What's the proper spelling?
What does the word even mean?
Ask a different person and get a different answer.... or so it seems. But not everybody knows what they are talking about because they have no done their research or maybe they just do not care...9 they like the word and the concept of homeschool and no matter what, want to apply it to everything and anything....liberally. If you want to know what homeschool is, the first place to look for answers and information is with your state's homeschool organizations.
In Washington, we see the word spelled in different ways and we also see it presented in differing applications. This is a problem for the homeschoolers in our state. If anyone needs to know what homeschooling is and isn't, homeschoolers must know for sure, and they should not let public schools or private schools steal the name of the type of education they are doing. This is because there are three ways in our state to comply with state compulsory education laws: PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, and you guessed it, HOME SCHOOL...( aka homeschool or homeschooling.) While it's a word homogenized into our culture, it's does in fact have a specific meaning.
Begin your research into what homeschool is with the Washington Homeschool Organization, After all, with the word "homeschool" in their name, and 29 years of being a homeschool organization in the state, the people being this name, ought to know. They are not run by the state, but do represent a large part of Washington's diverse homeschooling families. WHO, as it is called, has a long history of hosting homeschooling conventions, offers free information to homeschool interested families and runs a website where information on homeschooling can be found. They even have representatives all over the state in various cities who volunteer their time and energy who will talk with you about homeschool, offer support in figuring our what works for you and direct you to other reputable sources and resources for homeschooling your family. In our state, you will find various other homeschooling organizations and support groups, but a bit of advice here, steer clear of programs offered in the in the public schools. What they offer people is NOT homeschool.
Another homeschool organization is the Christian Homeschool Network of Washington. Sometimes shortened to CHNOW. CHNOW actively lobbies in Olympia on behalf of all homeschool families (whether they are "Christian" or not.) Mrs. DiAnna Brannan, who works as a volunteer is a registered lobbyist in WA state and she knows homeschooling well. A former home-based educator herself, she knows her stuff and works year round watching educational bills that go through Olympia. She alerts families and locally oriented homeschool support groups when new legislation arises in our state that both negatively or positively affect homeschool related issues. With stringent homeschool law as we have in Washington, this is an important resource for homeschoolers to support.
Another organization that has a lot of experience and homeschool expertise is the Home School Legal Defense Association. This is a non-profit, national, homeschool advocacy group that legally defends homeschoolers in court when they face conflicts with state or local officials over homeschooling matters. As a homeschooler, (check your state's specific homeschool laws and requirements,) you may purchase a membership with this organization. As a member, you have an advocate that you can call for free legal advice or even to represent you in an otherwise costly courtroom if the need be. This group watches and tracks federal legislation and works to ensure freedom and advocate for the rights of parents in every state.
Another organization that has a lot of experience and homeschool expertise is the Home School Legal Defense Association. This is a non-profit, national, homeschool advocacy group that legally defends homeschoolers in court when they face conflicts with state or local officials over homeschooling matters. As a homeschooler, (check your state's specific homeschool laws and requirements,) you may purchase a membership with this organization. As a member, you have an advocate that you can call for free legal advice or even to represent you in an otherwise costly courtroom if the need be. This group watches and tracks federal legislation and works to ensure freedom and advocate for the rights of parents in every state.
A little bit of Washington's homeschool history here... Homeschool or Home School in WA is an education independent of both public and private school. It actually stands on it's own merit. It is not usually associated with either private or public school, though there are sometimes part-time homeschoolers who will participate in our public and private schools for either academic classes or sports. There is to be a clear distinction made between public and home-based school, because homeschooled students, like private schooled students are legally not to be funded by the monies of the state.
Like home-based businesses, home-based school is self contained. A homeschooling parent is the accountant and purchaser over their own expenditures. They also act as director of their own affairs and decide their own curriculum. They act as teacher, appoint tutors and learning coaches for their students and as the teacher they also creates their own home-based learning atmosphere. The home based instructors give assignments, administers or oversees all quizzes and tests, tracks the students progress in their own way, arranges for field trips and lets the kids go out for recess... and this after making the family lunch. And note this, a homeschool parent of a student who is receiving home-based instruction may award a homeschool diploma and send that student off to college too. Homeschooled students can take the G.E.D or even take a class or two, like calculus or honors English offered in a local public school if space is available.
There are some things that homeschooling is not.
Homeschcooling is not what a parent does after school hours with a child who attends a public school all day each day of the week as required by state law. That would be called helping the child with homework. Every parent helps their children with homework from time to time, but doing schoolwork at home is not "homeschool." Despite what some school officials will tell you, homeschool is not closely associated with the local public school. It is however legitimized by laws signed into effect by our state governor and homeschoolers are required to submit what is called a DOI form yearly to the superintendent of their schools.
Homeschooling is not what a parent does at the kitchen table with a child who is enrolled as a full time student in a local parent partnership program or alternative education program. The parent in these situations is being an educational mentor or coach. The learning mentor, (usually a parent, but this could be another person as well,) works closely with the student on lessons at home, but is under the direct oversight and supervision of an assigned public and accredited school teacher and must follow all the rules of the Washington Administrative Code, (WAC) just like every other public school and student is. Parent Partnership Programs are not homeschooling. this is public school, accomplished off campus, off site... at home. In contrast, homeschoolers are not governed by the WAC in what they do.
