Many parents, for many different reasons, make the decision to homeschool their children. Homeschooling allows for a specific educational experience designed to suit your child's particular needs, and in many cases goes above and beyond what can be achieved in a public or private school system.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states in the United States, although the laws vary from state to state. You can easily find out what the requirements are in your state by contacting a local or statewide homeschooling association or by visiting Home School Legal Defense Association where they list the requirements for each state.

The basic idea is that these laws exist to distinguish a homeschooled child from a child that is simply not going to school, which is of course against the law. Generally, states will require that you submit a "notice of intent" to homeschool your children before the upcoming academic year, and the state will then respond with the appropriate paperwork for you to fill out. In California you submit an affidavit once a year that declares your home a private school.

Besides familiarizing yourself with the particular laws of your state you should also consult a homeschooling association for advice. In some cases parents will be dealing with school officials who want to discourage them from homeschooling, and in these situations it is important that you understand your rights.

In the state of New York, for example, parents are not required to meet with school officials. School officials may request a meeting with the parents in order to discuss homeschooling, but the state may not revoke the right to homeschool if the parents refuse this meeting.

Although it may seem intimidating at first, homeschooling your children legally is ultimately not that complicated. You just have to make sure that you follow every step, and don't overlook any paperwork. While some state restrictions or rules may seem unnecessary or cumbersome, in the long run you'll save yourself a ton of headaches if you fill everything in properly and on time.

The best thing you can do when you begin to homeschool your children is to consult other homeschooling parents and advocacy groups. Looking up legal jargon online can be confusing, but any homeschooling group will give you solid, plain-English instruction on how to properly and legally set up homeschooling for your children.

There are so many homeschooling families today that you probably know several. If not, there are many resources online. Remember: If you really want to teach your children at home it isn't difficult. Visit hslda.org (the link is above), fill out the required paperwork, and begin. It's a fun adventure that I wouldn't want to miss out on. (Feel free to contact me if you have any questions).