Homeschooling Someone Else's Child?

[Mera_mera]

There may be the possibility in the fall of me homeschooling a friend's child. I tried to look up laws on this and I'm not really sure if it's legal. We do live together and it would be in the home and my friend doesn't have the health or energy to do it herself.

According to what I read homeschooling is schooling primarily by the student's parent or guardian or instruction provided in the child's home. So I would be providing the instruction in the child's home, but it didn't say who could provide that instruction, such as a certified teacher, or what. I have childcare background and had been planning on doing a certification course for childcare, but I also want my friend to be able to help/be a part of her child's education... I'm also hoping to help her get better in a year, so I'm thinking this will be somewhat temporary, though when she's better I'd be more than happy to still help and teach him.

This is really just in the beginning stages of thought right now, I don't know if it's actually permissable, but I have been really thinking of how it could work. If anyone has any thoughts at all I'd greatly appreciate any comments.

Another thing, I'm doing an awesome afterschool program in the fall with children that would be great but I think I can only put my own children in the program for free, but maybe I could still get him in the program, it'd be great for socialization for a homeschooled child.

Maybe I could do all the tougher things and planning and somehow still have the majority done by her, but it's just very difficult to know what she might be able to do.

[Ceres]

I think your home is considered a private school when you homeschool other people's children or even one child. The laws for private schools as far as standards and certification therefore apply. That information might help you search for the information for your area anyway. If you happen to live in Ontario, let me know because I can point you in the right direction, but otherwise you will need the specific regulations for where you are.

[ladyalpha]

You may try doing a google search for homeschooling groups in your state/city also. They will know all the laws and such, as well as be able to give you ideas along the way. They will know how you are supposed to let the school system know that your homeschooling also, or if you even have to. Each state is different (I don't know anything about other countries but I'm sure they have different rules than the U.S.) so you definitly want to contact those that live in your area to find out everything first.
If you can't find any groups on line that can help you, you can check at the library and see if any homeschooling groups have left their information there. Also if you have a teacher supply store in your area you can check there, as a lot of homeschoolers go there for supplies too and often leave information there for other homeschoolers to contact them.

Good luck with your search for information. I think it is wonderful that you are willing to not only help your friend get better but also teach her child too. I hope she gets well soon.

[halfwaynowhere]

I know in California, all you have to do is get fingerprinted and register as a private school in order to homeschool other people's kids. My parents were going to do it a few years ago, they already got the private school status because my sister was being homeschooled in high school. One of her friends was sick and couldn't attend regular school, so my parents were going to take him on as a student, and just communicate mostly through the internet. It didn't happen, though, but its possible.

[alwaysfallingup]

Here in Illinois, I know that some people do what they call "Homeschool Cooperatives" where several children are taught be several parents...each parent instructing in the area they're most proficient in. That way parents are involved in their education, but can also rely on, for instance, someone strong in math to teach their kids to add or for a nurse to teach their children health. I'm not sure what the legal procedure for doing this is, or if they just sort of...do it, but my mom was invited to participate with my sisters through another parent. She ultimately declined because she likes doing the teaching and because they live in a rural area and the drive would have been difficult, but it seems to be okay here.

[Shanti]

here only the parent or legal guardian can do it unless your registered and licensed as a school.
Grandparents cant even home school their grandkids.