"Homeschooling" Multiple Children

[Arashijing]

The parents in my small apartment complex had a small discussion over the recent neighborhood 4th of July BBQ…

Being in the middle of Los Angeles, it’s impossible to find good, reliable Catholic schools and considering the high cost of living, it’s not feasible to have one parent stay at home and homeschool. Besides myself who is homeschooling my little sister through OLVS (both my parents work), only one family was “well off” enough to have the mother stay at home and homeschool their only child. So a question was raised:

**Is it possible–and legal–to enroll six non-related children in a homeschooling program such as OLVS (all six of them are incoming 1st graders) and have one parent tutor all six while the rest of the parents work?
**
Your (name removed by moderator)ut is highly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[marci]

Everything depends on the laws in your state. Get on the Home School Legal Defense Associations web site and follow the instructions to get info on laws by state. Homeschooling laws vary widely state by state. In Texas, homeschooling laws are liberal and favorable. In California, the state has all but outlawed homeschooling.

 

[Claymont79]

Check with HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association), they have all the laws for each state posted on their site links. I think CA has an ‘umbrella school clause’ of some sort. But check it out for sure, espsecially since there was just a big court case at the end of last year that could have shut down homeschooling in CA. We must all be diligent about keeping up with the law changes in our states and the nation.

If the US ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all homeschooling here will be in jeopardy. Beware and keep your legislators informed of your preferences on that issue.

 

[Trishie]

Irrelevant to your question, but concerning the homeschooling of multiple children:
My sister homeschooled her five natural children, four of whom went on to obtain university degrees, one including her PhD; and also to homeschooling two handicapped children whom she and her husband adopted. If one can homeschool seven children, for some time concurrently, why not as you query, from different families, if permitted in your State?

 

[Claymont79]

I know you can do it in some states if the kids are related to you, but am unsure about if they are not, so make sure you check on it. Also, there are a lot of online/distance learning school programs you could do with that set of kids as there would be accountability to the program(s) they are in. That would be the proabably be the easiest way to get away with it.

 

[ahollars]

The parents in my small apartment complex had a small discussion over the recent neighborhood 4th of July BBQ…

Being in the middle of Los Angeles, it’s impossible to find good, reliable Catholic schools and considering the high cost of living, it’s not feasible to have one parent stay at home and homeschool. Besides myself who is homeschooling my little sister through OLVS (both my parents work), only one family was “well off” enough to have the mother stay at home and homeschool their only child. So a question was raised:

**Is it possible–and legal–to enroll six non-related children in a homeschooling program such as OLVS (all six of them are incoming 1st graders) and have one parent tutor all six while the rest of the parents work?
**
Your (name removed by moderator)ut is highly appreciated! Thank you!

Technically, yes, it is possible in practice, and no, it is illegal on paper, for purposes of paperwork. The parents of all these children are always the primary teachers. You as a leader are simply their “tutor”. In that sense, you can teach children who are not related to you. The parents should know that they will be held responsible if their kids cannot pass the standardized tests, and they cannot blame you. They will have to sign paperwork stating that they are teaching their own kids. Even if you are teaching them, it doesn’t mean that they are not, and yes, this argument can hold up in court.

Voice of experience. Go ahead.