Back to Homeschool

Some ideas for homeschooling families to prepare for the new year.

Filing Requirements

One of the most important aspects of the new homeschool year is making sure you’ve met the filing requirements. There are two ways to do that in the State of Ohio.

Filing as an OH-08 School must be done when children turn 6. Forms must be turned in by September 30. Visit codes.ohio.gov/oac/3301-35-08 to see if your family complies with the requirements.

Families that don’t meet the requirements of an OH-08 School must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to homeschool for children between the ages of 6 and 18 each school year to the Superintendent of their school district. The NOI should include:

  • School year for which notification is made
  • Name and address of the parent, and the full name
    and birthdate of the child(ren)
  • Name and address of the person(s) who will be teaching
    the child(ren) if other than the parent
    Assurance that the homeschool will include the required subjects
    (“except that home education shall not be required to include any concept, topic, or practice that is in conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the parent”)
  • A brief outline of intended curriculum
  • List of textbooks or other teaching materials
  • Assurance of hours and qualifications

Curriculum

There are many options for homeschool curricula, ranging from a complete curriculum, such as online public school, or a curriculum for traditional homeschool. Families can also choose a variety of resources from different curricula to tailor their child(ren)’s education to specific needs.

School Supplies

One of the advantages of homeschooling is taking advantage of discounted school supplies. Start off the homeschool year with just what you need to get started and then wait for the school supplies to go on sale. That is the perfect time to fully stock up.

Connect with Groups

Connecting with local homeschool groups has many advantages such as: field trip opportunities, homeschool athletic groups, homeschool group educational activities and more.

Scheduling

Not all homeschool families keep a specific or tight schedule. Many do, because it can minimize downtime and keep things flowing smoothly. Preparing a few months in advance for projects and activities can guarantee a smooth path through the homeschool year.

Despite even the best planning and preparation, the first few days are generally a little bumpy as you get back into the swing of things. This is normal. It may be ideal to start with just a few subjects and add on more as the routine starts to smooth out. Allow your family some grace as you ease into the new school year.

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