Homeschooling Regulations in Alaska
Most states command parents inform the local school district of intention to homeschool; attendance records are frequently required as well. (I have yet to have a day when my children were not present in our homeschool since they live here). In addition to attendance, a minimum of hours per day or year are often required. Some states call for detailed forms be filled out stating exactly what will be taught. Other states ask for summaries. Standardized testing is also a key item in most states homeschool laws.
Alaska, on the other hand can be very lenient depending on the circumstances. The leniency comes in the numerous choices a homeschooler has in creating a homeschool program for children, and in the states geography that makes attending a physical school regularly, difficult. Alaska homeschoolers can establish and operate a homeschool. This option requires no attendance records, does not designate subjects, teacher qualifications, intent to homeschool, record-keeping or testing. The burden of proving that a parent is, or is not teaching lies on the government. Alaska homeschoolers can opt to use a private tutor, with the only requirements being they school 180 days per year, and the education be equivalent that provided in public schools. The Tutor must have certification. The third option is to enroll in a state approved distance-learning curriculum. Some of these are:�¯�¿�½
Alyeska Central School
Chugach School District Homeschool Program
Connections Homeschool Program
Copper River Correspondence Study Program
Delta Cyber School
Denali PEAK
Interior Distance Education of Alaska
Iditarod Distance Learning Center
Juneau Cyber School/Home School
Family Partnership Charter School
Matanuska-Susitna School District’s seeUonline Program
PACE Ketchikan Learning Center
Raven Correspondence School
The fourth option for homeschoolers is to request the school board provide and equal but alternative experience. The final option is to qualify as a religious or private school. This option has the most requirements such as number of days per year, enrollment and attendance reporting, physical exams, and standardized testing. One would surmise that Alaska is strictest if you declare you are homeschooling for religious reasons. Most parents choose the first option or the distance learning option. Homeschoolers who want to avoid state control in Alaska should visit the akfreeschoolers yahoo group.
Remember, whether you are required to keep homeschool records or not, you should keep the records anyway as you may be required to show them should someone accuse you of educational neglect. Additionally, you will want to build a portfolio of your child’s work and accomplishments for should they want to attend college.
