One of the obvious advantages of homeschooling is its portability. Many families travel as a way of life and depend on homeschooling to assure their children will receive an adequate K to 12 education while on the road or during military deployments. Families with children involved in professional sports often travel extensively and either homeschool or employ tutors in the countries where sporting events and/or training programs occur.
By 1993, homeschooling was legal in all 50 U.S. states. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has never specifically ruled on the legality of homeschooling, the court appears to favor educational choice as long as individual states set standards.
Homeschooling is legal in many countries. Australia has legalized home schooling in all its’ states and territories, with each state or territory setting its’ own regulations. Canada’s homeschooling movement has become more prevalent since the turn of the century and the practice is now legal in every province although each province establishes its’ own homeschooling regulations. Homeschooling is fully legal in New Zealand. Education regulations in most of England and Wales consider school attendance and “education otherwise than at school” to be one and the same. Scotland does differentiate between school and “other than at school,” and includes private school and home teaching in the definition of approved education outside the public school system.
HOMESCHOOL WHILE TRAVELING
Homeschool while traveling is not the same everywhere. Some countries offer complete open and legal homeschooling opportunities while others consider it to be illegal.
John Alba (https://homeschoolvictory.com/where-is-homeschooling-illegal/ ) points out that “There are over thirty countries where homeschooling is illegal. Furthermore, another couple dozen nations make the ability to homeschool so difficult that it can be impossible to get permission in the first place.” (NOTE: On the same website, Mr. Alba offers a comprehensive list of countries “where not to travel at length or move long term if you wish to offer your kids a high-quality homeschool education.”)
Wikipedia also offers a thorough summary of homeschool laws and regulations around the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschooling_international_status_and_statistics .
HOMESCHOOL FOR MILITARY FAMILIES
Homeschooling is not a new protocol within the U.S. military community. The regular school year is often interrupted by a new assignment or deployment that requires a family to change location from state to state or even from the U.S. to a foreign country. “In recent COVID-19 news and with the stop-movement order in place for military families, many have chosen to switch to a homeschool curriculum or supplement the district’s online learning.” (https://militarybenefits.info/homeschooling-military-child/ )
Generally speaking, “Military families stationed in the U.S. are required to follow the homeschooling laws of the state where they are living during their service. Military eligibility requirements state that all students (including homeschoolers) must register in the ASPEN student information system and have a complete registration packet and current immunizations.” (SOURCE: www.homeschoolfacts.com/homeschooling-and-military-families/ )
For information about homeschool laws in the state where you will be stationed, visit: https://www.homeschoolfacts.com/state-laws.html .
For more information about regulations regarding homeschooling your military child, visit: https://www.dodea.edu/parents/homeSchooling.cfm . On this site, you will find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to implementation of DoDEA Administrative Instruction 1375.01, Home-School Students dated April 10, 2018. (NOTE: DoDEA = Department of Defense Education Activity.)
HOMESCHOOL FOR STUDENT PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
According to relevant sources, Tim Tebow, Serena and Venus Williams, and Bethany Hamilton are student athletes that were all homeschooled.
Student athletes require enough flexibility in their schedules to train daily, travel to domestic and international venues and to complete a high school education. Homeschooling is basically the only educational model that allows all three of these activities to occur simultaneously.
Amber Smith, writing for Sonlight Blog, points out that “Professional athletes need extensive coaching input. When your child reaches the level of traveling for training, for camps, or for extended coaching, their school does not need to get put on hold. A homeschool curriculum can travel with them. This can give your child the competitive edge since they no longer have to fit training into the summer months.” (https://blog.sonlight.com/homeschooling-athletes.html)
There are more than 8 million high school students in the United States that participate in competitive sports. Students searching for an online school that will support their demanding schedule while helping them reach their personal and athletic goals often look for online educational programs that are NCAA approved. NCAA approved online schools offer flexible enrollment and self-paced schedules, allowing ample time for training and travel requirements.
For complete information about signing up with a NCAA-approved online high school for Student Athletes, visit International Virtual Learning Academy, a fully accredited, NCAA-approved private online school for grades K to 12 established in 2004. (https://internationalvla.com/ncaa-approved/ )
ONLINE PORTABLE HOMESCHOOLING HELP
Since 2004, Global Student Network (GSN) has been helping globe-trotting families achieve K to 12 educational goals for their children. GSN is the perfect solution for military families, families that must travel for business, missionary service families and families with students who are also professional athletes. Visit https://globalstudentnetwork.com/ for more information.