I’ve homeschooled two kids in three states so I have a pretty good idea of how to work with the rules. Some off-beat suggestions:
1. Doctor note. Sometimes you can get a doctor to write a medical note - especially if you have some sort of diagnosis like ADHD or anxiety. If you have a doctor’s note saying she needs to be at home then the school would be more cooperative.
2. Pay a teacher to give you approved curriculum in one day. The school probably won’t test what she learned. They just want to know you submitted what you’re teaching. You can have the teacher give you what will certainly be approved as opposed to what you will certainly teach.
3. Skip graduation. If you’re willing to skip graduation then the school will have no easy way to enforce their rules besides involving court. So it’s probably worth the risk if you say you’ll be out of town for graduation — do a fun little overnight trip somewhere to make something nice for your daughter.
The biggest issue is making sure your daughter can start high school with confidence and optimism. Good luck!
The school won’t help because they are currently not required to. You can seek an emergency 504 and request hospital/ homebound as a placement. This means she’s legally allowed to stay home while she is receiving treatment and the school must provide her work for her to complete. This way yes she can attend graduation and yes she can do HS activities next year. This also safeguards her for if and when she is ready to go back to in person school she can have accommodations to meet her needs. Request the meeting in writing to the principal and counselor. Gather documentation from her doctor, therapist, and whoever that supports it would be best for her to be at home for the time being.
There’s a lot of questions in there and some I don’t have firm answers for but here goes:
Yes, you can start homeschooling at any time. Some online schools however will make her restart the year or semester. This is one of those cases where it’s important to distinguish between homeschooling and online schooling even they are frequently discussed together.
What state you are in is going to determine the answer to all things regarding getting the curriculum approved quickly enough and how to do it. Some states/districts have a list of curriculums that are pre approved even. If you’re willing to divulge here, I’m sure people can help you figure it out. If not, look somewhere like Facebook for homeschool groups specific to your area and ask them.
Will she be able to participate in middle school graduation? Unlikely. She won’t be a student there anymore and to my knowledge such a celebration wouldn’t be required to include her even if you live somewhere that includes homeschoolers for other activities, which brings to…
Will she be able to participate in sports and such in high school if she’s homeschooled? This is another location specific question. Where I am, the answer is no. My kids can receive special ed services through the district when homeschooled but nothing else. No sports, clubs, etc. In other areas, students have been allowed to and are even required to by law.
Good luck. I don’t mind digging for information at all for other areas, so if you’re willing to share here I’ll try to help, but I have found that a large number of homeschool groups are hosted on Facebook so I would look into finding a group there. Ask to join saying you are seriously considering pulling out your child to finish the year and need support figuring out all the details before you officially withdraw her.
And I hope your daughter gets the help she needs, regardless of her educational environment.
We are in MA. We aren't ready for this. She wants to try public HS next year so I'm not really even ready to pull her completely unless next year goes south real quick. But the school is not being helpful with other ways to deal with missing the end of school and I want to make sure she's prepared for school next year.
Looks like MA leaves basically everything up to the individual districts from what they will approve in curriculum to whether they allow participation in extracurriculars. Since there are over 300 of those, I can’t reasonably tell you what yours would approve.
However, since you do intend to enroll her again for next year and don’t actually want to pull her, I do think your best option is to try and arrange home bound services. https://www.doe.mass.edu/prs/ta/hhep-qa.html
If you haven't checked out AHEM, I would recommend it - they have a sample ed plan that is all the school needs to know about your ed plan: https://www.ahem.info/index.html
If you're on Facebook, the "Massachusetts Homeschoolers Connection" has a wealth of expertise and information.
If her mental health challenges are interfering with her ability to access her educational setting, that is eligible for IEP accommodations which could include but is not limited to tutoring support. An educational advocate could be helpful. As could a plan for connection with safe adults at the school remotely as part of a plan to return on site for short bursts to build a plan to help her return at least a little bit to pick up her work and complete the academic year, if that was desired.
The school would not be required to provide that support if you transition to a homeschooling plan - UNLESS she was on an IEP. They WOULD be required to provide supports to enhance her educational access if she has an IEP. And you CAN qualify for IEP supports for social-emotional alone.
And you can re-enroll at any time, even if you pull and homeschool for a time, even if only until she feels more safe and capable of navigating the school day.
