It is very important to know and stay within the laws and requirements of your state or region when it comes to homeschooling. Homeschooling has been in the headlines more prevalently in recent times due to individual cases involving supposed violations as well as due to a higher migration of American families from public and private education to homeschooling.

There are several different ways to homeschool, however not all of them may be considered legal in your state. In California for instance, there are four recognized ways to home school. You can establish your own home-based private school, enroll in a private school that offers independent study (PSP), use a public school independent study program (ISP) or enroll in a charter school that caters to homeschoolers or, if at least one parent has a credential, one could use the tutorial option. These are the options for California. Homeschool laws and allowances vary from state to state.

In Nebraska home school is referred to as an "exempt" school. Exempt School forms must be filed and approved by the state in order for a parent to teach their child at home. In Delaware they refer to home schools as single-family or multi-family home schools. There are organizations and support offered in each state that can help you stay on top of any legal issues concerning homeschooling.

For a comprehensive list by state check out the Home School Legal Defense Association website. The HSLDA is one of the best resources for home school families looking for legal guidance in the area of homeschooling.

Don't stop learning How to Get Started Homeschooling, continue the series with Step 3: Find a Support Group.