3 Things to Remember When Speaking with Your School District Homeschool Representative

When you choose to step away from the traditional public or private school path for your student, you’re opening the door to a world of possibilities—like enrolling in an online private school such as Enlightium Academy. Each route offers its own unique opportunities; therefore, understanding the pros and cons of each path can help you make the decision that best fits your family’s needs and goals.

Here are three things to keep in mind when navigating your state’s requirements.

Understand the requirements

Start by searching your state websites (.edu and/or .gov) for details and requirements for online or homeschool education. Having some background knowledge about what’s available in your state will equip you to ask informed questions. You can also review Enlightium’s state and country resources.

Students enrolled online at Enlightium Academy are considered private school students through its extension program. However, it's important to note that each state views online education differently— in some states, it is classified as homeschooling, while in others, it is regarded as an extension of traditional schooling.

Know that the laws vary.

Homeschooling laws in the United States vary significantly from state to state, with each state setting its own regulations regarding curriculum, record-keeping, assessment requirements, and oversight. Some states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, have minimal regulations, allowing parents to educate their children with little government interference. Others, like New York and Pennsylvania, impose stricter guidelines, requiring parents to submit detailed education plans, maintain attendance records, and conduct standardized testing. To ensure compliance, you should understand and keep up to date on your state’s laws.

Get your requirements in writing.

When speaking with your state homeschool representative, take notes as you are in discussion. Tell the representative that you appreciate the meeting and are ready to stay on top of fulfilling all requirements. Tell him or her you will follow up with an email with these steps for confirmation. This will be to your benefit for several reasons:

Creates an audit trail.

Email the representative and say, “I am glad we spoke today. As per our conversation, I only need to complete steps A, B, and C, and nothing else”. You should receive an email confirming this; if not, follow up in the same thread within a few days.

Worst-case scenario: fast forward to the end of the first semester, and you receive a phone call from the school district saying, “You never completed step D!” You can easily (and politely) reference the email thread you had with the superintendent and say, “D was never discussed, which is why I did not complete it this semester. But, I will make a note of it for semester two and future years."

Resolves misunderstandings in a timely manner.

Emailing the representative your list of actionable steps allows him or her to correct any incorrect information. For example, let’s say you state in the email, “As per our conversation, I will need to send a progress report to this email address once a semester.” The representative replies with, “Actually, we will need to see a progress report once a quarter.” This is an easy fix, with a frustrating conversation down the road avoided.

Provides ease of reference.

Let’s say that you met with the representative during the summer. Now it’s the end of the school year, and you remember you had something incredibly important to do, but that’s as far as your memory serves. No need to look through a pile of papers or try to recall the specifics. Just reference that email thread, and you have all the information you need.

Ensures that you are speaking with the right person.

We all know that it can be difficult to get a hold of the right person. You may end up speaking with several people until you get to the right person. Keeping a single email thread with everyone you spoke with by name and title will allow you to easily reference who said what and when.

If you enroll through Enlightium Academy, our team can help you navigate the requirements to meet your state's homeschooling regulations for your student.

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumSchool.com.