7 x Sunday

February 08, 2012, 04:12:14 PM
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

Login with username, password and session length
*
Pages: [1]
« previous next »
  Print  
Author Topic: Questions for Montana Homeschool Familes  (Read 822 times)
sohnnenstrahl
Adept

Posts: 121
« on: September 04, 2009, 04:41:24 PM »
Hello! DH has phone interview for job in MT next week.

According to HSLDA, attendance and immunization records "...must be available for inspection by the county superintendent on request..." and the local school district has the authority to prescribe the length of the school day. Also, aggregate hours in a year are prescribed, as well as compliance with building codes. At the end of the description it states that parents have complete control over educational philosophy, instructional materials, time, place and method of instruction, and evaluation. It doesn't mention declining immunizations or camping for extended periods of time.

That part about time seems to negate the district's authority over the school day, unless they're saying that you can pick which hours you instruct, but you must fulfill x number of hours.

Our question is this: Is anyone on this website homeschooling in Montana with objections to some of these practices, and not getting bothered? For instance, some people don't immunize. How do Montana families legally homeschool when they don't immunize? Anyone out there in Montana homeschooling in a tent or camper? What about those housing codes? What about proving aggregate hours? The law says you have to provide "an organized course of study." Some families organize as they go, not planning too far ahead, because the needs of their children change.

If you have some good answers for us, but are wondering whether we are trying to catch homeschoolers in the act of defying state control of all children, please PM Gabe and Beka to verify that we're for real. We have liked the idea of Montana for many reasons, but reading this homeschool law description has us thinking we'd be subjecting our family to state intrusion, which is odd on its face, because we think of Montana as more independent-minded than that.

We are wondering whether Montana, regarding relaxed homeschooling and independence, might be something like Tennessee: When we read the homeschooling statute for TN, we saw intrusions in which we were not interested. Then we talked with some "unschoolers" who never have a problem with the state because they simply enroll in an "umbrella school" which simply acts as a covering, so to speak, since the state accepts that, and the schools do not tell the families how to homeschool. Is there something in Montana that de-fangs the state as it relates to families who homeschool? If it's not umbrella schools, is there a religious exemption from some of these requirements? We do not see it in HSLDA's description of the statute.

Thank you for any insight you can provide. We killed the internet connection at home. In the next few days I will try to get back here to the library to see whether anyone has responded.  God bless you. Really, a lot.
--Helen
Logged
kamom
Adept

Posts: 392
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2009, 03:21:26 PM »
  I know a homeschooling group in MT. None of them ever had a problem that I know of.
Logged
smfmommy
Adept

Posts: 265
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2009, 03:39:55 PM »
We are not from Montana but Colorado requires keeping attendance and immunization records as well.  Colorado allows for an exemption from immunizations based on personal reasons.  We keep a letter of exemption in the files along with the attendance logs that we keep.  This fulfills the law.  You may be able to do the same in Montana.

As long as you don't have to provide the "organized course of study" before the year begins, "organized course of study" does not equal yearly lesson plans.  You probably do this even as you are flexible for your children.

As to the camping - this is my best guess - is your tent/camper/etc safe?  Do they comply with fire safety codes?  I am sure the housing codes are referring to the children being in a safe and clean home.  But again I am guessing here.

If you get no other comments here I would suggest trying to find a link to a homeschool group in Montana that you can call and ask a few questions.  Or see if you can find a Yahoo group that is specific to Montana homeschoolers and ask your questions there.

 Grin
Logged
Wife to my best friend for 17 years.
Mommy to four little ladies, ages 13, 11, 7, 5 and two little men, ages 3 and 1.
sohnnenstrahl
Adept

Posts: 121
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2009, 04:21:59 PM »
Thanks kamom and smfmommy. As it turns out, I'm not turning up anything as specific as we're looking for in the way of answers, when I look things up. The computer I am borrowing today filters out most forums and discussion groups (but 7xSunday got through, woo-hoo!), and that's where I'm going to have to look next. Have to get to the library sometime this week. We did print off some phone numbers of groups.

As for the camping, actually, we plan to move into an actual house, but we're looking ahead to when we might want to do extended camping, either while building a house, or just for the education.

I think I'll be able to get online once more before the interview. Thanks again for chiming in!
Helen
Logged
herbalmom
Guru

Posts: 2965
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2009, 06:15:53 PM »
You should be able to go with an umbrella school which usually makes your children private school students under the law & bypasses the HS statutes.

 Clonlara is one that's nationwide & gives parents freedom in what they choose to teach & how they teach it. It's been around for decades & has long been used by sailing families, etc so long term camping wouldn't be a problem. Only disadvantage is, last I knew, HSLDA won't represent you if you're enrolled in Clonlara. HTH Blessings ~herbalmom
Logged
smileyface
Adept

Posts: 242
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2009, 12:30:12 PM »
My brother lives in Montana and they homeschool. I've asked him about how easy it is to homeschool there, and they don't have any problems. They don't immunize, either. From the way he talks, Montana is very laid back in everything, homeschooling included. I will ask him about it some more next time I talk to him, but I think it's pretty easy to homeschool there.  Smiley
Logged
Wife to a wonderful Mr. Command, and mommy to 5 sweet little ones!

Visit http://hyenacart.com/SunnyDayBabies/ where I sell cloth diapers and more!
WTM members recieve 10% off with the code WTM0409!
Pages: [1]
  Print  
« previous next »
 
Jump to:  

Search




Advanced search

Bible Study

General

User

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?

February 08, 2012, 04:12:14 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Stats

Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 243886
  • Total Topics: 21906
  • Online Today: 37
  • Online Ever: 437
  • (April 01, 2008, 03:09:36 PM)
Users Online
  • Users: 0
  • Guests: 26
  • Total: 26
TinyPortal v.1.0.6 beta 2 © Bloc
Powered by SMF 1.1.7 | SMF © 2006-2008, Simple Machines LLC
Manuscript design by Bloc