State laws change from time to time and though we try to keep the laws up-to-date at all times please check with the department of education for any changes that may have occurred.
If you think homeschooling is the best educational option for you and your children – and it probably is – then you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to show you how to start homeschooling in Michigan. We’ve pooled together information related to the educational potential of the The Great Lakes State, looked over the Michigan homeschool requirements, and selected the best online resources that will keep you and your children happily and successfully learning at home.
Use the infographic and video below to create a homeschool that thrives.
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The Water Wonderland
Michigan is a geographical marvel; the only US state situated on two peninsulas and touching four of the five Great Lakes, Michigan is the administrative province with the longest fresh water coastline in the world. No wonder boating is so popular!
The Wolverine State is famous for more than its just its water: Detroit is the center of America’s auto industry, the first tunnel to connect two countries – St Clair Tunnel – was built here, and the first ever concrete road was also built in Detroit as early as 1908.
As you can see, there’s plenty of opportunities for your children if they’re into engineering or natural sciences, and there’s no shortage of other educational prospects, either. Democracy and the values of civil rights are well established and taken care of in the Mitten State - Michigan is home to a vibrant, diverse cultural community, with an assortment of people from all over the world thriving together and sharing mutually enriching experiences.
Michigan Homeschool Laws
Homeschooling laws in Michigan offer two different alternatives to those who want to homeschool their children: the typical homeschool and the home-based private schools. While in daily educational practice there might not be essential differences between the two, the additional services offered to the latter make it worth-while taking the time to read through the legislation.
Starting homeschooling in Michigan immediately doesn’t involve too much paperwork. You don’t have to file any notice of intent, there are no compulsory qualifications that you need to possess, and you don’t have to keep track of your children’s progress or send any assessment report to the local authorities. You do need to make sure that you address all the subjects that would normally be in the public school curricula for your children’s respective grade, but there are no strict limitation on that, either.
Things are a bit different if you plan to start a home-based private school. While you’re still not required to keep a portfolio of your children’s educational progress or to provide assessment reports, you do need to supply the local superintendent with basic information regarding your students, such as their names, birth dates and addresses, and you should be able to produce records of enrollment, as well as courses of study, if required. You also have to possess a teaching certificate or a bachelor’s degree as proof of your qualifications – that is, however, unless you’re religiously prohibited from doing so, in which case it’s fine if you don’t have any such certificates.
You may also benefit from additional services if you operate a private school, such as psychological or remedial services for children with disabilities. In view of this, and if you possess the necessary qualifications, you might actually consider registering your homeschool as a private school.
Homeschool in Michigan: Final Grade
If you’re into homeschooling, Michigan is a great place to be. The permissive legal system and the benefits of operating a home-based private school, along with the plethora of educational possibilities, earn this state a well-deserved A. You can’t go wrong if you plan to homeschool in the Water Wonderland, and you’ve got some considerable advantages if you start as a home-based private school. All these should convince you to start homeschooling right now!
Conclusion
If you’re in Michigan and you plan to homeschool, you’re extremely lucky! Not only do you live in one of the most beautiful states in the US, with great aquatic landscapes and a bright community of diverse cultures, but you’re also about to enter one of the most vibrant homeschooling communities you can possibly imagine! And doing so is as easy as one-two-three. So don’t hesitate and start homeschooling in Michigan today!
Resources
http://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/current-policy/
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-6530_6569_35175---,00.html – the official website of Michigan Department of Education is a great place to start getting informed, especially if you plan to start a home-based private school
http://enrichhomeschool.blogspot.com/ - this blog belongs to a homeschool operating as a private school; you can enroll your children here, and you can teach them yourself. It’s a great way to connect with other homeschooling parents