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 Homeschooling in Vermont
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houligan19
Farmgirl in Training

39 Posts

sarah
groton CT
39 Posts

Posted - Jun 26 2012 :  6:41:54 PM  Show Profile
I am looking to move to Vermont in the next few years. I have a 1 year old and another on the way and would like to be able to homeschool them. I have heard that it is very difficult to do so in Vermont. Anyone have any experience in this area?

http://earthhomevt.blogspot.com/

SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl

1948 Posts

Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts

Posted - Jun 27 2012 :  04:28:54 AM  Show Profile
?? We homeschool in VT, why have you heard it's difficult? I don't think so. . .I have a 3rd, 5th, and 7th grader . . I think VT has SOOOOOO many opportunities for homeschoolers. What kinds of things have you heard are difficult regarding hs in VT? just curious :)

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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl

1168 Posts

Amy
Seabrook TX
USA
1168 Posts

Posted - Jun 27 2012 :  08:16:44 AM  Show Profile  Send MrsRooster a Yahoo! Message
You can look here:

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=VT

I hope this helps.

Amy

www.mrsrooster.blogspot.com

www.flossesandcrosses.blogspot.com

www.morganicinstitute.blogspot.com

Farmgirl #1259
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl

2817 Posts

Heather
Haysville Kansas
USA
2817 Posts

Posted - Jun 27 2012 :  09:44:04 AM  Show Profile
Also you don't know how things will change in a few years, I too started doing research as soon as I found out I was pg with DD1, who will be 6 in sept! lol And things in the home schooling has changed so much in that time. now it's almost normal! And in the state I moved to, the real expensive cirr...I wanted and was trying to figure out how we would pay for...well just last year this state decided to start funding it and it only cost 75 dollars a year for parents to enroll their children in now! Cause the state pays the rest! (it would of been thousands!).

Also do a google, and ask around you may find some home schooling co-ops you will learn a lot, and you can join them as soon as you want and start going on their outings and such cause then you can find out a lot that way. I would start with like seeing your local breastfeeding La Leche League, a lot of those mom's home school and know about the co-ops and such too...it really helps to network like that.



http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com
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houligan19
Farmgirl in Training

39 Posts

sarah
groton CT
39 Posts

Posted - Jun 27 2012 :  6:03:21 PM  Show Profile
Sheila-
I am glad to hear that you don't have much difficulty. My husband recently found thid website http://voices.yahoo.com/which-states-best-homeschooling-laws-1395073.html where it says that Vermont is one of the toughest states to homeschool in. My mothers friend is where the original statement had come from. I guess that the issue is that there are a lot of laws about the training that you have to partake in, what the curriculum has to be, that you have to be supervised and prove you are an acceptable teacher, etc. It sounded like we would almost be better off with public school, which we don't want to do .

Amy and Heather-
Thank you for the information, I appreciate the encouragement!

http://earthhomevt.blogspot.com/
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl

1948 Posts

Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts

Posted - Jun 27 2012 :  6:25:17 PM  Show Profile
My mothers friend is where the original statement had come from. I guess that the issue is that there are a lot of laws about the training that you have to partake in, what the curriculum has to be, that you have to be supervised and prove you are an acceptable teacher, etc. It sounded like we would almost be better off with public school, which we don't want to do .


Ummmmm. . . Sarah? Check it out for yourself. These statements are not true at all. Here's a link to the homeschool guidelines for VT from the Dept of Ed. http://www.education.vermont.gov/new/pdfdoc/pgm_homestudy/educ_home_study_guidelines_11.pdf Check out pages 9-13 and 20-26 for paperwork requirements. You don't need training etc!!! A brief rundown: at the beginning of the schoolyear you have to file a curriculum plan for your student (for the first 2 years and thereafter I think it's when they're 12 and another age, I forget) and they "approve" your course of study (you are basically just telling them what you're goals are for the year--DO NOT need a specific curriculum or any really) and then at the end of the year you can either do a parent report/portfolio telling them what you accomplished that year and showing some samples of their work, OR you can do standardized testing and supplement that with a parent report, OR you can have a certified teacher talk to your kids and look over some of what you did that year and write a report for the state.

