OT: Texas Home Schooling Regulations

[crysplefty]

In Louisiana, children who are homeschooled are required to take periodic tests to ensure they are being properly educated. I have an aunt and cousin in Texas. My aunt claims that in Texas homeschooled children aren't required to take tests to ensure they are properly educated. This has me concerned, because even though I can't prove it I know my aunt is not educating her child. Her child is 11 and I've been told she can't spell her last name. I've seen the child's drawings and it is stick figures. My aunt spends all day on Facebook. They done quite a bit of traveling to Louisiana the past 6 months and no one has ever seen her child doing any type of school work. This child is not a special needs child either. Everyone is afraid that this child may only be on a 2nd grade level, since it doesn't appear that she is getting any education. So my question is: Is it true that Texas homeschooled children do not need to take tests to ensure they are properly educated?

 

[MiniGirl]

In Louisiana, children who are homeschooled are required to take periodic tests to ensure they are being properly educated. I have an aunt and cousin in Texas. My aunt claims that in Texas homeschooled children aren't required to take tests to ensure they are properly educated. This has me concerned, because even though I can't prove it I know my aunt is not educating her child. Her child is 11 and I've been told she can't spell her last name. I've seen the child's drawings and it is stick figures. My aunt spends all day on Facebook. They done quite a bit of traveling to Louisiana the past 6 months and no one has ever seen her child doing any type of school work. This child is not a special needs child either. Everyone is afraid that this child may only be on a 2nd grade level, since it doesn't appear that she is getting any education. So my question is: Is it true that Texas homeschooled children do not need to take tests to ensure they are properly educated?

Here is to the HSLDA page that has the regulations for homeschooling in Texas....

http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Texas.pdf

 

[anabelle]

The question is what do you do about it. If you are concerned, maybe you should talk to her to offer help. It really depends on your relationship if she responds well or not.

 

[crysplefty]

Thanks MiniGirl. If I understand that article correct, it is based on the honor system whether or not a child is being properly educated in a homeschool environment. Annabelle- the child's education is not the only issue everyone is concerned about. The majority of her family sees that she needs help and she is bringing her child down with her. When family members confront her about her issues and offer help, she gets mad and goes online to Facebook to posts about people who really know her wouldn't be judging her and this and that. She is totally oblivious to her need for help. Famliy members have gotten so concerned that they are tempted to call social services, but they don't know if it will harm the child more if she is separated from her mom. My aunt's husband died 9 months ago and everytime someone tries to help her she blames everything she is going through on the death of her husband, even if the issue doesn't concern his death. The child is always with her mother and doesn't want to leave her side, so family members are concerned that if social services places her in temporary foster care the child will be greatly harmed emotionally.

 

[tina95]

In Louisiana, children who are homeschooled are required to take periodic tests to ensure they are being properly educated. I have an aunt and cousin in Texas. My aunt claims that in Texas homeschooled children aren't required to take tests to ensure they are properly educated. This has me concerned, because even though I can't prove it I know my aunt is not educating her child. Her child is 11 and I've been told she can't spell her last name. I've seen the child's drawings and it is stick figures. My aunt spends all day on Facebook. They done quite a bit of traveling to Louisiana the past 6 months and no one has ever seen her child doing any type of school work. This child is not a special needs child either. Everyone is afraid that this child may only be on a 2nd grade level, since it doesn't appear that she is getting any education. So my question is: Is it true that Texas homeschooled children do not need to take tests to ensure they are properly educated?

If you feel there is a problem talk with your Aunt, or have someone else talk with your Aunt. If that does not work call CPS. But only if there is a problem your Aunt will not fix. Maybe you can call the homeschool support group in her area for help?

We have lived in states that we have had to jump through all kinds of hoops to homeschool. Texas is a great state. We do not take tests for the state to see if kids are ( properly educated). Yes, I do test my kids, once they start high school we take the PSAT, SAT, and many CLEPS. My middle son will graduate from high school and college this year. The oldest will be married and has had his own business since he was as senior in high school. We are very happy we homeschooled them in Texas.

What is (properly educated)? If you had tested my boys in thier early school years, I am 100% sure they would have failed every thing you put in front of them. We let them be boys and read to them alot. Maybe the difference was I was 100% aware of thier abilities and education levels. This was an education choice for us, ( better late than early).

I am not sure where Texas falls in the numbers, but Louisiana ranked 47th in the nation in 2009 for education. I would not say all kids in public schools are Properly educated in Louisiana.

Most homeschool groups have parent who are more than willing to tutor kids. I would be happy to look for support groups, tutors, or homeschool co-ops for you if you tell me the area of Texas, IM of course. Maybe with that information your Aunt will get off her butt. Also, give your Aunt information about the schools in her area. Texas has some really neat magnet schools.

I know this is hard for you, I hate to see this kind of thing happen. I do not understand why a parent would keep thier kids home if they are not really homeschooling them. Do you know all the things I could do if I had the whole day just for me!

 

[tina95]

Thanks MiniGirl. If I understand that article correct, it is based on the honor system whether or not a child is being properly educated in a homeschool environment. Annabelle- the child's education is not the only issue everyone is concerned about. The majority of her family sees that she needs help and she is bringing her child down with her. When family members confront her about her issues and offer help, she gets mad and goes online to Facebook to posts about people who really know her wouldn't be judging her and this and that. She is totally oblivious to her need for help. Famliy members have gotten so concerned that they are tempted to call social services, but they don't know if it will harm the child more if she is separated from her mom. My aunt's husband died 9 months ago and everytime someone tries to help her she blames everything she is going through on the death of her husband, even if the issue doesn't concern his death. The child is always with her mother and doesn't want to leave her side, so family members are concerned that if social services places her in temporary foster care the child will be greatly harmed emotionally.

It sounds like a lot more is going on here! Was it the childs father who died? Is she or her mom in getting any kind of help to deal with the death? I do not think the state would take the child, only make her attend school. Maybe you should call the Texas Home School Coalition for information(806) 744-4441.

 

[crysplefty]

Thanks tina95 for that info and you are right there is more going on than just the child's education. My aunt's husband was the child's father. The problems everyone have noticed have been going on long before her husband passed. As far as everyone knows, she is not getting any professional help she is just leaving it in the lord's hands. When I said properly educated, I meant that the child was actually being educated and that the parent(s) weren't just saying they were educating their child. As far as placing her in a public or magnet school, my aunt would never do that on her own. It is just a sad situation, because she is bringing her child down with her.