Homeschooling

Archive for April, 2009

Question: Need help with truancy laws asap, please...?

Need help with truancy laws asap, please...?
My nephew lives with me and turned 18 in March. He found out he is only considered a sophomore so he decided he was going to withdraw from school and get his GED. He went today and withdrew and the superintendent was not there so he talked to the secretary and withdrew himself. Two hours later the secretary called and said they talked to the superintendent and she said if he is not enrolled in school in 10 days she was filing truancy on him. I have done research and found out this is true. My question is.. Is there anything we can do to get him back in that school based on the fact that he withdrew through the secretary. Or what can we do as far as Homeschooling so that he does not get charged. Any info would be appreciated. Also we live in Texas. Thanks in advance.

Answer: We live in Texas. It is one of the easiest states to homeschool in. If you want him to continue in the same school just have him go right back to class. This would be the sensible thing to do if he is passing any classes so that he can receive the credits. It sounds as though they did not withdraw him and is only being counted as absent. If he is not going to pass any classes and you do decide to homeschool him, as his guardian you should only need to go to the school and officially withdraw him by stating that he will be Homeschooling. As you will see below, Texas considers homeschools to be private schools. I believe, but not positive, he should be able to withdraw himself to homeschool because he is legally an adult. Look over the HSLDA web site also. You will find just about everything you need to get started Homeschooling.

TEXAS EDUCATION CODE EXCERPT

Below are portions of the Texas Education Code which deal with compulsory attendance. Home schools are exempt from compulsory attendance according to Section 25.086(a)(1) because they have been determined by the Texas courts to be private schools. Included are the portions of greatest interest to Texas home educators. Read the Texas Education Code.

Sec. 25.085. Compulsory School Attendance.

(a) A child who is required to attend school under this section shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided.

(b) Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a child who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not completed the academic year in which the child's 18th birthday occurred shall attend school.

(c) On enrollment in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, a child shall attend school.

Sec. 25.086. Exemptions.

(a) A child is exempt from the requirements of compulsory school attendance if the child:

(1) attends a private or parochial school that includes in its course a study of good citizenship...

(5) is at least 17 years of age and:

(A) is attending a course of instruction to prepare for the high school equivalency examination; or
(B) has received a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate...

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