When it comes to homeschooling, every state has different rules and regulations, and if you live in the state of North Carolina, there are a couple of things you need to be aware of before you start homeschooling your kids.
We have put together a complete guide to homeschooling in North Carolina, so read on to find out everything you need to know if you live in this state.
Requirements For Homeschooling In North Carolina
In the state of North Carolina, there aren’t too many rules you need to follow, but the rules and requirements that are in place are very important to know.
North Carolina is a little more strict in its approach to homeschooling, so make sure you have your affairs in order before you withdraw your children from public school.
The requirements for homeschooling in North Carolina are as follows:
You must file a Notice of Intent to homeschool with the NC Division of Nonpublic Education (NCDNPE).
You must name your school even if you are homeschooling.
You must choose the right and ideal curriculum for your children (more on this in the required subject section).
You, as the parent, must have your high school diploma or equivalency, and you must have proof of this qualification.
You must keep a record of attendance and immunization records for your children.
Your homeschool must operate on a regular schedule for at least nine months of the academic year.
You are required to notify the NCDNPE when closing your homeschool.
Homeschool students must take nationally standardized tests each year, and the results of those tests need to be kept on record for at least one year.
As long as you follow all of these rules and requirements, you will be able to homeschool your children with no issues.
If you do not have your high school diploma or an equivalent qualification, you will have to get it before you begin homeschooling.
Record Keeping In North Carolina
Record keeping in North Carolina is required by law if you are homeschooling.
While this is a requirement, these records do not have to be submitted to the NCDNPE unless they are requested.
It is in your best interest to keep a detailed and accurate homeschool portfolio for each student you are teaching and try to keep it as professional as possible.
Things you should keep records of include:
Yearly standardized test scores.
High school transcripts for children between the grades of 9 and 12.
Online or parent-administered assessments or report cards.
Subjects that are covered each school year.
You also need to keep an up-to-date record of your children’s attendance and immunization records.
Having all of this information is helpful if you ever want to re-enroll your children into public school, and it will also help dramatically when it comes to college applications.
Qualifications For Homeschooling In North Carolina
While you do not need any higher level of education credits or degrees, you are required by law to have your high school diploma or equivalent in order to legally homeschool in the state.
If you do not have either of these qualifications, you will not be able to homeschool your children.
You will also need to be able to provide proof of this qualification before you go any further in your plans.
Notice Of Intent
In the state of North Carolina, it is required by law that you submit a Notice of Intent before you start homeschooling your children.
This Notice of Intent must be submitted to the NC Division of Nonpublic Education (NCDNPE).
Your Notice of Intent to homeschool should state whether or not you have your high school diploma or equivalent, the homeschool address, the name of the administrator, and the chosen name of your homeschool.
Every homeschooling household must choose a name for their homeschool by law, so make sure to include that in your Notice of Intent.
You can file this Notice of Intent at any point during the school year, but it is in your best interest to do it before you start homeschooling.
You do not need to renew this Notice of Intent, and you only need to contact the NCDNPE if the homeschooling address changes or if you plan on closing your homeschool.
Required Subjects For Homeschooling In North Carolina
There are no official required subjects that you must include in your homeschooling curriculum, so you are free to choose the subjects that are right for you and your children.
That being said, it is recommended that you keep your curriculum in line with standard public school curriculums, so use them as a template when working out what to teach.
Typical subjects that are featured in public school curriculums include:
Language Arts
Math
Science
Health/Physical Education
Social Studies
Days Required For Homeschooling In North Carolina
There is no set number of days required for homeschooling in North Carolina, but you still have to follow some rules regarding when and how often your homeschool is in session.
You are required to have a regular schedule (so plan this out ahead of time) that you and your children follow, and you must also be in operation for at least nine months of the academic year.
If you want to go over the 9-month mark, you can, but this is not required. You cannot teach for less than nine months per academic year though, so plan your schedule accordingly.
Standardized Testing In North Carolina
Standardized Testing is required by law in the state of North Carolina for homeschooled students. Each year, your children will be required to take a nationally normed test.
On top of this, the results must be kept on record every year and should be done in a detailed and professional manner.
You do not have to submit these records to the NCDNPE, but you are required to have them on record.
If you do not know where to get started and enroll in standardized testing, it is in your best interest to contact the NCDNPE and follow their advice and instructions going forward.
Graduation Requirements In North Carolina
When it comes to graduation requirements in the state of North Carolina, you have more leeway.
Each homeschool has the freedom to set their own graduation requirements, so you will be in full control of working out what your children will need to do in order to graduate.
Once your children have accomplished the goals you set, you will be able to administer a high school diploma to them. These goals can include things like tests, coursework, or any other goals you choose to set.
If your children are planning on going to college, you can make the goals align with what they will need in order to move on to higher education.
Every college and higher education institution has its own requirements and rules you will need to meet, so it is important to research your children’s options thoroughly before you set the right goals.
You can also look at the graduation guidelines for typical public schools in North Carolina.
Using these public schools as templates for your own homeschool can help your children graduate in a more organized way.
Public schools will have their own set of rules and requirements for graduating, though, so research is incredibly important in these instances.
Transferring Back To Public School
Homeschooling isn’t for everyone, and in some cases, it is only a temporary thing. Some parents and children opt to re-enroll in public school, especially as they get closer to graduating age.
When it comes to transferring back to public school after homeschooling, there are a couple of things you need to do in the state of North Carolina. The things you must do include:
You must first contact the NCDNPE with a notice that you intend to close your homeschool. The option to reopen at a later date will be there, but you will have to go through the whole process again.
You must then contact the school principal of the school you wish to enroll your children in. They will go over their enrollment process and give you all the information you need to know.
Every school has a different re-enrollment process and requirements you will need to meet, so make sure you research your chosen school as much as possible and set up meetings.
Conclusion
North Carolina does have quite a few rules and requirements you need to meet in order to homeschool. As long as you take your time and concentrate on the process, it is worth the extra hassle.
Remember, if you do not have your high school diploma (or equivalent), then you will not be able to homeschool your children, even if you meet the other requirements.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the NCDNPE to learn more.
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