Homeschooing In Massachusetts a Few Myths Busted

Let’s talk about homeschooling and what that means because I’m getting a little fiery over some of the posts, blogs and articles I’m seeing right now. I’m seeing teachers on mom Facebook pages telling you not to homeschool your kid and how hard it is and what the district requires. I love my teacher friends, and support them 100%, and have great respect for them as their jobs are not easy. But they are the last ones who should be telling you how homeschooling works. There are moms shaming other moms to not homeschool because they will be depriving their children of a social life. There are actual studies to prove that homeschoolers are just as socialized if not more so than public schoolers. Frankly, there are a lot of myths and fear around homeschooling and there does not need to be. I hate once again to the myth buster, truther teller but once again what you were told probably isn’t true.

Once you have made the choice to homeschool It is a pretty simple and easy process. You do need to write a letter of intent, but a simple letter to notify the school with name, grade, and dob, along with your simple education plan. I linked below what a Sample education plan looks like. You do not need a letter of intent in Massachusetts no matter what you are told there is no law stating that.

Your curriculum for this letter does not need to be detailed and you do not need to prove you can homeschool with a degree or other qualifications. There is a common misconception that your curriculum needs to be approved by the district. What you need to do is list the subjects, and some resources you may be using, and this letter is approved by the school committee. There is specific language that needs to be put in your education plan, and remember less is more. Follow the examples below layout for Massachusetts.

Many districts ask for a lot more than they are legally allowed, such as schedules, more resources, dated work, and summaries (it’s one or the other), or for you to fill out their specific paperwork. They cannot demand much to be honest. There are several laws put in place to protect homeschoolers’ rights. Please only give what is required and no more. Many schools either don’t know or don’t care what the laws are and often commit overreach. It is in your best interest to learn the laws and mandates (Chapter 76, Charles, Brunelle & Ivan.) See them here. https://www.ahem.info/ma_hs_law.html

Distance learning is not the same thing as homeschooling. What we do in many ways is a lot easier than the distance learning that is currently in place for public school. It is much harder to follow someone else’s curriculum. Also, as a homeschooler, we use a variety of places and resources that we are missing out on right now too. If you used distance learning as your homeschool assessment that isn’t 100% of the picture unless you plan to use a common core online public school.
There are 1000’s of curriculum plans you can use as a guide or none at all. I linked some free and some paid ones down below. You have to change the concept of what you think homeschooling is vs what schooling at home is. Kids learn very easily, and homeschooling provides them unique opportunities that public school can’t, just as public offers somethings homeschool can’t.

For those of you who have said I cannot homeschool because my child is on an IEP, that too is a myth. Your child is still entitled to that same resources even if they don’t go to public school. There are specialists out there that can help you navigate this. You can still get services.

My hope is that you aren’t afraid to at least take a look at what homeschooling can help you accomplish during this time. It doesn’t have to be forever; it can be just for right now. You are totally capable of teaching your children! You taught them how to count, tie their shoes, learn numbers and letters, and more. You can in fact teach them history, math, geography, and more. Don’t let the idea of not being about to help them do their math homework stop you from doing this. It’s a lot easier to teach any subject when you are doing alongside them vs coming in from the side trying to backpaddle learn what they were taught.

A few things schools don’t want you to know. You can change your mind! You can start homeschooling and decide to send your child back to public. Or you can start with public and pull your child ANYTIME! You just need to notify the district. There are hundreds of communities on Facebook and in person who can help you navigate this process. The hardest part is getting started.

My point here is please don’t be bullied or shamed into not homeschooling if that is something you‘re considering. It’s a big decision, with lots to weigh, with pros and cons for each home and child. Please know it is doable. It does feel overwhelming in the beginning but I am here to help or can at least point you in the direction of help.

There are several great homeschooling Facebook pages that know even more than I do. If you are in Massachusetts, I linked a few below that I use and know are welcoming, positive, and helpful. Here is the list I’ve compiled over the years of resources. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-V6ZERMKH51b2mah36O_0teefz3iJAblkY9KXI_vSAU/edit?usp=sharing

Go onto AHEM.info for all the info you need to report to the district.

letters of intent (LOI) info https://www.ahem.info/loi_or_ed_plan.html

http://www.mhla.org/information/gettingstarted/edplan.htm

Sample Education Plan

https://www.ahem.info/sample_ed_plan.html

Getting Started

http://www.mhla.org/information/gettingstarted/index.htm

Sample progress reports

https://www.ahem.info/sample_progress_report.html

Homeschool Law

https://www.ahem.info/ma_hs_law.html

https://hslda.org/legal/massachusetts