Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. When reviewing any law, remember that amendments can be made and wording can be altered to affect us. As a home educator, it is essential that you remain vigilant and knowledgeable about the state and local laws that affect homeschooling.

This page lists the laws as they are now and the process you use to begin homeschooling in Ohio. It is very important for you to know these regulations and to understand what they require and what they mean. In order to be protected by our laws, you need to follow them.

The regulations in Ohio have been successful for the last 20 years. Ohio Law requires that regulations undergo a review every 5 years to determine if changes are necessary. The last review took place in 2008 and it was determined that no changes other than some administrative clarifications were needed.

Disclaimer: The ideas contained on this page are not intended to be used as legal advice, but as an informative starting point. It is essential that you verify any information that is pertinent to decisions you make for yourself or your family. Consult an attorney if you have unanswered questions. The links on this page are only as accurate as their destinations. If you find an error, please contact us.

Vaccinations

In Ohio, public school district boards of education are authorized to make and enforce rules to secure the immunization of, and to prevent the spread of communicable diseases among, the children attending or eligible to attend the schools of the district,as in its opinion the safety and interestof the public require (Ohio Revised Code 3313.67: Immunization of pupils - immunization record - annual summary).

Children attending public schools or nonpublic schools that meet state educational requirements must be immunized against mumps, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, rubeola, rubella, and hepatitis B. Each child beginning kindergarten during or after the 2006 school year must also be immunized against chicken pox. Unless exempted from the immunization requirements, a child cannot be permitted to remain in school for more than 14 days unless the child presents written evidence satisfactory to the school of having received the required immunizations or being in the process of receiving the required immunizations. (R.C.3313.671(A) Proof of required immunizations - exceptions)

Download: Immunization of Schoolchildren (An informational brief (.pdf format) prepared for members of the Ohio General Assembly by the legislative service commission staff. August 30, 2006)

Refer to Ohio Revised Code: TITLE [33] XXXIII EDUCATION -- LIBRARIES: CHAPTER 3313: BOARDS OF EDUCATION:3313.67: Immunization of pupils - immunization record - annual summary:

3313.67 Immunization of pupils - immunization record - annual summary

3313.671 Proof of required immunizations - exceptions.

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that explain to vaccine recipients, their parents, or their legal representatives both the benefits and risks of a vaccine.

The compulsory attendance laws require that your district superintendent be notified where all children between the ages of 6 years old and 18 years old are being “educated.”. This age range is the compulsory school age range, meaning these are the ages where your children must be in school by state law. The laws vary by district as to when your six year old needs to be in school.

A)(1) As used in this chapter, “parent,” “guardian,” or “other person having charge or care of a child” means either parent unless the parents are separated or divorced or their marriage has been dissolved or annulled, in which case “parent” means the parent who is the residential parent and legal custodian of the child. If the child is in the legal or permanent custody of a person or government agency, “parent” means that person or government agency. When a child is a resident of a home, as defined in section 3313.64 of the Revised Code, and the child’s parent is not a resident of this state, “parent,” “guardian,” or “other person having charge or care of a child” means the head of the home.

A child between six and eighteen years of age is “of compulsory school age” for the purpose of sections 3321.01 to 3321.13 of the Revised Code. A child under six years of age who has been enrolled in kindergarten also shall be considered “of compulsory school age” for the purpose of sections 3321.01 to 3321.13 of the Revised Code unless at any time the child’s parent or guardian, at the parent’s or guardian’s discretion and in consultation with the child’s teacher and principal, formally withdraws the child from kindergarten. The compulsory school age of a child shall not commence until the beginning of the term of such schools, or other time in the school year fixed by the rules of the board of the district in which the child resides.

Refer to Ohio Revised Code: TITLE [33] XXXIII EDUCATION -- LIBRARIES: CHAPTER 3321: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: 3321.01 Compulsory school age - requirements for admission to kindergarten or first grade - pupil personnel services committee.

