Delaware Homeschooling Information

Homeschooling in Delaware

Hi, my name is Heather and I homeschool in Delaware! I am the mother of seven children, ranging in age from 23 years to 18 months, and also grandmother to two more who currently live with us.

If you have questions or comments about homeschooling in Delaware, check out our homeschooling tools and resources or visit our online Delaware support group.

To find out more about the legal requirements for homeschooling in Delaware, articles, and state-specific resources, you can also visit one of these sites:

• Delaware DSTP Test resource page
• The Homeschool Mom's Delaware support page
• Homeschool Legal Requirements by Ann Zeise
• Homeschool World Delaware support groups

Legal disclaimer: This section is one family's story and how they meet the mandatory school attendance laws in Delaware. It is not intended and should not be used as definitive legal advice. In most states, parents find a variety of legal methods to pursue the educational approach that they prefer for their child.

How We Get Involved Locally

I am most actively involved in a local Christian Co-op, W.A.V.E. Our family has attended since the co-op began in the fall of 2004. I created the group's website for the fall 2006 session and have served as the webmaster since then. I serve on the groups board of directors and have taught classes most sessions.

The first support group I joined when I found out we were moving to Delaware was SHERD. It is not as physically active as it was in 2002; we used to have monthly luncheons and weekly park days, but I believe it is still the largest group in central Delaware, making it a great place to share information. Another list that seems to have knowledgeable parents is the Yahoo group: DEHS families. There is a state homeschooling organization (Delaware Home Education Association), but I am not sure if it is active at the moment.

My Life Homeschooling in Delaware

I love to learn and spend any free time I have reading a book, learning a skill, or taking a class. I am drawn to technology, dabbling in website development and computer programming, with a love for gadgets.

The oldest three children began their school career in public school, but we eventually brought them home after it became clear that the schools were not meeting their needs. All three had been placed in the gifted program, and the second one also had some special needs. Our third child, and only daughter, just finished her first year of college after graduating from our homeschool. This year, we have had a fifth grader, a third grader, and a brand new preschooler. The two elementary aged children are doing T4L.

Time4Learning is vibrant, engaging, educational, and funny. It sure beats our previous homeschool curriculum which was textbook/workbook based.

Time4Learning is so effective that very little intervention is required. This works great if you're homeschooling multiple children.

Support and Requirements for Homeschooling in Delaware

Having moved from a state that was not always friendly to homeschoolers (California), it is nice to be in a state with minimal legal requirements and lots of support. Homeschooling is quite accepted here, with many people aware of someone close to them who homeschools or has homeschooled. We also have access to many opportunities as homeschoolers, from nature classes at the state parks to homeschool days at the roller rinks and bowling alleys.

In Delaware, you can register with an umbrella school, or as an independent homeschool family -- technically a non-public school. To register your homeschool independently, you contact the Department of Education and request a non-public school registration form. Each year, you are required to complete and submit the registration form in the fall, and a form verifying attendance in the summer. If you choose to register with an umbrella school, the school would handle this contact with the Board of Education and you would submit whatever records that school requires. A third option is to work with a school district's superintendent, but I have yet to meet a family using this option.

Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

Time4Learning's experience shows that there is no single, best homeschool material. Rather than feeling torn between homeschool resources, parents should select a diverse blend of materials and activities.

For families with more than one child, choosing a homeschool program can be more problematic. What works for one child may not work for another. What works for one subject may not work on the next. What works one year, may fall flat the very next year.

Some of the features that make Time4Learning so successful include:

• Time4Learning appeals to a wide range of learning styles. Our online learning materials are especially well-suited to children who are visual or kinesthetic learners. These children can take advantage of Time4Learning's interactive, multi-media materials.
• Children like using the computer to learn. It's a convenient, interactive homeschool resource that provides a welcome change each day to paper-and-pencil workbooks and textbook-based lessons.
• Parents like that it tracks progress and helps children advance by clearly presenting and reinforcing each lesson.
• Time4Learning's self-paced, modularized lesson plans allow you to move forward and back through the materials whenever you want. You can skip lessons that teach concepts your child has already mastered and repeat those he or she has not. The choice is yours. With Time4Learning, you are always in control.

Time4Learning is proven effective with homeschoolers, has a low monthly price, is easy-to-use, and provides a money-back guarantee so you can make sure that it works for your children!

Sign up for Time4Learning as part of your overall homeschool program.

If you have any more questions or comments about homeschooling in Delaware, head over to the Delaware Parents Forum.

Some Helpful Tools and Resources

Welcome to Homeschooling Guide - Are you new to homeschooling? This guide was written by seasoned homeschoolers to answer some of the difficult questions new families often struggle with.

Curriculum Lesson Plans - An overview of the number of lessons that are included for each grade and subject. All students have access to at least 2 (and in most cases 3) grade levels of curriculum for each subject, so they can move ahead or review at their own pace.

Homeschool Portfolio Information - Answers common questions about homeschool portfolios and evaluations. It includes tips on organization methods, what to include and how Time4Learning can be used as part of your homeschool portfolio.

The Lesson Activity Finder - One of the many helpful tools that Time4Learning offers its members. The activity finder is a shortcut that makes it easy for parents to preview lessons or find extra practice for their child. You can visit our hints and help section for more information about the activity finder.

Lesson Planning Worksheet - Wondering how many lessons to have your child do each day? Estimate the number of activities per day using this easy to use, printable worksheet.

Online Parent's Forum - Reach out to homeschoolers in your area, join discussions, ask questions and trade ideas on our online community of homeschooling parents. Having the support of seasoned homeschoolers can really help make your homeschooling journey a success.

Sign up for Time4Learning and gain access to a variety of educational materials, which will engage and challenge your child to succeed. Make Time4Learning a part of your children's homeschool resources.

I want to Learn More about Time4Learning's homeschool curriculum or how to use the program for afterschool enrichment.