Homeschooling provides families with the opportunity to personalize their child’s education to their interests, their strengths, and is an opportunity to focus on areas of improvement. No matter the reason that a family chooses to homeschool, they are free to do so across the country, as long as specific state requirements are met and maintained. If you are considering homeschooling in New Jersey, it’s essential to understand the laws and regulations to ensure that your child is receiving the best possible education.
Legal Requirements to Homeschool in New Jersey
According to New Jersey law, parents must provide their child with an education that is “academically equivalent” to what they would receive at a traditional school. It is important to keep in mind however that equivalence does not mean identical. As long as the curriculum remains consistent and is similar to that of the public schools, there should not be any concerns.
The First Steps
The first action that must be taken to homeschool in New Jersey is to notify the district superintendent in writing. The notification should include; the name and ages of the children who will be homeschooled, the address of the homeschool, and a statement of assurance that the education will be equivalent to that provided in public schools.
Qualifications and Subject Requirements
The parent or guardian overseeing the homeschooling must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. There is no required curriculum, but the following subjects should be included (as they reflect the subjects taught in public schools):
- Health and physical education
- Language arts (reading, writing, and grammar)
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social studies (history, geography, civics)
- Visual and performing arts
- World languages
Additional Requirements to Homeschool in New Jersey
While curriculum choices are flexible, it’s important to ensure that you are meeting New Jersey’s education standards. Parents should maintain attendance records, portfolios of student work, and records of evaluations and assessments. While these records do not necessarily need to be submitted anywhere specific, they may be subject to review by the local school district. It’s best to maintain the portfolio for about two years.
Post-Homeschool Graduation
As long as the student has met New Jersey graduation requirements, they are eligible to receive a state-endorsed diploma. Requirements include completion of all necessary course credits and passing standardized tests like the GED or SAT. If a student is interested in continuing their education at a college or university, it’s recommended to meet with an academic advisor to ensure any extra credits or course requirements are taken.
Homeschooling With Dailies
Thanks to the simple requirement that the homeschool curriculum be equivalent to that of a public school education, families in New Jersey have a lot of freedom to pick and choose how they educate their children. Dailies offers small groups, tutoring, enrichments, and a total homeschool curriculum, delivered via Zoom by certified teachers. With our classes being offered in real-time, parents can be assured that their child’s education is personalized, up-to-date, and meets all of the necessary requirements. Dailies believes that every child can succeed and should succeed, no matter where they attend school. Check us out today to learn more!
