What Are The Texas Credit Homeschool Options?

There is a growing interest in homeschooling as an educational option. More parents are now choosing to homeschool their children instead of sending them to public or private schools. There were about 3.7 homeschool students in grades K-12 in the United States and the homeschool population continues to grow at an estimate of 2% to 8% over the past several years.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Homeschool Requirements in Texas
• Homeschool Curriculum
• How to Switch from Public or Private School to Homeschool in Texas
• Options for Texas Homeschool
  • Calvert Education
  • Well-Trained Mind
  • Time4Learning
  • Texas Tech University
  • Oak Meadow
• Texas Homeschool Graduation Requirements
• Can I Enroll My Child in Public School After Homeschool in Texas?

In Texas, there are nearly 350,000 students that are being homeschooled according to the Texas Homeschool Coalition. There are a variety of reasons why families are choosing to homeschool their children including the following:

• More flexibility

• Health and safety

• Learning style

• More family time

• Dissatisfaction with the educational options available

Many parents are shifting to virtual learning or homeschooling for it is one of the best options for their children. Online advance prep-courses can also be taken by students to prepare for their future academics.

Homeschool Requirements in Texas

If you are a parent considering homeschooling your kids this fall, there are some things you need to know and consider as you get started. There are requirements that you need to meet in order to legally homeschool in Texas such as the following:

• The instruction must be bona fide (i.e. not a sham);

• The curriculum must be in visual form (e.g. books, workbooks, video monitor);

• The curriculum must include the basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.

Homeschools in Texas are legally classified as private schools and therefore are not regulated by the state.

Homeschool Curriculum

You're not legally required to register with your school district nor receive their permission to homeschool, but if your child is already enrolled in public school, you must withdraw them. The only requirement is that you need to use a written curriculum that covers the following topics:

• Reading

• Spelling

• Grammar

• Math

• Good Citizenship

To give you an idea, the Texas Education Agency's recommended high school program consists of 26 credits to graduate. In order to obtain those credits, you'll be needing a curriculum system to fulfill the educational requirement. 

There are different types of curriculum available, Traditional, Unit, Classical, Technological, DVD, and Secular. 

How to Switch from Public or Private School to Homeschool in Texas?

If your child has been enrolled in a public or private school prior to homeschooling, it’s a good idea to formally withdraw your child from their school to avoid any truancy inquiries. 

Withdrawing your child by mail is recommended. Send a certified mail and request a return receipt so you have proof of their receipt of the letter. Don’t forget to send a copy to the registrar in case the principal forgets to inform them, according to Texas Home Educators.

You can also formally withdraw your child from school in person where you can personally deliver your letter and sign their provided form. After submitting your withdrawal letters, pay any library fines, and settles any outstanding accounts and charges you may have with the school.

Options for Texas Homeschool

In this blog, we listed down the 5 Texas Credit Homeschool Options you may choose to help you find the right option for you and your child.

1. Calvert Education

Calvert has helped over 600,000 students in all 50 states and 90 countries around the world. They offer a proven and time-tested digital curriculum along with unparalleled homeschool support. 

Calvert Education provides parents with online lessons to teach their children and for kids to learn anywhere at their own pace, tools for assessing knowledge, tracking progress, and grading work. Calvert Academy Online Private Schools offers a selection of high school courses that are approved by the NCAA and can even be used for NCAA athletic eligibility.

2. Well-Trained Mind

This is a Classical type of curriculum. The Well-Trained Mind is a year-by-year, subject-by-subject guide to constructing the best education for your child. The guide will help you step-by-step on how you can give your child an academically rigorous, comprehensive education that will develop their abilities to read, think, and understand.

They offer open-and-go textbooks and workbooks for History, Grammar, Writing, Math, and more. Well-Trained Mind also has an online course provider, The Well Trained Mind Academy, which uses classical methods and live-instruction technology to connect teachers to your children.

3. Time4Learning

Time4Learning is one of the leading online curricula for homeschoolers in Texas. They cover all the core subjects that are required by the Texas homeschool law. Time4Learning offers standard-based Pre-K-12 learning in math, language arts, social studies, science, and more.

Each monthly subscription includes interactive lessons and printable worksheets for your children. To help build your child's skills, this award-winning Texas credit homeschool option offers an online after-school program.

4. Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University offers homeschool solutions for families looking for certain subjects or a full-time curriculum. TTU K-12 provides the necessary courses to meet the requirements of a Texas High School Diploma Graduation plan for a full-time curriculum as well as testing resources and supplemental courses for part-time students.

5. Oak Meadow

Oak Meadow's curriculum is aligned with meticulous academic standards that can be customized to meet your child's interests, skills, and learning styles. They are accredited by the New England Association for Schools and Colleges which is one of the most esteemed accrediting agencies in the United States. 

Oak Meadow offers a print-based curriculum that can be used independently by homeschoolers or through enrollment within their teacher-student distance learning.

Texas Homeschool Graduation Requirements

In order for students to graduate in Texas and receive a diploma, your student must have a minimum of 22 completed credits. Parents can determine and issue their own homeschool diploma upon fulfillment of their graduation requirements. Personal graduation can be held upon completion of the requirements.

If your child is under an Umbrella School Diploma, he or she will receive a diploma upon completing the requirements of the umbrella school.

Can I Enroll My Child in Public School After Homeschooling in Texas?

Homeschooled students can enter public school at any time. The Texas Education Agency says that students and parents should be aware that most districts have policies and procedures in place to assess the mastery level of courses that the homeschooled students have taken. Students transferring from homeschool to public school should be treated the same as students transferring from private schools according to the TEA policy.

If this is your first time homeschooling your child and can already feel that it might be a daunting task to do, you don't have to worry since there are plenty of interactive Texas credit homeschool options which you can easily access through any device as you keep your children engaged and educated at home.

If you are considering other school types, check out our blog about the Best Public School Districts in Austin! Considering buying or selling a home in the Austin area? Speak to a real estate consultant!

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a professional or homeschool organization.