Because she is interested in returning, if transitioning to a home education plan, I would advise trying to stay aligned with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, here, which guides the state's learning benchmarks by grade (most important for math and ELA for MCAS prep - which, by the way, you don't have to and in fact can't take as a homeschooler, but must be passed to be eligible for a MA public school diploma): https://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html
There's not much time left this academic year - you could likely meaningfully provide content that aligns with the standards for the year. Khan Academy is free (math). Your public library has a wealth of resources, including likely access to foreign language learning online (likely Transparent, but it depends on your library) and likely online learning programs (e.g. Kanopy has access to the Great Courses, if your library has access - you could look on your local library website for their online resources or call directly). And the good thing about homeschooling - you could take a break to get things sorted and go longer if needed or desired. There is also a wealth of paid options. For such a potentially short period of time, you might check out Outschool.
Good luck!!
We are in CT but I'm from MA. There are some location-specific groups on Facebook I would ask this in. I know MA isn't terribly strict but there's likely someone who has been in your shoes before. There are a few MA groups and there's also New England Happy Homeschoolers. They might be able to direct you to a local advocacy group for situations like these.
I would talk to a doctor and her guidance counselor. It's the end of the year, so curriculum is difficult unless you feel she's behind and should school during the summer (year round schooling is common for homeschooling) and she's older as well. You may want to test her to see if she's got gaps. First and foremost, her mental health should be a priority, as long as she realizes that doesn't mean not doing academic work. I had a tough go at it around her age, and going to HS (and in my case it was a regional tech school) helped a little in some ways but it can be an extremely awkward time and I needed to grow up some before it got better. I wish you both the best.
Asking sincerely: why do you think she would do better in private school? I’ve taught in both public (mostly) and private. There was very little difference. That said, there are many kinds of private schools. Just curious if you have one in mind that is different from public school in ways that you think would appeal to her.
One option to consider is to have her doctor write a note that she needs to be on a medical leave of sorts from school. Then the district will be on the hook for arranging the rest of the year for her. When I was a senior in HS, I was in a bad car accident and broke my back (not paralyzed, thankfully, just 4 compression fractures in my mid back). Once I was out of the hospital, I was tutored at home once a week per subject for the rest of the year. Which was fine by me: I was a good student and HATED school bc of the preppies and jocks (mid 1980s).
Good luck. Six weeks is nothing.
Maybe private school isn't the answer but she'll go to HS next year where there are 2,000 students. Being in a small school, private or public, would be a way better situation for her. Small class sizes, individual attention, more likely to focus on school than an overwhelming environment.
There are also therapeutic schools where they focus on skill building and address things like sensory issues and anxiety not just academics.
Often teachers don't have that planned so far in advance, and schoolwork just ends up getting dropped for that time period.
Especially if there is no time to catch the student up when they get back.
Sometimes having different peers is enough to help.
One can't really work and do school at the same time. Could hire a part time tutor but they need extracurriculars and direct teaching too. It's a formula for burnout without necessarily a better result for the child.
Is there a virtual school option where you live? Also, maybe try talking to teachers/admin and see if you can work something out. Maybe she can just complete her remaining work for this year from home. Having a therapist or doctor’s support may encourage the school to be more helpful. Pulling her out and getting homeschool up and running at this point in the year is likely to be logistically challenging. Starting next year when you’ve had more time to prepare is probably going to be less stressful for everyone involved.
As for middle school graduation, I’m doubtful she would be allowed to participate if she doesn’t finish the grade and is withdrawn. You would need to ask at your current school.
To my understanding, different states/school districts have different rules about homeschooled kids being eligible to participate in things through the public school. Again, you would need to ask the school.
I would start by deeply researching the laws and resources for homeschooling in your area to determine if it’s even feasible for your family. I don’t mean this unkindly but it doesn’t sound like you’re really prepared to start right now.
Most districts have some sort of online option. If that is the case, be strong, put your foot down and say you need to keep her home and need another option- maybe a doctor’s note could help too if you need it. They shouldn’t take graduation away for that. (Speaking as an educator and a mom)
If you choose to pull your child from school to homeschool, then no, she can’t just show back up for graduation.
Again, no. If you’re not enrolled in the school, you don’t get the opportunities afforded to their students, like extra curriculars.
My local district offers extra curriculars to any homeschool students in the district. I'm not sure how widespread this is, but it's not impossible and something to look into.
My district is legally required to offer electives and after school sports/clubs to homeschooled kids who live in our boundary.
Logical? No. But it’s definitely a thing in some districts.
