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Is Home Schooling Right for Me?
Home Schooling is defined by Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 15-802
as, "a school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person who has custody of the
child or instruction provided in the child's home." Taking this information into account, read and
think about the following questions and things to consider in order to determine if home schooling
fits into your child’s educational plan:
Do I have the time and organizational skills to aide my student in succeeding in their education?
Consider the following:
There are a number of tasks to be planned and carried out when home
schooling. As the "home school", you are responsible for the following:
- Development of curriculum
- Creation of lesson plans
- Purchasing of materials
- Creation and grading of assignments and/or assessments
- Maintaining transcripts of grades
- Scheduling "classroom" time and making it a fixed time
- Providing structure and an environment conducive to learning
Is home schooling the best educational option for my student and what they need to be successful?
Consider the following:
Home schooling does have its benefits. These benefits include
one-on-one situations, personalized lessons, and the familiarity and confidence in working
with a parent/guardian. Do these benefits sound like they match up with your student's needs?
Have I explored all of the options available for my student’s education?
Consider the following:
ARS 15-802 lists the educational options for students as public,
charter, private, and home schooling. These are all options within Arizona, but some additional
educational sources would be online classes or tutoring, if your student requires additional
assistance.
 Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When do I have to register?
A. According to the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 15-802:
"Section C. An affidavit of intent shall be filed within thirty days from the time
the child begins to attend a private school or home school and is not required thereafter
unless the private school or the home school instruction is terminated and then resumed.
The person who has custody of the child shall notify the county school superintendent within
thirty days of the termination that the child is no longer being instructed at a private
school or a home school. If the private school or home school instruction is resumed, the
person who has custody of the child shall file another affidavit of intent with the county
school superintendent within thirty days."
Q. How do I register?
A. (ARS) 15-802 states:
"Section 2. If the child will attend a private school or home school, file an affidavit of
intent with the county school superintendent stating that the child is attending a regularly
organized private school or is being provided with instruction in a home school. The affidavit
of intent shall include:
- The child's name.
- The child's date of birth.
- The current address of the school the child is attending.
- The names, telephone numbers and addresses of the persons who currently have custody of the child."
Please also refer to ARS 15-828 for proof of birth requirements:
"Section B. If a child is instructed at home pursuant to section 15-802, the person who has
custody of the child shall, within thirty days after the home instruction begins, provide
to the county school superintendent of the county in which the child resides one of the following:
- A certified copy of the child's birth certificate.
- Other reliable proof of the child's identity and age, including the child's baptismal
certificate, an application for a social security number or original school registration
records and an affidavit explaining the inability to provide a copy of the birth certificate.
Both the Affidavit of Intent AND the proof of birth need to be submitted
to the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools' Office in order for the student to be registered as a
home schooled student. We cannot accept photocopied birth certificates.
Q. What do I do if I move?
A. If you move out of Maricopa County, you will need to submit a pupil withdrawal form
so your record of home schooling in this County may be removed.
Q. Are the records kept confidential?
A. Yes. Any requests for copies of Affidavits must be done in writing by the parent
or person who has custody of the child.
Q. Where can I get a certified birth certificate?
A. Certified birth certificates can be obtained from the Department of Vital Records.
You may find Vital Records Information for Arizona on the following website:
http://www.azdhs.gov/vitalrcd/index.htm.
Q. Where do I get books/curricula?
A. Look for school supply venues in your community and/or view our
Home School Resources for
support groups and other resources that may help guide you in your curriculum development process.
Q. Can my child take a course at a public school?
A. Contact the school district office of your residence to get their policies
on accepting home schooled students into certain courses, and any requirements that may be expected.
Click Here to find your local School District Office.
Q. How does my child get a high school diploma/GED?
A. In order to obtain an accredited diploma, you need to use an accredited online
or correspondence program as your home school curriculum. After the student has completed the program,
a diploma will be issued to the student. For a listing of accredited programs, please refer to our
Resource Directory, as there are a
couple of programs listed there. For more programs, or to check on the accreditation of a specific program,
call the NCA Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement at 1-800-525-9517.
For GED information, please call the Arizona Department of Education’s GED information line at 602-258-2410 ext. 222.
Q. What about required testing?
A. In reference to ARS 15-745:
Section A. Nothing in this article shall be construed to require the testing of children who are
"instructed in a home school program while they are receiving home school instruction."
Q. What if my child has special needs or requires special education?
A. Refer to ARS 15-763:
"Section D. If federal monies are provided to a school district or a charter school for special
education services to home schooled or private schooled pupils, the school district or charter
school shall provide the services to both the home schooled pupils and the private schooled pupils
in the same manner."
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