3321.01 Compulsory school age - requirements for admission to kindergarten or first grade

The Compulsory Age Cutoff for 6 y/o and Homeschooling Kindergarten by Sue Duncan Sage: Sue Duncan. Sue Duncan created (HS-ALERTS) many years ago and they have been preserved and housed at The Informed Parent blog, authored by Mary Nix of Northeast Ohio. They were very timely and informative then and much of that information and sage wisdom applies today.

Beginning with the 2014-2015 academic year a resident of this state who entered ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2010, to begin undergraduate coursework at the university only if the person has successfully completed the Ohio core curriculum for high school graduation.

Ohio Core Curriculum As Passed by the 126th General Assembly (S.B. 311) ACT SUMMARY

Refer to Ohio Revised Code:TITLE [33] XXXIII EDUCATION -- LIBRARIES: CHAPTER 3345: STATE UNIVERSITIES -- GENERAL POWERS: 3345.06 Entrance requirements of high school graduates - core curriculum to State Universities:

3345.06 Entrance requirements of high school graduates - core curriculum

Download the Final Analysis of S.B. 311

Whenever a board of township trustees considers it necessary to adopt a curfew for persons under eighteen years of age in any of the unincorporated areas of the township, the board may adopt a resolution setting forth the provisions of the curfew and declaring the necessity for it. Any person under the age of eighteen years who violates the provisions of a curfew shall be apprehended and charged as being an unruly child and taken before the juvenile court.

Refer to Ohio Revised Code: TITLE [3] III COUNTIES: CHAPTER 307: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS -- POWERS: 307.71 Adoption of curfew.
(A) Whenever the adoption of a curfew for persons under eighteen years of age is deemed necessary by the board of county commissioners for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety in any of the unincorporated areas of such county, the board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution setting forth the provisions of such curfew and the necessity for such curfew together with a statement of the reasons for such necessity, and providing for its enforcement within such unincorporated areas of the county. Upon adoption of the resolution by a majority of the commissioners, the resolution shall become effective immediately.

307.71 Adoption of curfew.

Refer to Ohio Revised Code: TITLE [5] V TOWNSHIPS: CHAPTER 505: TRUSTEES: 505.89 Curfew - violations.
(B) Any person under the age of eighteen years who violates the provisions of a curfew adopted in accordance with division (A) of this section shall be apprehended and charged as being an unruly child and taken before the juvenile court in the county in which the violation occurred as provided in Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code.

505.89 Curfew - violations

The attendance officer and assistants shall be vested with police powers, may serve warrants, and may enter workshops, factories, stores, and all other places where children are employed and do whatever is necessary in the way of investigation or otherwise to enforce the laws relating to compulsory education and the employment of minors. The attendance officer shall institute proceedings against any officer, parent, guardian, or other person violating laws relating to compulsory education and the employment of minors, and otherwise discharge the duties and perform any other service that the superintendent of schools or board of education of the district by which the attendance officer is employed considers necessary to preserve the morals and secure the good conduct of school children, and to enforce those laws.

Refer to Ohio Revised Code: TITLE [33] XXXIII EDUCATION -- LIBRARIES:CHAPTER 3321: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. 3321.17 Attendance officer and assistants - powers.

3321.17 Attendance officer and assistants - powers.

Refer to Ohio Revised Code: TITLE [33] XXXIII EDUCATION -- LIBRARIES:CHAPTER 3321: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: 3321.18 Enforcement proceedings.

3321.18 Enforcement proceedings.

Refer to Ohio Revised Code: TITLE [33] XXXIII EDUCATION -- LIBRARIES:CHAPTER 3321: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: 3321.19 Examination into cases of truancy - failure of parent, guardian or responsible person to cause child's attendance at school.

3321.19 Examination into cases of truancy - failure of parent, guardian or responsible person to cause child's attendance at school.

For more information on truancy read on.

The board of education of each city, exempted village, local, and joint vocational school district may make a driver education course available to high school students enrolled in the district

Refer to Ohio Revised Code: TITLE [33] XXXIII EDUCATION -- LIBRARIES: CHAPTER 3301: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: 3301.17 Driver education courses.

