This is not legal advice. As someone who lives in a state that is highly regulated, I cannot emphasize enough the need for you to advocate for yourself and make a point to know your state laws. While the school district will most likely provide you with a printed copy of the laws and regulations for home schooling, a local home schooling group can be a valuable asset when it comes to navigating your way through the system.
In Hawaii, there are two laws that allow you to home school. The first is to establish your own home school. The second is to enroll your child in a superintendent-approved alternative education program. The difference, as I understand it, is that if you establish and operate a home school, you are completely in charge of your child’s education, as you are primarily teaching, etc. In an alternative education program, you may enroll your child in a distance learning course, or have inbound home education by a tutor or something similar. However, you are not the one primarily teaching your child.
Compulsory Age: A child who is between the ages of 6 and 18 before January 1st of a given school year is of compulsory age.
Attendance: There is none specified.
Subjects: Curriculum must “;be structured and based on educational objectives http://standardstoolkit.k12.hi.us/index.html as well as the needs of the child, be cumulative and sequential, provide a range of up-to-date knowledge and needed skills, and take into account the interests, needs, and abilities of the child”.
Teacher Qualifications: There are no qualifications if the parents are teaching the child at home (establishing a home school). However, if parents select option 2, the primary teacher must have at least a Bachelor’s degree.
Notice: File a notice of intent with the principal of the public school the child would otherwise be required to attend before starting to home school (not required annually); notify this same principal within 5 days after ending home school.
Record keeping: Maintain a record of the planned curriculum.
Testing: Administer standardized achievement test of parent’s choice in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10; submit annual report (of child’s progress) to local principal comprised of either: 1) standardized test results, or 2) written evaluation by certified teacher, or 3) written evaluation by parent.
Information from this blog was taken from:
HSLDA
A to Z Homeschooling
State Organizations and Support Groups
Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii
Catholic Homeschooling Support Groups on Oahu