Homeschooling Certification State Legal Requirements 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'compulsory attendance age' refer to in homeschool law?
- The age a child must legally receive an education (Correct answer)
- The age a parent must renew a teaching license
- The minimum age to take the SAT
- The age a student can drop out without notice
Correct answer: The age a child must legally receive an education
Compulsory attendance age is the range during which a child must legally be educated, whether in school or at home.
Question 2: Which option best describes how homeschool days or hours requirements typically work?
- All states require exactly 1,000 hours
- Some states specify a minimum number of days or instructional hours (Correct answer)
- Hours are set by the federal government
- No state tracks days or hours
Correct answer: Some states specify a minimum number of days or instructional hours
Certain states set minimum instructional days or hours that homeschoolers must document each year.
Question 3: A parent wants to homeschool under a 'church' or 'private school' option available in their state. What does this usually mean?
- The child must attend religious services daily
- They operate as or enroll in a home-based private school under state private-school rules (Correct answer)
- They receive federal funding
- They must be ordained clergy
Correct answer: They operate as or enroll in a home-based private school under state private-school rules
Some states let families homeschool by establishing or enrolling in a home-based private school governed by private-school statutes.
Question 4: Which of the following is generally NOT required of homeschooling parents in most states?
- Keeping some records of instruction
- Teaching required core subjects
- Obtaining a state-issued teaching certificate (Correct answer)
- Following compulsory attendance ages
Correct answer: Obtaining a state-issued teaching certificate
Most states do not require homeschooling parents to hold a state teaching certificate.
Question 5: What is the purpose of maintaining an attendance record for a homeschool?
- To claim federal tax credits
- To document compliance with compulsory attendance and instructional time (Correct answer)
- To register for standardized testing
- To qualify for a driver's license
Correct answer: To document compliance with compulsory attendance and instructional time
Attendance records help demonstrate that the homeschool meets state compulsory attendance and instructional-time rules.
Question 6: In an evaluation-based state, who is typically qualified to assess a homeschooled student's progress?
- Any adult relative
- A state-certified teacher or approved evaluator (Correct answer)
- The local mayor
- A neighbor with a college degree
Correct answer: A state-certified teacher or approved evaluator
States requiring evaluations usually accept assessments from a certified teacher or other state-approved evaluator.
Question 7: What often happens if a homeschooling family fails to submit required paperwork on time?
- Nothing, deadlines are advisory
- The child automatically graduates
- The family may face truancy concerns or be found out of compliance (Correct answer)
- The state pays them a penalty
Correct answer: The family may face truancy concerns or be found out of compliance
Missing required filings can put a family out of compliance and raise truancy issues under state law.
Homeschooling Certification State Legal Requirements 3
What does 'compulsory attendance age' refer to in homeschool law?