With more parents opting for homeschooling as a viable educational option, many parents are curious as to how many days they must commit to in order to comply with Louisiana’s laws. Not all states are the same, and Louisiana’s laws are something that should be carefully considered if you are a new homeschooler.
So, how many days do you need to homeschool in Louisiana?In order to address this question, we need to address several different aspects, including the specifics of the Louisiana homeschool law, the requirements for homeschoolers in Louisiana, and the type of instruction available.
What Are the Details of the Louisiana Homeschool Law?
The Louisiana state law governing homeschooling is called the Home Study Law. However, before understanding this law, it is important to understand the various definitions that are associated with it.
First, a homeschool is defined as an educational program “that provides academic instruction and can be offered by a parent without certification. ” This means that parents who are teaching their children are not required to be certified teachers in Louisiana. The program must also provide at least
5 hours per day of instruction with at least 180 days of instruction. In addition, instruction must cover the same subjects that are covered in public schools, including; language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The Home Study Law also requires that homeschooled students must take standardized tests and submit the results in order to prove that they are making educational progress.
The most popular test is the Stanford Achievement Test, but some parents opt for other tests such as the California Achievement Test, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or other tests approved by the Louisiana Department of Education.
What Are the Requirements for Homeschoolers in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Home Study Law also outlines the requirements for homeschoolers. According to the law, parents must file a letter of intent to the local school board that includes the names and ages of the children and the location of the instructional instruction. This must be updated every year, as well as any changes.
In addition, parents must also keep attendance records and well as records of textbooks being used. The Home Study Law also requires that instruction be provided in the same subjects that would be taught in public schools.
This includes language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Parents must also keep records of all instruction, including lesson plans, instructional materials, and assessments used.
The Home Study Law also requires parents to ensure that their children are taking standardized tests in order to measure their educational progress. These tests must be submitted to the local school board. Additionally, the law also requires that parents ensure that their students have adequate residence time in Louisiana in order to be considered as a legal resident.
What Types of Instruction Are Available?
In order to comply with the Louisiana Home Study Law, parents must provide their children with the same level of instruction that would be provided in public schools. This includes instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. There are several types of instructional methods that parents can use, including online courses, individualized courses, or a combination of both.
Online courses are great for homeschoolers because they typically provide more flexibility than traditional courses, as well as greater potential for customization. Individualized courses allow parents to craft the curriculum to meet their children’s individual goals and interests.
In addition to these methods, there are also several materials and resources that are available to parents in order to help them provide a quality education to their children. These materials can include books, educational websites, and parental coaching programs.
Conclusion
Overall, it is important to understand the requirements of the Louisiana Home Study Law if you are a homeschooler in Louisiana. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that they are providing their children with quality instruction in the same subjects that are taught in public schools.
Additionally, parents must also ensure that their children are taking standardized tests on a regular basis in order to measure their educational progress. In order to homeschool in Louisiana, parents must commit to providing their children with at least 5 hours of instruction every day for at least 180 days of instruction.
With the proper guidance and instruction, homeschoolers in Louisiana can receive the same quality of education that their public school counterparts receive. So, to answer the question posed at the start, when homeschooling in Louisiana, parents must commit to providing their children with at least 5 hours of instruction every day for at least 180 days.
This commitment is necessary in order to comply with the Louisiana Home Study Law.