Home schooling can come with a wide array of benefits. From allowing parents to customize curricula to giving them increased flexibility in student timetables, they are great tools for enabling kids to learn and progress to their full potential.
For individuals in NC, there are specific rules and regulations relating to who is able to home school their children, in line with the state’s policies. Below, the various aspects of homeschooling in North Carolina will be discussed.
What Are the Requirements for Homeschooling in NC?
The requirements for homeschooling in NC will vary slightly from other states. In North Carolina, homeschooling programs are not classified as private schools and are exempt from regulations as such.
Therefore, the state follows very basic requirements that must be met in order for families to be compliant with regulations. Firstly, any parent who wishes to homeschool their child must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Most states permits parents with only GEDs to homeschool, however, in NC that is not the case.
The only legal document that is required to be filed before the homeschool year is the Minor School-Age Child’s Withdrawal Form, commonly referred to as Form W-1130.
Once this form is filed and the high school diploma criteria is met, therein no other obligations required such as curriculum or assessment, which makes the rules in North Carolina ideal for homeschooling families. The option also exists, however, for homeschooling programs to be assessed via the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Standard Course of Study assessment.
This assessment is voluntary, and any parent who wishes to assess their child through the NCDCH must ensure that he/she is compliant with the regulations set therein.
Apart from these requirements, families must also follow certain regulations such as providing annual verification to the local county school board that the homeschool is still operating and is in compliance with the state laws, and have their child take the SAT or ACT at certain grade levels, typically 8th and 10th, although SAT and ACT exemptions may also exist.
Are There Age Restrictions for Homeschooling in NC?
Age restrictions do exist and they must be adhered to by all families who wish to home school in North Carolina. The age restrictions entered into effect in 2019 in NC and children must begin homeschooling before they turn 7 years of age.
This means that any child aged 7 or above is unable to legally be enrolled in a homeschooling program in North Carolina. There is an exception, however, and this exists in the form of a transfer of records, which can be achieved if a parent can provide evidence of enrolling the child in another school system, whether public or private, for at least one year records.
The transfer of records stipulates that a parent should have certain documents that prove their child was enrolled in a school system and was given proper instruction and evaluation.
If a parent can present the proof, then their child can be eligible to join a homeschooling program in North Carolina.
Another factor to consider is the teenage driving permit that is available to teenagers from the age of 15 ½ in NC. This is available for both public and homeschooled students and there are regulations to be followed in order to receive the permit.
The regulations include the successful completion of 24 hours of classroom instruction and a minimum of ten hours of behind-the-wheel training. Therefore, a parent must research these regulations prior to registering their child for the permit.
Are There Requirements for Homeschooling a Special Needs Child in NC?
Parents in North Carolina who decide to homeschool a child with special needs need to ensure that they are in line with certain requirements. The specific rules for special needs homeschooling vary from state to state, however, in North Carolina, the parents need to be mindful of two main rules; Firstly, the parent of the special-needs student must complete the Minor School-Age Child Withdrawal Form to register their child as a homeschooler.
Secondly, the parent must provide appropriate instruction that aligns with the Individual Education Plan (IEP) or the Education Evaluation Plan (EP).
Parents can approach the local school district to find out the requirements they need to adhere to when homeschooling a special-needs student. The IEP should be constructed together with the school district and the student’s parent or caregiver, and will cover a variety of factors such as accommodations and modifications that are applicable for the student.
This IEP will be in place as a required regulation for the special-needs student in the homeschooling program.
Additionally, the parent should strive to provide a curriculum that caters to the child’s individual needs better than an institutional education setting. The parent should also keep detailed records for assessment purposes which should be signed off by the local county school board.
Conclusion
Homeschooling can be a great way for children to further their academic development. Rules and regulations will differ from state to state, therefore it is important to beware of the exact regulations that need to be adhered to when home schooling a child in NC.
This article has provided details of the requirements that families must keep in mind when it comes to homeschooling and setting up a homeschool program.
To recap, the parent of a homeschooled child in NC must have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete the Minor School-Age Child Withdrawal Form, provide annual verification of enrollment and comply with curriculum requirements, while children in the homeschool program must not be 7 years or over and special-needs students must have an IEP in place. Following these rules enables homeschooling parents to stay in line with the regulations and gives their child the ability to learn and grow in the best environment for them.