Ohio Homeschooling Laws
Parents who consider homeschooling their children in Ohio are obligated to;
- Give an annual notice of their intention to homeschool to the local school superintendent
- Ensure the child has completed 900 hours of instruction in every year
- Have the following subjects in their curriculum:
- Geography
- Math
- Fine arts
- Science
- Language arts
- Government
- U.S. and Ohio state history
- Physical education
- Health and safety
- Have an assessment of the child’s work every year.
This page provides a summary of the homeschooling requirements in Ohio as regards to:
- Requirements to homeschool in Ohio
- The notification procedure regarding homeschooling
- Recordkeeping for homeschoolers in Ohio
- Requirements for graduation in Ohio
- Switching from homeschool to public school
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Ohio
Parents considering to homeschool their children must have a high school diploma as a minimum requirement, must have passed the GED or the standardized tests that stand in as substitute for a diploma. The curriculum used in homeschool is chosen by the parent as well as the teaching methods that will be used. Subjects/topics that conflict with one’s religious beliefs are exempted from the curriculum.
Homeschoolers in Ohio are allowed to take part in extracurricular activities in every school district as well as athletics in the school the child would have attended in the district. In some schools, they are allowed to attend school as part time students.
The Notification Procedure Regarding Homeschooling in Ohio
For any child between 6 and 18, attendance is compulsory. Parents who choose homeschooling are therefore required to notify the office of the superintendent of their local school every year the program is ongoing. The form serving as a notification is available on the Department of Education website. In the form, the parent shall provide the following information;
- The identification of the parent; includes the address, name and contact details
- The identification of the child; including the date of birth of the child as well as his/her name
- The parent’s qualification to homeschool, that is the high school diploma or the GED
- A summary of the curriculum that will be used for that year
- An assertion that all the required subjects will be taught
- The teaching materials or the curricula to be used in the program
- An assertion that the child will have 900 hours of instruction as required by law
The annual notification shall provide an academic assessment of the homeschooler which may be either;
- Results of a standardized achievement test that is nationally normed
- A certified teacher’s written evaluation narrating thestudent’s progress every year, or other approved person to give the evaluation.
- Any other agreed form of assessment between the superintendent and the parent
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Ohio
An annual assessment showing the child’s progress shall be submitted to the superintendent of the local school. It is recommended that one keeps a homeschool portfolio that keeps track of the homeschooler’s accomplishments for each year. The portfolio shall reflect an accurate record of what has been covered by the student as well as what the student has retained during learning. One may add the following items to the portfolio;
- A high school transcript for high schoolers
- The work undertaken by the student
- The topics covered and the curriculum subjects covered
- The results of the standardized tests taken by the student
Requirements for Graduation in Ohio
Parents are given the freedom to set their own graduation requirements and determine when the student will graduate. They even proceed to give their home-made diplomas. Parents are however advised to know the requirements in public schools and academic requirements for colleges so as to align their homeschool goals with those. This will be helpful for students who wish to go to college.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Ohio.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Ohio |
To receive a diploma, 20 credit hours is the minimum requirement for each specific subject and additional instruction in financial literacy, economics and fine arts. |
Parents in Ohio have the liberty to determine when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. |
| Testing requirements in Ohio | The student must have earned 18 points as the minimum on the 7 end-of-course state tests |
There is no law in Ohio that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
|
Ohio high school transcripts |
Individual schools create the transcripts which are kept on file by the school. |
Parents in Ohio can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
|
High school course credits in Ohio |
For high schoolers in Ohio, 20 credit hours of high school coursework is the minimum requirement for graduation. |
Many parents in Ohio choose to specify or assign academic credits to the courses taken during the homeschooling period as this may aid during the transcript creation process. |
|
Eligibility for GED in Ohio |
Students who are 16 years and above are eligible to take the test which stands in for the high school diploma. |
Homeschoolers are eligible to take the test provided they are 16 years and above. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Download the transcript template
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Ohio
Ohio does not have specific guidelines for switching to public school; each school district has unique guidelines regarding the process. There are no laws on reenrolling back to public school. It is the duty of the parent to consult with the local school on the procedure of enrollment. The principal of the local school determines the grade appropriate for the child. The following details may help in determining the most appropriate grade for the child: homeschool portfolios, results of any tests taken, annual assessments, etc..
Lernsys Homeschooling makes it easy to keep a summary of the curriculum used including grades, topics covered, quiz and test scores, teacher credentials, etc.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Ohio
Have other questions about homeschooling in Ohio? You may find the following pages helpful.