Any other ?'s feel free to email me--we've only been hs here in VT for 2 years, but I think you're hearing some incorrect info!

There are TONS of opportunities for homeschoolers here in VT -- some examples-- our library has literature groups for homeschool kids, my kids just finished a "Starbase" program at the Air Force Base for homeschoolers, the State Historical Museum has a monthly class for homeschoolers, etc etc.

:)

http://troutwife.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/brooktroutwife
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl

2817 Posts

Heather
Haysville Kansas
USA
2817 Posts

Posted - Jun 27 2012 :  7:36:23 PM  Show Profile
You may want to see if the state has a state based cirr you can do, it's public home school. You have to follow their cirr, and check in with their teachers daily (through email generally), but it is at home. Most have it at the very least for children who have such special needs (say a wheel chair at only a angle-when I was in a body cast that was my physical special need that couldn't be accomidated at school) that they can't attend school, so most have that set up already, just usually not used for generally healthy children, but wouldn't be hard to have a healthy child do the same thing.



http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl

2817 Posts

Heather
Haysville Kansas
USA
2817 Posts

Posted - Jun 27 2012 :  7:41:10 PM  Show Profile
oh and NYC has a lot of laws on it too, if I was to stay in NYC we were going to try to do Calvert and pay for the teacher assistance, they keep all the records do all the grading, etc. This way we could circumvent the rules about me being the grader, record keeper, passing what ever tests, etc etc. But, like I said now Kansas actually pays for all but 75 dollars for Calvert! I am hoping more and more states decide to do this, right now it's still in it's early days of having the public school system work with them, but when you call Calvert they are great about answering lots of questions and such and I felt real good about using them for my children. The main problem was going to be money, till like I said Kansas decided to pay for them! I have heard Peartree (I think, maybe pearblossom?) is also good and has the teacher aid thing too and is cheaper then calvert. So may want to look into them too. But, I would try to locate the local co-op first, those parents will be in the know.



http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl

2197 Posts

Ann
Oswego IL
USA
2197 Posts

Posted - Aug 08 2012 :  11:31:19 AM  Show Profile
I don't live in Vermont, but I can tell you that a story I read in a magazine about a homeschooling family in Vermont inspired me to homeschool my kiddos. They are teenagers now, and I'm so glad that I read that story.

The suggestion above about HSLDA is a great one - I wouldn't homeschool without them, even though we live in a very "tolerant" state compared to most. Illinois has the most flexible laws of all with one exception - Idaho. With HSLDA, I know what laws I have to follow, and if anyone raises a fuss, I have the legal protection to back me up.

Best of luck on your homeschooling adventure!

Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!

Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)

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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl

2027 Posts

Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts

Posted - Aug 08 2012 :  12:18:59 PM  Show Profile
Well, you will have to check it out for yourself, but I know a few people who used to live in VT and homeschooled and said it was GREAT there. In fact, one of them started homeschooling in VT and then moved here to MN and said all the MN homeschoolers were weird and not as friendly. :) She said in VT if someone is a homeschooler, they all band together and are super friendly and share resources. She said in MN, that isn't the (immediate) case. I didn't know what she was talking about (seeing as how I've always lived here and didn't know any different) but then two other people from VT said the same thing! So hey...apparently the VT homeschoolers are a very friendly bunch!!

--* FarmMilkMama *--

Farmgirl Sister #1086

Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde

www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com

www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com

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houligan19
Farmgirl in Training

39 Posts

sarah
groton CT
39 Posts

Posted - Aug 09 2012 :  07:04:45 AM  Show Profile
Thanks everyone so much for the help. I'm really excited to hear that it is going to be not only a possibility, but something that should work out great for me and my children. I very much look forward to this experience with all your reassurance!


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