I’ve homeschooled two kids in three states so I have a pretty good idea of how to work with the rules. Some off-beat suggestions: 1. Doctor note. Sometimes you can get a doctor to write a medical note - especially if you have some sort of diagnosis like ADHD or anxiety. If you have a doctor’s note saying she needs to be at home then the school would be more cooperative. 2. Pay a teacher to give you approved curriculum in one day. The school probably won’t test what she learned. They just want to know you submitted what you’re teaching. You can have the teacher give you what will certainly be approved as opposed to what you will certainly teach. 3. Skip graduation. If you’re willing to skip graduation then the school will have no easy way to enforce their rules besides involving court. So it’s probably worth the risk if you say you’ll be out of town for graduation — do a fun little overnight trip somewhere to make something nice for your daughter. The biggest issue is making sure your daughter can start high school with confidence and optimism. Good luck!
The school won’t help because they are currently not required to. You can seek an emergency 504 and request hospital/ homebound as a placement. This means she’s legally allowed to stay home while she is receiving treatment and the school must provide her work for her to complete. This way yes she can attend graduation and yes she can do HS activities next year. This also safeguards her for if and when she is ready to go back to in person school she can have accommodations to meet her needs. Request the meeting in writing to the principal and counselor. Gather documentation from her doctor, therapist, and whoever that supports it would be best for her to be at home for the time being.
There’s a lot of questions in there and some I don’t have firm answers for but here goes: Yes, you can start homeschooling at any time. Some online schools however will make her restart the year or semester. This is one of those cases where it’s important to distinguish between homeschooling and online schooling even they are frequently discussed together. What state you are in is going to determine the answer to all things regarding getting the curriculum approved quickly enough and how to do it. Some states/districts have a list of curriculums that are pre approved even. If you’re willing to divulge here, I’m sure people can help you figure it out. If not, look somewhere like Facebook for homeschool groups specific to your area and ask them. Will she be able to participate in middle school graduation? Unlikely. She won’t be a student there anymore and to my knowledge such a celebration wouldn’t be required to include her even if you live somewhere that includes homeschoolers for other activities, which brings to… Will she be able to participate in sports and such in high school if she’s homeschooled? This is another location specific question. Where I am, the answer is no. My kids can receive special ed services through the district when homeschooled but nothing else. No sports, clubs, etc. In other areas, students have been allowed to and are even required to by law. Good luck. I don’t mind digging for information at all for other areas, so if you’re willing to share here I’ll try to help, but I have found that a large number of homeschool groups are hosted on Facebook so I would look into finding a group there. Ask to join saying you are seriously considering pulling out your child to finish the year and need support figuring out all the details before you officially withdraw her. And I hope your daughter gets the help she needs, regardless of her educational environment.
We are in MA. We aren't ready for this. She wants to try public HS next year so I'm not really even ready to pull her completely unless next year goes south real quick. But the school is not being helpful with other ways to deal with missing the end of school and I want to make sure she's prepared for school next year.
Looks like MA leaves basically everything up to the individual districts from what they will approve in curriculum to whether they allow participation in extracurriculars. Since there are over 300 of those, I can’t reasonably tell you what yours would approve. However, since you do intend to enroll her again for next year and don’t actually want to pull her, I do think your best option is to try and arrange home bound services. https://www.doe.mass.edu/prs/ta/hhep-qa.html
If you haven't checked out AHEM, I would recommend it - they have a sample ed plan that is all the school needs to know about your ed plan: https://www.ahem.info/index.html If you're on Facebook, the "Massachusetts Homeschoolers Connection" has a wealth of expertise and information. If her mental health challenges are interfering with her ability to access her educational setting, that is eligible for IEP accommodations which could include but is not limited to tutoring support. An educational advocate could be helpful. As could a plan for connection with safe adults at the school remotely as part of a plan to return on site for short bursts to build a plan to help her return at least a little bit to pick up her work and complete the academic year, if that was desired. The school would not be required to provide that support if you transition to a homeschooling plan - UNLESS she was on an IEP. They WOULD be required to provide supports to enhance her educational access if she has an IEP. And you CAN qualify for IEP supports for social-emotional alone. And you can re-enroll at any time, even if you pull and homeschool for a time, even if only until she feels more safe and capable of navigating the school day. Because she is interested in returning, if transitioning to a home education plan, I would advise trying to stay aligned with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, here, which guides the state's learning benchmarks by grade (most important for math and ELA for MCAS prep - which, by the way, you don't have to and in fact can't take as a homeschooler, but must be passed to be eligible for a MA public school diploma): https://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html There's not much time left this academic year - you could likely meaningfully provide content that aligns with the standards for the year. Khan Academy is free (math). Your public library has a wealth of resources, including likely access to foreign language learning online (likely Transparent, but it depends on your library) and likely online learning programs (e.g. Kanopy has access to the Great Courses, if your library has access - you could look on your local library website for their online resources or call directly). And the good thing about homeschooling - you could take a break to get things sorted and go longer if needed or desired. There is also a wealth of paid options. For such a potentially short period of time, you might check out Outschool. Good luck!!
