Homeschooling and Your Local School Board - Know Your Rights

Have you found your local school board to be supportive of your homeschooling efforts? Do they encourage you with good information and resources or is it like "pulling teeth" to get them to recognize your rights to homeschool? There are some things you can do!

• Make sure you join with other homeschooling families to form a local support group - there is probably one already operating in your area. This will allow you all to communicate and share experiences, ideas and band together - there is strength in numbers. If there is not already a group, form one!
• Make sure you read your State's statutes regarding homeschooling and what requirements there are: once you are comfortable that you know them well and you have checked behind yourself with other homeschooling parents, confront the school board on your rights and their responsibilities! Don't make enemies and choose your battles wisely, but set the boundaries and ground rules - you are not the passive bystander here and the sooner you establish yourself as a confident homeschooling parent that will not be pushed around, the better your relationship will be in the long run.
• Join the Homeschool Legal Defense Association for the protection of your rights! They will keep you informed of your rights and they will be available to provide you with legal support for even the simplest of things (i.e. the school board using improper forms or due dates). They are an invaluable asset!