What is homeschooling?

Homeschooling is when a parent or guardian is fully responsible for teaching their child. The parent chooses the course of study (curriculum) and teaches their child. In Texas and NM, the state does not provide curriculum or money for homeschooled students. It is up to the parents to pick the curriculum that works best for their child and family.

How do I withdraw from public school?

You need to email the school your child is attending. You need to specify the withdrawal date and specify your intent to homeschool. In Texas, this form is an easy way to get the email formatted. In New Mexico, you need to notify the state of your intent to homeschool.

What happens if the school wants more information about my homeschool plan?

You can send an assurance email. This letter assures the school that you are following the Texas homeschool laws and a reminder of what those laws are. THSC has the instructions on who and how to send the letter. In New Mexico, the state notification is yearly and all that is necessary.

When do I have to start the homeschool year?

You may begin whenever you would like. There is no official start day in Texas or New Mexico. New Mexico does have hour requirements for the year, but Texas does not. It is wise however to make sure your effective withdrawal date and start date are the same.

What if my child has never been enrolled in school?

TEXAS: If your child has never been enrolled in school, you may simply begin to homeschool when you are ready or by age 6. NEW MEXICO: You must notify the state of New Mexico by August 1 of the year your child will begin kindergarten at five years old.

How do I enroll in homeschool?

You don’t. Homeschool is the responsibility of the parents. Choosing the course of study can be anything from choosing a textbook curriculum, forming your own curriculum with materials found online and in books, or joining a cooperative (group of families working together to homeschool their children). Connections K12 and TTUK12 are public schools that are done from home and fall under public school laws, they are not homeschooling. According TEA code, students under third grade may not participate due to early literacy needs.

Is El Paso Homeschool Association a school I can enroll in?

No. EPHA is a nonprofit whose mission is to serve the homeschool community by helping connect homeschooler to local resources and providing development opportunities to parents who are home educators. We do not endorse a specific program or way of homeschooling, but believe that home educators are fully capable of choosing what is best for their families. We make every effort to support homeschoolers with our annual conference and year round support.

How do I choose curriculum?

This is the hardest part of beginning homeschool. You will need to do some research and observe your kids. How they learn and how your family functions will drastically affect which curriculums will work best for you. It will take time and that is okay, since you aren’t required to start on a certain date, you can take that time to figure out what works for you. We highly recommend deschooling (take some time off of formal school work to change the way you think of learning). This time can be used to read great books together, take field trips, meet other homeschoolers, and do research on educational philosophies and the curriculums that you want to look at. We have a lot of information on getting started and choosing curriculum.

What’s the best curriculum for elementary school, middle or high school?

There is no best curriculum. All curriculum is good and works well, you simply need to find what will be best for your child(ren). See our curriculum guide for guidance on that process.

What about accreditation?

Accreditation is a process in which a school hires an outside agency to review their educational programs and see if it meets a defined standard of quality. Schools can be accredited, but curriculums are not. As a homeschooler you are not required to use an accredited school program. You may choose whatever curriculum or course of study you would like to use.

How do I keep grades?

You are not required to keep grades at all. In high school, you will need to keep grades for the purposes of making a transcript for your child. The transcript will be needed for further education to provide proof of high school graduation. There are many transcript templates online to follow as you make your own.

What about re-enrolling into public schools?

To re enroll your child you simply begin the enrollment process at your local school. Enrolling will take place just as if you were coming from any private school in the region. Completing the course of work for the grade(s) you are homeschooling is the parents responsibility. You can always review TEA guidelines for each grade level.

How do I know if my child is falling behind?

Schools progress at an average pace for an average child. Most children are ahead in some areas and behind in others. The beauty of homeschooling is that you can focus on your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Most homeschoolers study to mastery, as opposed to reaching a certain grade to move to the next grade level. Education is about learning and knowing how to learn. It is also important to remember that the schools don’t necessarily finish the entire curriculum every year and not every child masters every area of study every year. Education is cyclical and subjects and ideas are always cycled through again at a later date. The foundation of reading and math literacy is most important in the early years, so a focus on that with other subjects being secondary is expected.