Homeschooling is not simply to be considered an alternative eduction. Homeschooling is not something parents individually make up to be whatever they want it to be. There are guidelines, requirements and rules, and in a state with strict laws like we have in Washington, it is important that parents are in compliance, abiding with legal requirements as well as feeling confident and protected by the law that declares home school as a means to fulfill the compulsory education law.
In WA, a student MUST be enrolled in a public school,private school, or be legally receiving home-based instruction once they turn eight years of age. It's the law. Most people register their kids for school at the age of 5 for kindergarten, but it is not required that a child attend school in WA until he or she is eight. If you are a parent homeschooling a child younger than 8 you need not register at any school or file a DOI with the superintendent's office until their birthday, but do not be late.
Sometimes people like to say that Washington parents have choice in education, but compulsory school attendance laws proves them wrong; parents are forced to enroll children in the school. If you have no financial means to send your children to private school or if you have no will to utilize the home based instruction law and fund your children's education on your own, then you have only one option: public school. Families that legally provide their own kid's education do have flexibly, but first they must opt out of public school and to do this they pay a financial penalty of paying both the property taxes that support public education and whatever their private school or home school financing requires. This is much different that simply choosing what "educational option" you prefer.
For homeschooling families who have worked hard to maintain professionalism in how they fund and manage their home-based schools, and who work publicly to make it possible for other parents in our state to be the home-based managers over all aspects of their own children's education, and do it well, the word "homeschool' is important. It is not simply some generic term synonymous with homework, or a learning situation offered at the local public school.
Homeschool, however you spell it, has a special meaning of it's own.
Like home-based businesses, home-based school is self contained. A homeschooling parent is the accountant and purchaser over their own expenditures. They also act as director of their own affairs and decide their own curriculum. They act as teacher, appoint tutors and learning coaches for their students and as the teacher they also creates their own home-based learning atmosphere. The home based instructors give assignments, administers or oversees all quizzes and tests, tracks the students progress in their own way, arranges for field trips and lets the kids go out for recess... and this after making the family lunch. And note this, a homeschool parent of a student who is receiving home-based instruction may award a homeschool diploma and send that student off to college too. Homeschooled students can take the G.E.D or even take a class or two, like calculus or honors English offered in a local public school if space is available.
There are some things that homeschooling is not.
Homeschcooling is not what a parent does after school hours with a child who attends a public school all day each day of the week as required by state law. That would be called helping the child with homework. Every parent helps their children with homework from time to time, but doing schoolwork at home is not "homeschool." Despite what some school officials will tell you, homeschool is not closely associated with the local public school. It is however legitimized by laws signed into effect by our state governor and homeschoolers are required to submit what is called a DOI form yearly to the superintendent of their schools.
Homeschooling is not what a parent does at the kitchen table with a child who is enrolled as a full time student in a local parent partnership program or alternative education program. The parent in these situations is being an educational mentor or coach. The learning mentor, (usually a parent, but this could be another person as well,) works closely with the student on lessons at home, but is under the direct oversight and supervision of an assigned public and accredited school teacher and must follow all the rules of the Washington Administrative Code, (WAC) just like every other public school and student is. Parent Partnership Programs are not homeschooling. this is public school, accomplished off campus, off site... at home. In contrast, homeschoolers are not governed by the WAC in what they do.
Homeschooling is not simply to be considered an alternative eduction. Homeschooling is not something parents individually make up to be whatever they want it to be. There are guidelines, requirements and rules, and in a state with strict laws like we have in Washington, it is important that parents are in compliance, abiding with legal requirements as well as feeling confident and protected by the law that declares home school as a means to fulfill the compulsory education law.
In WA, a student MUST be enrolled in a public school,private school, or be legally receiving home-based instruction once they turn eight years of age. It's the law. Most people register their kids for school at the age of 5 for kindergarten, but it is not required that a child attend school in WA until he or she is eight. If you are a parent homeschooling a child younger than 8 you need not register at any school or file a DOI with the superintendent's office until their birthday, but do not be late.
Sometimes people like to say that Washington parents have choice in education, but compulsory school attendance laws proves them wrong; parents are forced to enroll children in the school. If you have no financial means to send your children to private school or if you have no will to utilize the home based instruction law and fund your children's education on your own, then you have only one option: public school. Families that legally provide their own kid's education do have flexibly, but first they must opt out of public school and to do this they pay a financial penalty of paying both the property taxes that support public education and whatever their private school or home school financing requires. This is much different that simply choosing what "educational option" you prefer.
For homeschooling families who have worked hard to maintain professionalism in how they fund and manage their home-based schools, and who work publicly to make it possible for other parents in our state to be the home-based managers over all aspects of their own children's education, and do it well, the word "homeschool' is important. It is not simply some generic term synonymous with homework, or a learning situation offered at the local public school.
Homeschool, however you spell it, has a special meaning of it's own.
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