|
return to faq
Yes. The following is not intended as legal advice I am not a lawyer.
The following is for informational purposes only. Homeschools are
considered private school in Texas and the state has no authority to
regulate private schools.
There are three basic requirements to homeschool in Texas.
1. You must homeschool in "a bona fide (good faith, not a sham or
subterfuge) manner."
2. As a parent you must provide "a curriculum designed to meet basic
education goals of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and a study
of good citizenship."
3. You must have
a curriculum consisting of books, workbooks, other written materials,
including that which appears on an electronic screen of either a
computer or video tape monitor, or any combination of the preceding from
either (1) of a private or parochial school which exists apart from the
child's home or (2) which has been developed or obtained from any
source.
return to faq
From the Texas
Education Agency Website (This will take you to the TEA website for
the latest version of the Homeschool information letter.)
For most of this century, Texas has exempted children enrolled in a
private or parochial school from compulsory school attendance. In the
case of Leeper et al. v. Arlington ISD et al., the Supreme Court of
Texas affirmed a decision by District Judge Charles J. Murray holding
that a school age child residing in Texas who is pursuing, under direct
supervision of his/her parents, a curriculum designed to meet basic
education goals is attending a private school within the meaning of
Section 25.086(a)(1) of the Texas Education Code and is therefore exempt
from compulsory school attendance. This case has a statewide application
because school districts in the state and certain state officials were
parties to the suit.
return to faq
From the 1987 Leeper v Arlington Decision (This link will take you
to a pdf file on the Texas Home School Coalition website.)
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that a
school-age child residing in the State of Texas who is pursuing under
the direction of a parent or parents or one standing in parental
authority in or through the child's home in a bona fide (good faith,
not a sham or subterfuge) manner a curriculum consisting of books,
workbooks, other written materials, including that which appears on an
electronic screen of either a computer or video tape monitor, or any
combination of the preceding from either (1) of a private or parochial
school which exists apart from the child's home or (2) which has been
developed or obtained from any source, said curriculum designed to
meet basic education goals of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics
and a study of good citizenship, is in attendance upon a private or
parochial school within the meaning of Section 21.033(a)(1) of the
Texas Education Code and exempt from the requirements of compulsory
attendance at a public school.
return to faq
From the 1994 Leeper v Arlington Appeal (This link will take you to
a pdf on the Texas Home School Coalition website.)
The Legislature has indicated, however, that it
considers home schools to fall within the exemption. In amending §
4.25 and other provisions of the Education Code in 1989, the
Legislature stated;
Nothing in this Act applies to students in
attendance upon a private or parochial school,
which includes home schools,
in accordance with Section 21.033, Education Code,
Act of May 28, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. 658, § 11,
1989 Tex. Gen. Laws 2165, 2168 (emphasis added).
As we have noted above, plaintiffs argue that the TEA
has no authority to promulgate rules construing § 21.033(a)(l).
return to
faq
|