3301.17 Driver education courses.

3301.171 Driver education course fee.

"If a parent who has been home-educating a child decides to enroll the child into public school, the local district superintendent will determine the appropriate grade level placement of the child and will evaluate which credits may be applied toward the district's requirements for graduation."

"A parent of a child who has been excused from compulsory school attendance for home education purposes may, with public school district approval, enroll the child in a public school in the school district of residence on a part-time basis. The option for part-time enrollment and related policies is at the discretion of the local public school district."

Sources: [ Home-Ed Fact Sheet a PDF from ODE ] [PDF Copy of ODE Home Edcuation page ] [ODE home Edcuation page on this issue] (they should all say the same thing)

What the regulations say:

3301-34-03 Notification
(A) A parent who elects to provide home education shall supply the following information to the superintendent:

(5) Assurance that home education will include the following, except that home education shall not be required to include any concept, topic, or practice that is in conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the parent;
(a) Language, reading, spelling, and writing;
(b) Geography, history of the United States and Ohio; and national, state, and local government;
(c) Mathematics;
(d) Science;
(e) Health;
(f) Physical education;
(g) Fine arts, including music; and
(h) First aid, safety, and fire prevention.

(6) Brief outline of the intended curriculum for the current year. Such outline is for informational purposes only.
(7) List of textbooks, correspondence courses, commercial curricula, or other basic teaching materials that the parent intends to use for home education. Such list is for informational purposes only.

What the regulations say:

3301-34-04 Academic Assessment

(A) The parent(s) shall send to the superintendent an academic assessment report of the child of the previous school year at the time of supplying subsequent notification.

(B) The academic assessment report shall include one of the following:

(1) Results of a nationally normed, standardized achievement test which meets the requirements set forth in rule 3301-12-02 of the Administrative Code.
(a) Such test shall be administered by:
(i) A certified teacher; or
(ii) Another person mutually agreed upon by the parent(s) and the superintendent; or
(iii) A person duly authorized by the publisher of the test.
(b) Results should demonstrate reasonable proficiency as compared to other children in the district at the same grade level. Any child that has a composite score at or above the twenty-fifth percentile shall be deemed to be performing at a level of reasonable proficiency.

(2) A written narrative indicating that a portfolio of samples of the child's work has been reviewed and that the child's academic progress for the year is in accordance with the child's abilities.
(a) The written narrative shall be prepared by:
(i) A certified teacher; or
(ii) Other person mutually agreed upon by the parent(s) and the superintendent.
(b) The parent(s) shall be responsible of the payment of fees charged for preparation of the narrative.

(3) An alternative academic assessment of the child's proficiency mutually agreed upon by the parent and the superintendent.

One method you might think about is the notion of Principled Negotiation as outlined in the book: Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher, Bruce M. Patton, William L. Ury.

The ideas from this book in a nutshell:

• Separate the People from the Problem.
• Focus on Interests, Not Positions.
• Find Options for Mutual Gain.
• Get the best alternative to a negotiated agreement .
• Deal with a resistant negotiator - do so by asking a few clarifying questions and the negotiator will become more open to your lead.

1. I am the one who selects our curriculum and learning materials, supervises daily instructional hours and sets learning objectives.
2. I have an intimate knowledge of my child's strengths and weaknesses. With this insight I structure our learning environment so that he may reach his fullest potential.
3. I have the greatest vested interest in making sure my child's education is of the highest standards. My goal is to produce a well educated citizen who is appropriately suited for life and has mastered the skills necessary to be a productive adult.
4. Because I have the privilege of spending each day with my child, I get to see the entire learning process, making me as qualified as any outsider to gauge whether or not he has met his academic goals. I see the frustration when he stumbles and the joy when he succeeds.
5. I do not believe that a certified teacher looking through a pile of papers or interviewing my child once a year could possibly have the evaluative knowledge that I do. I have been a homeschooling mother for [number of years] years. The experience I have gained gives me the greatest understanding of my child's learning abilities, which leads me to be the best person to fully and thoroughly assess my own child.