Homeschooling

First, the bad news:

The U.S. Department of Education has promulgated a new regulation that requires colleges that receive federal funds to adopt procedures to determine the validity of a student’s high school diploma when the student applies for Federal Student Aid (FSA).

Now, the good news:

This new rule does not apply to homeschoolers. But homeschoolers need to be careful to check “homeschooled” when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to avoid delays in the processing of their application......

To view article

In an exciting nationwide first, Missouri now allows parents to issue work certificates for their own children if they follow certain requirements.

Formerly, parents had to work through the public school bureaucracy. This often involved red tape, delays, and inconvenience. And it was illogical. How would the public school system be in a position to know whether the proposed job would conflict with the student’s homeschool program?...

View article

In 2006, the South Dakota Legislature lowered the age of compulsory attendance starting with the 2010–2011 school year. Children who are age 5 by September 1 will be of compulsory school age starting this fall. Compulsory age ends at a student’s 18th birthday, or upon graduating.

If you have a child who has reached, or will reach, his 5th birthday by September 1, you’ll need to file the “Application for Public School Exemption Certificate” form with your local superintendent.