Homeschooling in Alaska: Freedom & Flexibility

In Alaska, there is one of the least restrictive home schooling systems in America. There is one of the least controlling systems of homeschooling by the state whereby families can have four ways in which to educate at home: Four legal directions are available with the least to no involvement of the state at all:

·         Homeschool Alaska in accordance with the Alaska statue (Option 1)

This is the easy way, where the parents are free to educate their children and they do not need to be informed, or tested, or the teacher needs to have any qualification, or the children need to be immunized, or the parents need to keep any records of it.

·         Correspondence programs (Option 2)

These district-based or charter schools have a structured curriculum and are state funded. Parents receive program instructions, work samples, and commonly can have up to ~$4,500 per child in educational allowances at their disposal.

·         Homeschool Alaska as a private/exempt-school option (Option 3)

The parents enroll in a private school, provide an affidavit, a policy on corporal punishment, maintain records and give a standardized test in 4th, 6th and 8th grades.

·         Option 4: tutoring by a certified teacher

It may be provided through a state-certified teacher either formally or in special board or board-approved provisions.

Legal Framework: When, Who and What

●       Obligatory education: Education Children of ages between 7 and 16 should be educated compulsorily.

●       There are no statutes-only homeschool parental or teacher credentials needed.

●       Only under the pathway of private/exempt-schools, record-keeping, curriculum requirements and immunization are required.

●       The four, six, and eighth grades are tested but only the correspondence and the private-school alternatives are met.

State-Subsidized Correspondence Courses

Alaska has large education funding of homeschooling programs run by the districts and charter schools:

The Reasons of Why Families May Homeschool in Alaska

●       Maximum flexibility-- parents create daily schedules and curriculum, which do not have specific hours or any subjects.

●       Funding through correspondence courses makes it easier and lowers the cost of materials.

●       The powerful community and enrichment present options also aid in assisting academic development and social opportunities.

●       Support of extracurricular access, by state, so that homeschooled students can attend public school athletic offers and clubs.

Step-by-Step process to start:

●       Select your course: statute-only, correspondence, tutor or private-school.

●       Inform the district (optional, unless needed to avoid truancy issues).

●       You need only to keep records where they are required (private-school route) otherwise it is okay to simply take your own notes.

●       See testing tests in grade 4, 6 or 8, and in a funded program.

●       By joining co-ops, classes, and extracurricular activities.

Final Thoughts

Alaska homeschool programs provide low regulation, financial assistance, and inclusion to the families. Regardless of whether you want complete independence or follow a planned program such as Focus or IDEA the state will accommodate a variety of philosophies of education. Learning complements by co-ops and small-group classes are offered in Anchorage and in other areas. Moreover, the availability of the sports in the public schools guarantees social and growth equilibrium.