[anilorak13ska]

Hello!

We are hoping to adopt, and we plan to homeschool our kids. We're about to get licensed to foster 0-4, with the hope that we'll be able to adopt a child placed with us.

My question is if we could homeschool a foster child? I'm thinking that if we get a 4 yo as a foster placement, and they're still with us at 5 when they're kindergarten-age, but we haven't been able to adopt them, would the child be required to attend kingergarten? Or could we homeschool?

I know that if we were to get a gradeschooler used to school, we'd need to keep 'em in school to maintain as much of what they're used to as possible. That's why our age range stops at 4. But this is based on adoption - if we adopt a 4 yo, we have some time to set up homeschooling before they'd be required to attend kingergarten. But if we're fostering a 4yo and they return to bio family after they've reached school age, I wonder if it would pose a problem to start school then if they had been homeschooled in their foster home. (That's why I'm thinking there may be a prohibition against homeschooling foster kids.)

Anyone with any information on this, please let me know!
Thanks!

[UTbrie]

I know in Ohio, you are not able to homeschool a foster child. They must attent public school. On the flip side, they don't allow foster children to attend private school, even if the foster parents pay for it! Crazy to me, but that is what I was told by the social workers in the private agency I am in the process of licensing with. (they are multi-county in my area)

[greenrobin]

I never heard that private school was not allowed, but I know that most places require you to send school aged kids to school. Home schooling is not generally allowed.

It's nothing personal, just one of the rules.

[arubagirl]

As far as I know home schooling is not allowed for foster children.

[DannieAS]

what my cw final words were during my classes

"you may NOT homeschool a foster child until he/she is adopted...you can do public or private school but no homeschooling"

There were a couple of posts where some people mentioned they homeschooled their foster children but I would ask for the rules from your worker.

[Sdirector]

We are hoping to homeschool our soon to be adopted daughter. Technicially, she is a foster child now (as of Monday), but we are moving everything forward rapidly. One of the workers told us she should have our "license" done in two months (she is a relative, so it speeds the process.)

There is a TPR on bmother, and one scheduled for bfather at the end of July. Our lawyer told us that we could ask for permission to homeschool her. We homeschool our other 3. We spoke to our worker, and she said that she would check. It just seems to us, where an adoption is certain, and could happen just a few weeks after school starts, that it would be best if it just be done. Plus, she would have to change schools from last year if she did attend public school. It just seems that it would be worse for her to attend a different school in a different town, for just a few (couple?) of weeks.

I will keep you informed.

[CaddoRose]

In Texas you can not homeschool foster children, but private school is ok. I home school my 12 yr bio daughter, but would not homeschool foster kids.

[anilorak13ska]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I wonder if anyone has been in a situation where a child attended school (as a foster child or not) and once the adoption was final switched to homeschooling? Was this tricky for the child?

Also, I wonder would the adoption need to be finalized to start homeschooling? Or would it be OK to begin once TPR is done and you're going through the post-placement visits?

Thanks again!

[thelowlanders]

Just my opinion, but I would not homeschool until adoption is final. Just go along w/ whatever the state would prefer w/education. Don't cause any waves

[CaddoRose]

Originally Posted by anilorak13ska

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I wonder if anyone has been in a situation where a child attended school (as a foster child or not) and once the adoption was final switched to homeschooling? Was this tricky for the child?

Also, I wonder would the adoption need to be finalized to start homeschooling? Or would it be OK to begin once TPR is done and you're going through the post-placement visits?

Thanks again!

Even though the parents may be TPR'd, as long as the state retains legal custody of the child, then the same rules will apply until you sign the adoption papers. At that time the child is legally yours and you can home school. It all depends on who has legal custody of the child or if the state agreed you could then homeschool. We took permanent managing conservatorship(legal custody) of our 2 yr old daughter from the state and we could homeschool her if we wanted now. Her adoption is not complete yet.

[GoddessDanu]

I'll just add that in my state we're not allowed to home school a foster child. I had always thought that when we adopt I'd like to home school my children but then I'd be losing out on the free services the local elementary school offers, like speech therapy, etc. You really should decide to home school based on the child you adopt. Good luck!

[DannieAS]

Even if parental rights are terminated....the children are not legally yours yet, so if you live in a state that does not allow homeschooling for foster children....it's AFTER you finalize.

[Sdirector]

GoddessDanu:

You do not lose out on special education services from the local governement school. Those services are available to homeschooling parents as well. You have paid for them with your local property taxes.

Every year when we register as a homeschool family, we get a letter from the superintendant of schools, saying to let him know if we need any educational special services.

[GoddessDanu]

I didn't know that, Sdirector. Is it possible that it varies by state or even by county?

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by Sdirector

GoddessDanu:

You do not lose out on special education services from the local governement school. Those services are available to homeschooling parents as well. You have paid for them with your local property taxes.

Every year when we register as a homeschool family, we get a letter from the superintendant of schools, saying to let him know if we need any educational special services.

I work for a school district....if a family is homeschooling a child through a homeschooling association that gets curriculum from the district, then yes you can get those services. If you are homeschooling and using private homeschooling materials you are entitled to get your child assessed and offered FAPE (free appropriate public education) if needed. Should you exercise your right to decline services at a public elementary school then a service plan is offered, however, those services are miniscule to what would be received if attending the local school or a public school through inter/intra district transfer.