Going back to school after homeschooling

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Enrolling in a public school

• Start with the district. Contact your local school district’s enrollment or registration office. It will tell you which school serves your address, what it needs and when your child can start – including partway through the year.
• What the school may ask for. The U.S. Department of Education says schools may ask for proof that the adult enrolling the child lives in the district, and, under state or local law, for documents showing the child’s age. A school may not stop or discourage a child from enrolling because they don’t have a birth certificate or were born abroad, and may not bar a child because the adult declines to give the child’s Social Security number.
• Immunizations. School vaccination requirements, and the exemptions allowed, vary from state to state. Ask the school or your state or local health department what applies.
• Equal access. Federal law requires schools to give all children equal access to a basic public education, whatever their race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status.
• No stable housing? Under the McKinney-Vento Act, children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence – including those sharing housing because of loss of housing or economic hardship, or staying in a motel, shelter or car – must be enrolled right away, even if they can’t produce the records normally required. The school contacts the last school attended for records, and refers you to the district’s homeless liaison if immunization or health records are needed.

Grade placement and credits

• The district decides. Each district – and in some states, a state rule – sets how it places students who were homeschooled. Approaches in the official sources we checked include reviewing the child’s records and work (Texas), a standardized test plus a review of records after talking to the parents (Washington), and placing younger children by age with the principal deciding (Hawaii).
• High school credit varies. Some districts award credit after reviewing the work or after an exam or a good grade in the next course (Kentucky), and some are not required to award any credit for homeschool work (Connecticut). Hawaii enrolls high school-aged students in grade 9 with no credits. Ask the school counselor how credits will be judged before your teen enrolls.
• What helps. A clear transcript or course list with credits, grades and your grading scale (use our transcript template); short course descriptions with the main materials used; a portfolio of work samples; and any standardized test results.
• Accredited or not. Some state rules deal with credit from non-accredited schools in a particular way – Kentucky’s, for example. If your child took courses through an accredited school or program, ask the district whether it accepts those credits.
• Graduation. To earn the school’s diploma, a student must meet the district’s and state’s graduation requirements. Some set a minimum time in the school – Hawaii, for example, asks for at least three full years of public high school. Ask for a written plan of what is left.

Students with disabilities

• Child Find. Under IDEA, every state must identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities who need special education, including children attending private schools. For homeschooled children, generally the district where the child lives is responsible.
• Asking for an evaluation. A parent can ask for an initial evaluation. It must be done within 60 days of your consent, or within your state’s own timeframe if it sets one. Ask in writing and keep a copy.
• IEP. If you enroll your child in public school full time, the district must make a free appropriate public education (FAPE) available, with an IEP if your child is eligible. Bring copies of any earlier evaluations, IEP or services plan.
• Section 504. School districts must provide a free appropriate public education to each qualified student with a disability in their area, and must evaluate a student before providing Section 504 services. An IEP is one way to meet Section 504.
• More in special education.

Other routes

• Charter schools: where a state has them, they are public schools with their own admission steps. In New York, for example, they are tuition-free and admit students by random lottery when there are more applicants than places. Check your state education agency’s page.
• Private schools: each sets its own admission, placement and credit rules.
• Online public schools: some states and districts run online public schools or courses. Your state education agency can tell you what is available.
• Dual enrollment: college courses for high school and college credit – see dual enrollment.
• Part-time classes: some states let homeschooled students take some public school classes or activities – your state guide has what we found.

What to bring

Bring the records you choose to share, plus what the school asks for:

• proof of address and of your child’s age, and immunization records;
• a transcript or course list, course descriptions and work samples;
• standardized test results and any evaluations, IEP or 504 plan;
• records from any earlier school (ask for them with our records request – under FERPA the school must let you inspect them within 45 days).

Classfern Family members can download a portfolio and homeschool record from their records. You choose what goes in and give it to the school yourself – Classfern never sends anything to a school. About Classfern Family

If you filed a homeschool notice

Some states ask you to tell the office you filed with when homeschooling ends. In the official sources we checked, these include Arizona and Florida (within 30 days), West Virginia, Washington, DC (at least 15 business days before you stop), South Dakota (within 30 days), Nebraska (promptly, when your child enrolls in an approved or accredited school), Hawaii (tell the principal) and Kansas (mark your school “Non-Active”). Your state guide has the details.

Settling in

• If you can, visit the school and meet the teacher or counselor before the first day.
• Share what your child has been learning and how they learn best.
• Practice the new routine – mornings, travel, lunch – in the week before.
• Agree a time to check in after a few weeks, and ask about extra help if a subject needs catching up.
• Keep your homeschool records safe; you may need them later.
• If school isn’t working out, or homeschooling suits you again later, it’s fine to change your mind – follow your state’s rules for whichever you choose.

Checklist

1. Find your school. Contact your local school district’s enrollment or registration office. Ask which school serves your address, what it needs from you and when your child can start.
2. Gather proof of address and age. Schools may ask for proof that you live in the district and for documents showing your child’s age, such as a birth certificate.
3. Check immunization records. Ask the school or your state or local health department what is required. Requirements and exemptions vary by state.
4. Ask how placement and credits are decided. Ask before your child starts: records review, a test, age, or a trial period. For high school, ask which courses will count toward the diploma.
5. Choose the records you want to share. For example a course list or transcript, course descriptions, work samples and test results.
6. Ask for any earlier school records. If your child went to school before, you can ask that school for the records with our records request.
7. Disability or support needs? Ask in writing. Ask for an evaluation for special education or Section 504, and bring any earlier evaluations, IEP or 504 plan.
8. Check whether you need to tell anyone homeschooling has ended. Some states ask you to tell the office you filed with – see your state guide.
9. Send a short cover letter. Use our enrollment cover letter to say what you’re sending and what you’d like to know.
10. Plan the first weeks. Visit if you can, meet the teacher or counselor, and agree when you’ll check in on how things are going.

Enrollment cover letter

This letter is also on letters and forms, where you can fill in your details once.

Questions