regulations and forms on their website, and local school districts may offer various resources and support for homeschoolers, including access to school libraries, special education resources and more. Additionally, homeschooling organizations, such as the New Mexico Homeschool Alliance and the New Mexico Parent Teacher Association, provide support, resources and activities for students and families that are homeschooling in the state.
What are the attendance requirements for homeschoolers in New Mexico?
New Mexico requires that homeschoolers maintain a daily log of attendance, which must include start and end times as well as a brief description of activities completed each day. The daily attendance log must be kept for four years and must be made available to the local school district if requested.
Additionally, any absences from school must be reported in writing to the local school district in the form of an affidavit that must be notarized. The affidavit must include the name of the student, the reason for the absence and the dates of the absences, and must be kept on file for four years.
Does New Mexico require homeschoolers to participate in standardized testing?
No, participation in standardized testing is not required for homeschoolers in New Mexico. While homeschoolers in New Mexico are not required by law to participate in standardized testing, they may still participate in tests provided or administered by the local school district if they wish.
Conclusion
Registering your child to homeschool in New Mexico requires following certain legal requirements and regulations, but is not difficult. Home education is an increasingly popular educational option and provides an opportunity to build a personalized, independent education in an environment that can at times be absent from traditional classrooms. With the right knowledge, resources and standardized testing considerations, registering your child to homeschool in New Mexico can be an enjoyable and rewarding process.