HOMESCHOOLING IN OHIO & HOMESCHOOL LAWS
You may be considering homeschooling in Ohio, but don’t know where to start regarding homeschooling laws in Ohio. This guide with up-to-date information will walk you through what you need to know to successfully set up your own homeschool program legally in Ohio. We’ll cover the history of homeschooling in Ohio, new homeschool laws in Ohio, required notifications and filings, curriculum and testing choices, high school transcripts, extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and special education services.
History of Homeschooling in Ohio
In the genesis of the homeschool movement, Ohio’s legislation featured a provision empowering superintendents to exempt a child from compulsory attendance if they received instruction at home from a qualified individual and started homeschooling. The criteria for obtaining such exemptions varied by public school district; some demanded a parent hold teaching certifications, while others required college degrees. Advocates contended Ohio homeschool laws were vague and sought invalidation, while certain homeschoolers advocated for religious exemptions under new law.
While the majority pursued these exemptions, alternative pathways were available. Initially, the Ohio Department of Education permitted homeschools to be “approved” by local Christian or private schools, effectively serving as umbrella schools. Simultaneously, homeschoolers meeting specific criteria—such as deeply held religious convictions against government oversight and possessing a bachelor’s degree—could opt for non-chartered, non-tax-supported schooling (referred to as 08 schools), established in response to the 1976 Whisner v. State case involving Christian schools.
In March 1988, the Ohio State Board of Education convened a Citizen’s Advisory Committee to Study Home Based Education, inclusive of homeschool representatives. By April 1989, the committee, through collaborative efforts, proposed a new law, “Rules For Excuses From Compulsory Education for Home Education.” These Ohio homeschool laws, endorsed by the Board in July 1989, replaced vague and disparate practices with a standardized approval process, maintaining superintendent discretion while ensuring uniform requirements. Codified in the Ohio administrative code as OAC 3301-34, these laws for homeschooling in Ohio aimed to “prescribe conditions governing the issuance of excuses from school attendance” and safeguard parents’ primary right to educate their kids under this new law in the Ohio revised code.
Current Ohio Homeschool Laws and Regulations
Ohio law of the Ohio administrative code designates legitimate homeschool programs as non-chartered, non-tax supported schools, affirming their status as privately run entities by families outside the public education system and its funding structure, thereby setting them apart from traditional district options under state law.
A new law, House Bill 33, marked a significant milestone in Ohio homeschooling laws, introducing substantial enhancements by simplifying the legal framework and effectively addressing numerous points of contention between families and public schools.
Ohio Administrative Code stipulates that a child is deemed to be of compulsory school age if they are six years old on or before the first day of school in the local school district where the child resides. The new law of the Ohio revised code streamlines the process for families to submit a shorter notice of intent, allowing them to exempt their child from compulsory school attendance. Upon submission, the superintendent is mandated to acknowledge receipt of the notice of intent within 14 calendar days, clarifying that this acknowledgment serves as a receipt and not an excuse letter under Ohio law.
Notices of intent are now required to be submitted by August 30 across all school districts in Ohio or within five days of commencing a child’s home education program in the state, according to the updated Ohio homeschooling laws.
Per the Ohio revised code of the state law, a family is only required to submit a notice of intent containing minimal information to exempt their child from compulsory school attendance. This notice must include the parent’s name and address, the child’s name, and an assurance that the child will receive education in the required subject areas, eliminating the need for additional information.
Under the previous state law of the Ohio administrative code, a family was obligated to annually evaluate their children’s academic proficiency through standardized achievement tests, portfolio reviews, or another form of assessment agreed upon with the superintendent. However, the new law of the Ohio revised code eliminates the assessment requirement altogether.
According to the updated state law of the Ohio administrative code, students are mandated to receive education in fundamental subject areas, including English, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies, with the removal of any stipulations regarding teacher qualifications or prescribed number of instructional hours under Ohio law. In Ohio, many parents who have started homeschooling take advantage of programs that allow their children to earn college credit while still in high school.
In the Buckeye State, homeschooling students benefit from a flexible curriculum tailored to their individual needs. Families are required to submit an annual notification to their local school district to ensure compliance with Ohio law. Homeschooling allows a parent to tailor a curriculum to meet the individual learning needs of their student, starting as early as pre-K. Many families choose to homeschool in Ohio, where they have the flexibility to tailor their curriculum to certain subjects while adhering to the Ohio administrative code of Ohio law.
How to Set Up a Homeschool In Ohio
In Ohio, many parents home educate, utilizing an online platform to meet academic requirements and offer college credit opportunities to their students. A family will often begin the learning journey with pre-K students, providing tailored educational experiences that cater to individual learning needs and interests. This personalized approach helps young learners develop essential skills at their own pace. Ohio families have the option to start their homeschooling adventure under the state’s homeschool statute or as a non-chartered, non-tax-supported school.
