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This is the time of year when homeschooling moms are typing up curriculum lists, buying books, writing outlines, finishing up assessments, and filling out the form to homeschool their kids next year. I have been doing that for 28 years! And although my last kid graduated last year, I am still filling out paperwork for my granddaughter.

With that in mind, I was pleasantly shocked to discover last summer that, the Ohio Legislature changed the rules! Starting October 2023, we were no longer tied to the drudgery of all that paperwork.

What happened?

From the 1990s until 2023, homeschoolers had to notify their superintendent on their intent to homeschool their own children. Instructions on how are here.

But on July 4, 2023, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law House Bill 33. This gives more freedom to homeschoolers and reduces many of the issues that plagued families and school districts for years. Under the old law, homeschoolers were excused from school attendance. Now homeschoolers are exempt! It’s an important distinction.

Under the old law, parents had to notify their intent to homeschool (a) by the first week of the start of the public school the child would attend in the school district of residence, (b) within one week of the date on which the child began to reside in the district, or (c) within one week from the child’s withdrawal from a school.

This could be problematic because schools start on different dates all over Ohio. Under the new law, parents have to notify by August 30 OR within 5 days of their intent to homeschool. This is super easy to remember and comply with.

What does this mean for parents?

Plenty! – for 2024 and going forward!

Homeschoolers in Ohio no longer have to fill out reams of paper and give a lot of intrusive information. All that is required to give is:

  1. Parent’s name and address.
  2. Name of child.
  3. Written assurance that the child will receive education in the required areas

THAT’s IT!!!! Here’s a form that I based on the HSLDA form for you to download and print.

  • No more mandatory assessments. You can do them if you wish, but you don’t have to. So no tests and no portfolios..
  • No requirements for the teachers.
  • No more magical 900 hours of instruction required either!

On a Personal Note:

It’s ironic to me that after 28 years of homeschooling for my family, this new law came into place one month after graduating my last child. But I am so relieved that it will be easier for my grandchildren – the ones I have and future grandchildren.

I was of the generation that knew people who had gone to jail for trying to homeschool their children. It’s amazing to me that this has finally come to pass and I hope future homeschooling moms will be grateful for the hard-fought freedom on homeschool that has come their way.

Ohio is now one of the easiest states for parents to homeschool in. Well- done!

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