Cleveland Homeschooler

The “08″ Homeschooling Option

There was a recent conversation in a group I belong to about a second, and lesser-known notification option for homeschoolers in Ohio.  Interest levels were raised quite bit in this discussion, so I thought I’d write about it here.

Now, before I go any further, let me state for the record that I am NOT an expert and probably have as much understanding of state laws regarding homeschooling as the rest of you.  Possibly even less.  Reading any kind of legal documentation just makes my eyes glaze over and my brain hurt. However, based on my own research and the experience of others, I wanted to at least pass along what I do know.

Most of you are probably familiar with the first option for complying with the state law in Ohio regarding homeschooling. You provide annual notification to the superintendent for your district documenting your intent to educate your children at home. This notification includes names and ages of kids, curriculum outline and copies of standardized test scores or portfolio review. That’s the very simplified version, but detailed information on this can be found here.

And if you’re a more visual person, like me, and want a summary of the education options for Ohio, then you might like this chart.

What is this “08 School” option that many homeschoolers don’t know much about?

From the HSLDA website, “Alternative ways to privately educate children: Ohio Administrative Code 3301-35-08 allows schools with truly held religious beliefs to be established without a charter from the State Board of Education. These schools, officially “non-chartered, non-tax-supported schools,” have come to be known as “08 schools.”

This is an option if you:

• Are comfortable citing religious beliefs as a reason to seek private education for your children.
• Have a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University
• Are able to submit notification before September 30th of the new school year
• Do not wish to take advantage of any “auxiliary services”

What is the process for this type of notification?

Each school year you would submit a form to the treasurer (NOT the superintendent) of the board of education where you reside by September 30th.

What are the differences in these two options?

The main differences with the “08 school” are:

• Much LESS paperwork to submit. No curriculum outline or book list is needed and there are no requirements to submit standardized test scores or a portfolio review each year.
• You must submit your form by September 30th for the school year (so it’s too late for this school year). If you’re deciding to homeschool in the middle of a school year, then this option would have to wait until the next school year.
•  Each family operating as an 08 school should be aware that the Department of Education maintains a list of all non-chartered, non-tax supported schools which may be obtained by request from the Department. Families that desire to protect their privacy may wish to operate under the homeschool statute rather than as an 08 school.
• Each non-chartered, non-tax supported school has to comply with state and local health, fire, and safety laws.  The courts have concluded that the only health, fire, and safety laws that apply to single-family private schools are those which apply to single-family residences.
• As a non-chartered, non-tax supported school you ARE eligible for Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO); a program permitting high-school students to earn college credit or high school graduation credit through college coursework. More info on that can be found here.
• Ability to participate in school sports appears to be at the discretion of each school district, the exception being if you are enrolled part-time in the high school – then you are automatically eligible.  It is my understanding (someone correct me, if I’m wrong!) that the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) controls participation.

Are you more or less confused now?

Me too.

Basically, the “08 School” option is not available again until the 2012/2013 school year, so if you still need to submit notification for the current school year, then you’ll need to go with option one.  This is the option that I’ve used for the last two years, but until recently, I was unfamiliar with the second option. The families I’ve come across who are registered as an “08 School” have had a positive experience with it, so it’s certainly something to consider.

Do you have experience registering as an 08 school that you can share? Are there other questions you have about this option? Did reading this article only leave you more confused and wishing you’d made better use of your time?

Please share in the comments! (Maybe not on that last one, though).

~ Dori