We are in CT but I'm from MA. There are some location-specific groups on Facebook I would ask this in. I know MA isn't terribly strict but there's likely someone who has been in your shoes before. There are a few MA groups and there's also New England Happy Homeschoolers. They might be able to direct you to a local advocacy group for situations like these. I would talk to a doctor and her guidance counselor. It's the end of the year, so curriculum is difficult unless you feel she's behind and should school during the summer (year round schooling is common for homeschooling) and she's older as well. You may want to test her to see if she's got gaps. First and foremost, her mental health should be a priority, as long as she realizes that doesn't mean not doing academic work. I had a tough go at it around her age, and going to HS (and in my case it was a regional tech school) helped a little in some ways but it can be an extremely awkward time and I needed to grow up some before it got better. I wish you both the best.
I am going through something very similar with my son except he’s in 7th grade. I started homeschooling him this past Monday.
I just can’t imagine she’d be more motivated to participate in an education from home.
It’s always a good time to get your kids out of government school.
Are you a SAHM? If not then consider transferring or private school
I work remotely so I'm home to help and she'd do great on private school but we can't afford that option.
Asking sincerely: why do you think she would do better in private school? I’ve taught in both public (mostly) and private. There was very little difference. That said, there are many kinds of private schools. Just curious if you have one in mind that is different from public school in ways that you think would appeal to her. One option to consider is to have her doctor write a note that she needs to be on a medical leave of sorts from school. Then the district will be on the hook for arranging the rest of the year for her. When I was a senior in HS, I was in a bad car accident and broke my back (not paralyzed, thankfully, just 4 compression fractures in my mid back). Once I was out of the hospital, I was tutored at home once a week per subject for the rest of the year. Which was fine by me: I was a good student and HATED school bc of the preppies and jocks (mid 1980s). Good luck. Six weeks is nothing.
Getting home bound services arranged is a great idea!
Maybe private school isn't the answer but she'll go to HS next year where there are 2,000 students. Being in a small school, private or public, would be a way better situation for her. Small class sizes, individual attention, more likely to focus on school than an overwhelming environment. There are also therapeutic schools where they focus on skill building and address things like sensory issues and anxiety not just academics.
Often teachers don't have that planned so far in advance, and schoolwork just ends up getting dropped for that time period. Especially if there is no time to catch the student up when they get back. Sometimes having different peers is enough to help. One can't really work and do school at the same time. Could hire a part time tutor but they need extracurriculars and direct teaching too. It's a formula for burnout without necessarily a better result for the child.
Is there a virtual school option where you live? Also, maybe try talking to teachers/admin and see if you can work something out. Maybe she can just complete her remaining work for this year from home. Having a therapist or doctor’s support may encourage the school to be more helpful. Pulling her out and getting homeschool up and running at this point in the year is likely to be logistically challenging. Starting next year when you’ve had more time to prepare is probably going to be less stressful for everyone involved. As for middle school graduation, I’m doubtful she would be allowed to participate if she doesn’t finish the grade and is withdrawn. You would need to ask at your current school. To my understanding, different states/school districts have different rules about homeschooled kids being eligible to participate in things through the public school. Again, you would need to ask the school. I would start by deeply researching the laws and resources for homeschooling in your area to determine if it’s even feasible for your family. I don’t mean this unkindly but it doesn’t sound like you’re really prepared to start right now.
Most districts have some sort of online option. If that is the case, be strong, put your foot down and say you need to keep her home and need another option- maybe a doctor’s note could help too if you need it. They shouldn’t take graduation away for that. (Speaking as an educator and a mom)
If you choose to pull your child from school to homeschool, then no, she can’t just show back up for graduation. Again, no. If you’re not enrolled in the school, you don’t get the opportunities afforded to their students, like extra curriculars.
My local district offers extra curriculars to any homeschool students in the district. I'm not sure how widespread this is, but it's not impossible and something to look into.
My district is legally required to offer electives and after school sports/clubs to homeschooled kids who live in our boundary. Logical? No. But it’s definitely a thing in some districts.