I have been thinking about homeschooling my children for quite awhile now. My oldest has Aspergers and we have always considered homeschooling to be our "plan B" if things didn't work out in the schools. To prepare for this eventuality I have been researching homeschooling and thinking about it a lot. Through my research I have actually come to love the idea of it for all of my children not just my oldest. The dilemma is that right now my children are doing well in school and there doesn't seem to be a "need" to move to homeschooling. From a purely practical standpoint homeschooling would totally change our future financial picture. We were prepared to live on my husband's salary until my youngest started school but once he did we planned on me returning to work and for my income to go to the children's college funds as well as add to our retirement. Obviously we could make some changes to our budgeting to accomodate but I was wondering if I couldn't achieve both goals of earning an income and homeschooling. My thought was to start the equivalent to a "homeschooling school" and offer to homeschool other people's children in my home. Has anyone ever seen something like this done in the homeschooling community? I know that a driving force for many homeschoolers is the idea of being the one to teach their own children but I have to believe that there are some parents out there that want their children out of the public schools for one reason or another but don't have the time or confidence to homeschool themselves.
I am a certified teacher and I live in an area that is diverse but certainly has a large "well to-do" population that would be able to support such a business if it existed. Also I'm in Texas so homeschooling regulations are fairly laid back.
I guess my question is siimply is this something that is done?
Thank you all for your help, I appreciate everyone's comments. When/If I start homeschooling I will be just schooling my own children for a few years before I would consider taking on responsibility for others. My youngest is only 2 and I would definitely wait until he was at least Kindergarten age before including others. I also was planning to keep it very small to maintain the goal of a lot of personal instruction, I was thinking 1 maybe 2 other families at the most.
I do currently tutor and I loved the idea that one of you sent me regarding forming an afterschool science group or something of the sort to make some extra money. This one I might look into right away even while my kids are in the public schools. Thanks again for all of your thoughts. It's so nice to have people to bounce ideas and concerns off of and to have people take time out of their days to help me is such a wonderful thing.
Check with your state for the laws in TX. I am in NC and can homeschool my own and one other family's children or child. If I have more than two families then it is considered a private school and I have to meet other regulations.
I'm inclined to agree with the pp -- by charging for your services you might need to have some certification (much like home daycares) and that is the first thing I'd look into with your state education agency. I have heard of homeschool collectives, where different parents teach different subjects or ages, but I don't think that money is exchanged. Now, I would assume that tutoring and charging for your services would be perfectly legal, so, again, I think you have to figure out where that line is. You should also consider the feasibility of this business plan, how much you'd need to charge, how many students you'd have to make it meet your financial needs. You might find that people would be more or less interested based on that. Also, you'd have to decide how specialized you can make the curriculum. My son has special needs as well and homeschooling is like my "Plan D"; I know many others are in the same boat due to needing the customized plan. If you're going to group those kids back into a classroom, would you be able to meet that aspect of the reason people are drawn to homeschool in the first place?
i think you should first homeschool your own kids for a few years and see if you think you have the time/energy/desire to devote to teaching other people's children in addition to your own. i do know where you're at though. my oldest is 7 years old and currently in first grade in public school. we have been thinking on it for a long time, and have decided to move forward and withdraw him from public school and the end of first grade and begin homeschooling. he is on the autism spectrum on the VERY high functioning end. my other kids are 4 and 1, they are going to go to a mother's day out two days a week so i can really focus on getting myself comfortable with the demands of homeschooling my son. personally, i wouldn't want the demands/liability/responsibility of homeschooling other people's children. part of what i'm looking forward to is not being "tied down" by my son's schoolday, we can pick up and travel, or take little field trips locally. but, my situation is different from yours financially, we never planned on me working again until all of our kids were out of the home, and probably not even then(i am an accountant). maybe you could form a "co-op" and teach one or two subjects two days a week to give the homeschooling moms a break? that would give you some income, but not completely tie you down. good luck!
Homeschooling laws vary from state to state. In Delaware, where I live, multi-family homeschools like that are allowed, you simply register as that, and do it. There are certainly people here who do it very successfully. I don't know how Texas laws are though.
I have researched this in the past and considered it as well. Here is a piece of information that you should know:
"May someone else homeschool my child?
Yes. Home schools in Texas have been determined by the Texas Supreme Court to be private schools. Private schools are not regulated by the state of Texas. There are no requirements such as teacher certification or curriculum approval. The ruling of the Leeper case states that a parent "or one standing in parental authority" may educate a child. However, if a person is teaching more than three students outside her family, the teacher may encounter problems with local zoning ordinances, and the state will require that the teacher be licensed for child care."
Of course, being licensed for child care means other things as well, such as having insurance and cpr training.
This information is found on the Texas Home School Coalition web site (www.thsc.og) which is a valuable resource for anyone who home schools or is interested in doing so. If you seriously want to consider home school for children, even your own, you should familiarize yourself with the information on this site.
Hi,
I'm not sure, but I believe that if you teach other children beside your own (and charge for it), then you are technically not homeschooling, you would be a "private school".
I'm sure there is a fine line. I would definitely investigate more as I'm sure you would have to look into the liability aspect of having other children in your home (on a daily basis), as well. When you run a "business" out of your home, you have to deal with insurance, signing up as a business, etc...
I would love to hear what you find out.
R.
PS Even if you "tutor" out of your home, you still need to get liability insurance. I am a private flute lesson teacher and choose NOT to tutor out of my home due to the cost and responsibility of having other peoples children in my home on a regular basis.
I think this is great!!!! I have been praying for a loving Mom who would be willing to help me home school my children. I wouldn't have the time to adequately provide the quality education my children deserve. My boys are almost 11, and 12. I know you posted this 2 years ago. However, I am believing it is still on your heart. Please let me hear something back from you.
God Bless You!
