The Homeschool Hub
Welcome! This is a one stop spot for information and resources on homeschooling. We will continue to keep this page updated with the best and most recent information available.
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Contents
Homeschooling Options
When you are ready to start researching homeschooling or have made the decision to jump right in, you need to know the homeschooling options available in your area. While every state currently has a homeschool option, it will vary greatly, so be sure to find your state’s information. Check out our resources below to assist you in your research including our very detailed blog post.
Homeschool Options by State
California Homeschool Options
San Diego County Homeschool List
Enrolling Your Child
Steps for enrolling your child in “homeschooling” vary by state. In general, the steps include:
Enrolling in a homeschool private or public school, OR filing with the state to privately homeschool
Unenroll from the public school (if applicable) following the published procedures to avoid a notice of truancy
* Note: If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, you need to withdraw your child from the public school following the school’s published procedures so his/her absence will not be considered truant. Be sure to explore your state’s requirements for this process.
Requirements
All states have requirements for homeschooling of some kind, which may include:
Documenting and reporting attendance
Providing instruction in state mandated subjects
Maintaining and/or submitting work samples in state mandated subjects
State standardized testing or assessments
List of requirements by state
Choosing Curriculum
You have many options in choosing curriculum to fit your unique child, family, and lifestyle. For many, this is the fun part of homeschooling, but for others, this can be overwhelming. There are so many options that can help any type of homeschool family. Some find it helpful to pick a homeschool educational philosophy to follow which makes it easier to pick curriculum and activities to fit their child’s learning style.You can choose any of the following:
Use the same curriculum the traditional public schools use
Follow the curriculum provided by the private school or public charter school where you enroll
Find similar “out of the box” curriculums that provide you with all subjects and grade level lesson plans
Research and find your own curriculums for each subject
RESOURCES
Enrichment
Does your child have a particular interest in robotics, engineering, art, music, theater, math, cooking, linguistics, debate, literature…and more? There’s probably a class for that. Could be weekly, monthly, or even just a one time event. If you live in an area where there are other homeschool families, there are likely homeschool art programs, engineering courses, debate clubs, and more - all for homeschool families scheduled during the school day. There are also virtual enrichment classes like Outschool, Multiplication Nation, and other online programs that your student can enroll in to explore their interests and develop their passions. And many of these courses take place during the daytime!
RESOURCES
Finding Support
By support, we mean organizations that support homeschooling and provide assistance to homeschooling families. Some require memberships, but many lots of free information to support your homeschooling.
National, State or Local Support Group
Conferences/Seminars: Attending homeschool conferences are an enriching way to grow your knowledge, expand your horizons, and give you the confidence you need.
Podcasts: There are a great many podcasts that offer support to homeschooling families
List of Homeschool Support Groups by State
Homeschool Conferences by State
From the Experts
“Part of the school dilemma results from an over-focus on testing results; home educators are free from that pressure, so you won’t have to decide between test prep and expository writing.” - Susan Wise Bauer author of The Well-Trained Mind
“Self-education through play and exploration requires enormous amounts of unscheduled time—time to do whatever one wants to do, without pressure, judgment, or intrusion from authority figures. That time is needed to make friends, play with ideas and materials, experience and overcome boredom, learn from one’s own mistakes, and develop passions.” - Dr. Peter Gray author of Free to Play: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life
“Self-education is the only possible education; the rest is mere veneer laid on the surface of a child's nature.” - Charlotte Mason author of Home Education
“What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn't a school at all.” - John Holt author of How Children Learn
Community
Having community is essential! Join online communities for like minded homeschool parents ranging from international to local. These communities are a wealth of information from other parents with firsthand experience. Find or build a local group, big or small, for you and for your children. If you are part of a private or public homeschool charter, that is a great place to start looking for community.
Instagram Accounts: We love to follow homeschooling hashtags like #homeschool, #homeschooling, #beautifulchildrensbooks that give great ideas, introduce new ways of thinking, and review curriculum.
Facebook Groups: There is likely a homeschooling Facebook group for your area. These groups are helpful for asking questions and obtaining help from homeschoolers like you! Ask about curriculum options for kids with special needs, field trip ideas, planning your day or year, and more!
Here are some of our favorite online communities:
Homeschool Facts
Coming Soon!
FAQs
We know there are so many questions when considering homeschooling! We try to answer more on our FAQs page! If you still have questions, please reach out to us!
Glossary
Boxed Curriculum - comprehensive program providing grade leveled scope and sequence, textbooks, assessments, projects and timelines with very specific, day by day instructions to both parent and student
Charter - a publicly funded school that operates as a school of choice independently of state school system. Charter Schools can meet 5 days per week like a traditional school, on a hybrid in class and at home schedule, or can be a full time homeschool charter
Co-Op - a group of homeschool families that have organized meetings. Some are formal co-ops where the parents alternate teaching lessons to the group. Others are less formal and meet for playdates, field trips and other educational opportunities
Curriculum - the materials use to teach a subject course: textbooks, lesson plans, tests, worksheets, or online resources
Deschooling - the period of time a child (and parent) need to adjust going from traditional schooling to homeschooling
Enrichment - classes or programs provided by other teacher or educators to offer electives or extracurriculars to homeschool families
Homeschool Method - the approach for education at home. Methods include: Charlotte Mason, Classical, Montessori, Unschooling, and more
IEP: Individualized Education Plan - a legal document written as a map that lays out the program of special education instruction, services, and support that some students require
Micro-School - a recreation of the classroom aspect of traditional school by hiring a qualified educator to teach specific subjects to a small group of students
Learning Styles - the various ways in which students take in information and prefer to learn. Examples include: auditory, visual, kinesthetic
PSA: Private School Affidavit - a form filed with the state and/or school district to claim your home a private school in which you will provide home instruction
Supplemental Resources - any non-required instructional materials
Traditional School - a term that refers to public, private, or parochial schools and classrooms
Unit Study - theme based, educational studies that use the theme to teach multiple subjects, usually in a very hands on way
Visit our glossary page for a more complete list of homeschool and educational terms.