Option 1: Homeschooling under Ohio’s Homeschool Statute
To exempt students from mandatory school attendance, a family can direct their child’s education in essential subject areas by grade level, including English, mathematics, science, history, government, and humanities. Follow these steps to home educate students under this option:
Submit an annual notice of intent to home educate by August 30th. A family must send this notification to the resident school district superintendent every year. Alternatively, it should be submitted within five calendar days after beginning home education, moving to a new school district, or withdrawing from a public or nonpublic school. The notification should include the parent’s name and address, the child’s name, and assurance of education in the required subject areas.
Ensure that the home education program covers the mandated subjects under Ohio law for your children’s education: English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies.
Under this option, there are no specific teacher qualifications, minimum hours of instruction, or assessment requirements.
Option 2: Homeschooling as a Non-chartered, Nonpublic School (formerly known as an “-08 school”). Parents, driven by sincerely held religious beliefs, have the option to establish a non-chartered, nonpublic school to educate their children. To utilize this avenue:
Teachers and administrators within an NCNP school must possess at least a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from a recognized college or university.
NCNP schools are mandated to operate for a minimum of 455 hours for part-time kindergarten, 910 hours for all-day kindergarten through 6th grade, and 1,001 hours for seventh through twelfth grade per year.
NCNP schools are obligated to provide instruction in essential subjects, including language arts, geography, history of the United States and Ohio, national, state, and local government, mathematics, science, health, physical education, fine arts, first aid, safety, fire prevention, and any other subjects prescribed by the school program.
Follow standard procedures for promoting students from grade to grade who have fulfilled the school’s educational requirements.
Comply with Ohio law including local health, fire, and safety laws.
Certify in a report, referred to as the “report to parents,” that the school meets the minimum education standards. This report must be filed with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce on or before September 30 each year.
Report the school’s attendance to the local school board treasurer within the first two weeks of the school year.
When learning how to homeschool in Ohio, families can choose from various homeschooling options in Ohio, including public and private homeschooling programs. Many homeschooling programs in Ohio offer comprehensive curricula and support to ensure a well-rounded education.
Maintaining Your Ohio Homeschool
To maintain homeschooling in Ohio, follow these steps:
Submit an annual NOI to homeschool to your local school district superintendent by August 30th each year or within five days of commencing homeschooling in Ohio, moving to a new school district, or withdrawing from public or private school.
Ensure your homeschool curriculum program covers the mandatory learning subjects under Ohio law: English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies.
Although there are no specific requirements for teaching hours, ensure that your child receives an adequate education equivalent to what they would receive in a traditional school setting.
While there are no specific requirements for teacher qualifications under the exemption option, it’s essential to provide quality education to your child.
Maintain records of your homeschooling activities, including attendance, curriculum, samples of your child’s work, and any other relevant documentation of learning.
While assessment is not required under the exemption option, you may choose to assess your child’s academic progress periodically to ensure they are meeting educational goals.
Report your child’s attendance to the local school board treasurer within the first two weeks of the public school year.
Stay up-to-date with Ohio homeschooling laws and regulations to ensure compliance and address any changes that may affect your homeschooling program.
Consider joining homeschooling support groups to connect with other homeschooling families, share resources, and seek advice or support for your students when needed.
Regularly assess your homeschooling program to ensure it meets your child’s educational needs and adjust the learning path as necessary.
Ohio Homeschool Reporting Requirements
In Ohio, homeschoolers must annually submit assessments of their child’s learning progress to the local school superintendent. A valuable tool for effectively tracking your homeschooler’s achievements throughout the academic year is a homeschool portfolio.
This portfolio serves to comprehensively document not just the curriculum covered but also the retention of learning by your student. Key components to include in your portfolio are:
Results of any standardized assessments your student has undertaken.
An outline detailing the curriculum subjects and topics covered.
For high school students, a homeschool transcript.
Samples showcasing your student’s learning and demonstrating their progress in your program.
Homeschool Testing In Ohio
Homeschoolers in Ohio are not required to take a standardized test. However, parents may choose to administer standardized tests to their homeschooled children for various reasons, such as assessing academic progress or preparing for college entrance exams. While not mandatory, standardized testing can be a valuable tool for families to gauge their child’s academic proficiency and ensure they are meeting educational goals. In Ohio, students who start homeschooling can earn college credit through a personalized curriculum, while annual assessments ensure their learning progress. It’s essential to stay informed about any updates to homeschooling regulations in Ohio regarding standardized test requirements.
