How to Homeschool from OUSD
There’s so much information on homeschooling I don’t know where to start. Can anyone share their experience from leaving OUSD to homeschool and steps on how to do it? Tips/what to avoid? Anyone do this with an IEP? Anyone happy or not with the Independent Study Program? Are there homeschooled kid groups where they regularly socialize? Any information is greatly appreciated!
Oct 24, 2021
Parent Replies
I homeschooled my son last year instead of keeping him in zoom school. This was AUSD, not OUSD but the process is similar. You simply file an affidavit declaring yourself a private school with fewer 6 students. It’s free and asks fir almost no detail. No one follows up. You inform your district you are withdrawing your child. Then you can do whatever you want, from nothing to hiring tutors and taking a la carte classes and attending homeschool camps. You can also homeschool through a charter, but this way gives you the most freedom. There would be no IEP support because you are on your own to cobble that together however you see fit. If you want services from your district, your child has to be enrolled in the district. Independent study is not homeschooling at all but just another type of enrollment.
Hello,
I’m a veteran homeschooler with two kids in college. Homeschool Association of California offers free homeschool 101 sessions. The next one is coming up on November 4th at 3pm. Sign up at HSC.org/quickguide. Also, here is some quick information regarding the various ways to legally homeschool in California, https://www.hsc.org/legal-101.
The only way to keep an IEP is to enroll with a public school charter. If you homeschool independently by creating a small private school and filing a private school affidavit, it’s possible to have an ISP (individual service plan, sort of IEP “light”) through your local public school but you likely will not receive services due to budget constraints for that program, and only have a yearly evaluation and plan. Depending on the level of services or accommodations your child currently receives, homeschooling can mitigate many of them such as more time, sitting close to the front of the classroom, use of a fidget toy, etc. If your child is receiving OT, PT, speech therapy, etc., then you will have to provide those out-of-pocket or via your insurance if you file a private school affidavit.
The 101 will give you a comprehensive overview of all of your options, record keeping, sample curriculum, classes, methods of learning, and how to break away from school centric thinking and take advantage of homeschooling freedoms as well.
It will also help direct you as to where to find others who homeschool/community.
Warmly,
Jamie