How to Homeschool in Louisiana

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In Louisiana, the process to begin homeschooling your child is fairly straightforward. This article can help you understand how to get started. In this article you will find the following:

An overview of Louisiana homeschool laws
An introduction to homeschool groups in Louisiana
A description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started

* This page does not contain legal advice and is not an endorsement of any homeschool groups listed. (see disclaimer)

Louisiana Homeschool Laws

The state offers two registration options for homeschooling families: home study program or home-based private school. The options differ in the type/amount of information you must submit each year to the Louisiana Department of Education.

Home Study Option
Under this option, you must submit an Approved Home Study form and copy of your child's birth certificate to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. After your application is approved by the board, you can begin homeschooling your child. Each year you must submit a renewal application by October 1. The renewal must contain standardized test results, details about subjects taught and curriculum used, samples of student work, score on the State Basic Skills test, and a teacher's written statement attesting to your child's progress. Under this option, you are demonstrating to the state that your homeschool program is equivalent to or exceeds what your child would receive in public school. Home study students may take part in athletics and other activities at some local public schools (availability varies) and are eligible to take part in TOPS, a state scholarship program.

Home-Based Private School Option
Under this option, you provide the state with basic information about your school to begin homeschooling, and each year you report school attendance data. You do not have to provide curriculum details, test results, or any other details about your child's education. Under this option, students may not take part in public school athletics or other activities and may not participate in the TOPS program.

For more information regarding what is included in the Home Study Application as well as how to submit the application please click on the link below.

Home Study Application

Homeschool Groups in Louisiana

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in Louisiana to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

Baton Rouge Homeschool Athletic Association

http://www.theacel.com/athletics.html

Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this homeschool group focuses on providing homeschool children with opportunities to get involved in sports with other homeschool children. Some of the sports offered include, football, cheerleading, baseball, softball, and basketball. The group is compromised of the Association of Christian Educators of Louisiana (ACEL), but they welcome anyone who wants to come join in the fun. This is the perfect place to make friends and get to know other homeschool children, while staying active and having fun.

NOLA Homeschoolers

http://www.nolahomeschoolers.com/

NOLA is a homeschool group in the New Orleans area dedicated to helping homeschooling families. Their website provides a space for parent to communicate and ask/answer questions about homeschooling. NOLA also organized events for homeschool families, such as weekly field trips, clubs, chess tournaments, and more. Anyone is welcome to join in the fun and educational opportunities that this group provides.

Christian Family Educators (CFE)

http://www.cfeonline.org/

Serving northwestern Louisiana, CFE organizes field trips, spelling bees, graduation ceremonies, and more for homeschooling children. They also offer support and events for the parents of homeschooling children because they understand how difficult it can be to homeschool a child.

Shreveport Area Secular Homeschooling (SASH)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShreveportAreaSecularHomeschooling/

Shreveport Area Secular Homeschooling (SASH) is a support group whose mission is to host safe, welcoming, inclusive space for local homeschoolers seeking fully secular social and educational support.

If you would like to recommend a new link or let us know about a problem with an existing link, please contact us

NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for Louisiana

Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Louisiana. All of the Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The Louisiana legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

Hands-on activities,
Differentiated options, and
Independent projects.

Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Beyond the Page for your child.

Choose an age level to continue:

Age 4-5

Age 5-7

Age 6-8

Age 7-9

Age 8-10

Age 9-11

Age 10-12

Age 11-13

Age 12-14

Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.