Funding Your Ohio Homeschool
Homeschooling in Ohio is primarily funded by the family who chooses to home educate their children. Unlike traditional public schools, homeschools do not receive funding from the state or local government. Homeschooling families are responsible for covering the costs of curriculum, resources, and any other educational expenses. However, there may be some limited funding available for homeschoolers through certain state programs or scholarships, but these are typically the exception rather than the rule. Home educators also cannot claim tax exemptions for related educational expenses. Getting creative is key!
Join local homeschool groups to share resources, trade materials, and divide teaching roles according to interest and expense.
Utilize public libraries for books, media resources, free programs, student membership discounts.
Seek used curriculums online and discounted consumables through Ohio’s active swap networks.
Take advantage of museum free days, college auditing policies, community classes, 4-H clubs, music ensembles, summer programs.
For qualifying households, scholarships from tight-knit homeschool organizations help offset fees.
Federal Tax Breaks
Homeschooling families may be eligible for certain federal tax benefits to help offset educational expenses. One option is a Coverdell Education Savings Account, which allows money to grow tax-free when used for qualified education costs. Homeschool parents might also be able to deduct a portion of mortgage interest or rent if part of the home is used regularly and exclusively for homeschooling. Finally, tax credits or deductions could be available for required books, supplies, equipment and curricula used for homeschool instruction. To learn more about these potential tax advantages, homeschooling families should review the information and resources provided by the IRS.
Ohio Immunization Requirements
Immunizations are mandatory for children attending public and private schools governed by the state board of education’s minimum standards. However, students who are homeschooled under the state’s homeschool statute or through exempt 08 schools are exempt from these state vaccination requirements. This exemption means that homeschooling families are not obligated to adhere to the same immunization regulations imposed on traditional public and private school students.
Ohio State Graduation Requirements
Ohio homeschool parents have the autonomy to establish their own graduation criteria, such as a course in financial literacy, and determine when a high school student has met those standards. Additionally, they have the authority to issue a homeschool high school diploma. However, it is prudent for parents to consider the graduation requirements for public school students in the state, as well as the academic prerequisites of colleges their student may be interested in attending, as well as college credit. By staying informed about these benchmarks, homeschooling parents can ensure that their student is adequately prepared for future educational endeavors. In Ohio, high schoolers who start homeschooling can benefit from flexible schedules and online platforms that offer college credit opportunities.
Parents have the authority to determine when their student has met requirements for graduation and can issue their own homeschool high school diploma. Similarly, students enrolled in private or online schools may receive diplomas from those institutions.
Unlike traditional schooling, homeschool students are not bound by testing requirements for graduation. Homeschool families have the flexibility to create student transcripts, incorporating any information they deem relevant for colleges, military enlistment, or future employment. While parents ultimately decide when their student has fulfilled requirements for graduation, some homeschool parents choose to assign credits to individual courses for transcript purposes.
Additionally, homeschoolers have the option to pursue a High School equivalency exam (GED), which is available to Ohio students aged 16 and older.
Ohio Homeschool Charters
Ohio does not have homeschool charter schools in the traditional sense. However, there are charter schools and online learning options that may offer programs or resources tailored to Ohio homeschooling families. These programs may provide educational materials, support, and oversight while allowing families to educate their children at home. It’s recommended to research and contact a charter school or online school directly to inquire about any homeschooling options they may offer. Additionally, contacting local Ohio homeschooling organizations or support groups can provide valuable insights into available educational opportunities in Ohio.
Local Ohio Homeschooling Resources
In many states, the primary support system for homeschoolers is their state homeschool association. In Ohio, the leading homeschool association is known as Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO).
Christian Home Educators of Ohio: Ohio’s statewide association organizes field trips, co ops, and workshops for homeschoolers, such as the Ohio homeschool convention, monitors all Ohio legislation that could affect homeschooling in the state, provides information about the practical aspects of homeschooling to Ohio families who are just getting started, and provides a statewide commencement opportunity for graduating homeschoolers in the state.
While you may occasionally stumble upon sizable or well-established groups through traditional search methods, the bulk of your search efforts should be directed towards Facebook groups.
Akron/Canton Area Homeschoolers: This is a social and activities group for parents to join who currently live in the Akron/Canton area and that homeschool K-12 (ages 5-18).
Cincinnati Homeschool: This space is designated for offering support and seeking answers to questions about homeschooling in Cincinnati, including field trips.
Columbus Area Homeschoolers: This is a place to discuss all things homeschool: curriculum, classes, online learning, field trips, co ops, legislation and logistics by sharing ideas and information.
Homeschoolers in NW Ohio and SE Michigan: This group is for homeschoolers in NW Ohio and SE Michigan to share experiences, victories and struggles, to ask questions, to share upcoming field trips in the area, and, in general, to encourage each other. It is a mixed group of different faith beliefs or no faith.
In conclusion, groups offer vital homeschooling support. Explore groups in Akron/Canton, Cincinnati, Columbus, or Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan for guidance and community for your homeschool journey.
