Missouri homeschoolers?

[phathui5]

Dh is looking at possibly taking a job in Missouri and I'm interested in MO homeschooling info. Laws, resources, number of homeschoolers, groups, conferences, the works...

[phathui5]

Oops. I meant to put that in the General Forum.

[mom2abcd]

The school year is defined as beginning July 1 and ending the next June 30.


5. A parent who is home schooling a child must maintain the following records:

a. A plan book, diary, daily log, or other written record indicating the subjects taught and the activities engaged in with the student.

b. A portfolio containing samples of the student's academic work.

c. A record of evaluation of the student's academic progress.

d. Other written, or credible evidence equivalent to a, b, and c.

If a parent decides to home school, he or she shall offer 1,000 hours of instruction during the school year, with at least 600 hours in the basics, which will be in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. At least 400 of the 600 hours shall occur in the home location.

--
http://www.chef-missouri.com/FAQsFrame.html
http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Missouri.pdf
http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/hslda/200112031.asp
http://missourihomeschool.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/school-year-revisited/
http://www.moga.missouri.gov/statutes/C100-199/1670000031.HTM
http://www.dese.mo.gov/schoollaw/HomeSch/homeschool.htm

[kls126s]

PP had good details so I won't repeat. We live in St Louis and have found MO to be a pretty easy state to homeschool in. Most of the metro areas have active support groups.

Where is it that you may be moving?

If you are interested - Classical Conversations (http://www.classicalconversations.com/StateManagers/SMSusanReilly.html) is becoming more active in this state too. We have several new groups starting this coming year too.

[phathui5]

We would be moving near or to Kansas City.

[phathui5]

So is the short version of the law that you don't have to register or tell anyone that you're homeschooling, but you keep those records in case it comes up somehow?

[Momto2Ns]

I would just add, that in Missouri, you keep the records that mom2 mentioned, but you never show them to anyone. No one bothers you, you don't have to register with a school district. However, if you need services from a school district, they are required to provide all special needs services (unlike some states that exclude homeschoolers). I also know people who use ps and take a few classes for high school such as advanced math, science with lab or foreign languages.

I live in the Springfield area and homeschooling is very popular here. This is a conservative area which means most of the homeschoolers are religious, but there are a full range. We have great support groups, orchestra, lots of PE choices, classical conversations and lots of other co-ops. Missouri is a great place to homeschool.

Let us know if you come our way :001_smile:

[Mama Anna]

The KC area has quite a few support groups and co-ops here. A lot of them tend to be faith-based, but I believe I've heard of at least one that is secular, if that's what you're looking for.

We'll be happy to welcome you if you come!

Mama Anna

[mo2]

So is the short version of the law that you don't have to register or tell anyone that you're homeschooling, but you keep those records in case it comes up somehow?

Yes. The records you keep are basically to cover your butt in case anyone ever challenges you and you end up in court. (pretty rare, I imagine).

[Donna A.]

We're in the Kansas City area, and there are *several* support groups to choose from. The biggest one is Midwest Parent Educators, and in fact their annual homeschool convention (really big) is this coming weekend.

http://www.midwesthomeschoolers.org/

There are other, smaller groups around the area, too, if you're looking for something more intimate. It would depend on what area of KC you're living in. In addition, if you're on the north side, I know there's a part-time classical Christian school that homeschoolers use, too. On the south/southeast side, I know there's a Classical Conversations group out that way, too. And maybe more that I don't know about.

There's also Good Shepherd Academy which offers part-time enrichment courses to homeschoolers, annual testing, and also has an in-house homeschool book and supply store. They're getting ready to move, so the address shown on this website won't be accurate. I'm not sure what date they're moving, though. http://www.gsacademy.org/ They've removed some information from the site due to the changes they're currently going through, but you might bookmark it to follow up on later.

Here's a link to one of the state organizations that lobbies for us at the capital city, to which we belong: http://www.fhe-mo.org/ They also have a yahoo group which I keep forgetting to join. :glare:

[Jenn in Mo]

Just a little wave to Debbie - I live an hour from Springfield! :driving: We make it there about once or twice a month.

I've also found the public schools to be very eager to work with homeschoolers - very supportive, though I'm sure different districts will have different attitudes. So far, I've heard nothing but good stuff. Also, a friend in DFS says it is extremely unlikely that they will ever even research a call on non-schooling/homeschooling because there is very little they could even do since the laws are so vague. We like vague.

[phathui5]

public schools to be very eager to work with homeschoolers

What do you mean? Do homeschoolers there do things at the public schools?

[mo2]

What do you mean? Do homeschoolers there do things at the public schools?

Well, supposedly hsers are allowed to join in public school sports and other extracurricular activities. But a friend of ours eventually had to enroll her son in public high school because they wouldn't cooperate and let him play sports (which he really wanted to do). I live in a different town from her (and my kids are much littler) and I have had no problems. We go to the public school and use their library and gym occasionally. Everyone is very friendly.

[Momto2Ns]

They generally won't allow sports participation (and aren't required to), our school district has a required number of hours to participate in sports. However, all the districts around me allow homeschool students to take one class or as many classes as they want in Jr. High and High School. We probably won't do that, but I know other families who do. As I mentioned, for subjects that are difficult to teach at home, such as foreign language, lab science or advanced math - it can be nice to go into ps school for 1 or two hours a day and take care of these things for free. I live in an excellent school district (I pay high enough property taxes :lol:) its great that homeschoolers can take advantage of it if they want to.

Yes, you keep the records in case anyone ever files a complaint with DFS or something because your kids are at home. Then if its questioned, you show them the records.

Are you going to the SHEM conference Jenn?

[Jenn in Mo]

Any classes or services that are offered to public school members are also available to homeschoolers because their parents are paying school taxes. Organized sports are considered extra-curricular and are not available by law.

However, Speech Therapy and other therapies should be easily accessible. My local public school didn't even bother filing paper work or anything...they just let me meet twice a week with the speech therapist "under the table".....they didn't want to mess with the hassle of filing any paperwork on him. My 6th grade son plays trumpet and is taking band through the public school. In high school, I will likely sign him up to take chemistry since our local school has an excellent chemistry lab.

The one complication with our vague laws comes in competitions. It has not been determined whether or not my son will be able to participate in band competitions. We're looking into it because this is something that is important to us.

[phathui5]

Any classes or services that are offered to public school members are also available to homeschoolers because their parents are paying school taxes.

So I could send them to school for Music or Gym?

[Momto2Ns]

You sure can. When I pulled my son, he was signed up for band and the first thing they asked was "Will he still be taking band?". We're doing homeschool orchestra instead - a chance to meet other homeschoolers and to get away from ps, but it is great to have it all there available. Some schools are friendlier than others, but by law they have to let them in. In this area, there are enough homeschoolers, that all the districts are familiar with it and play nicely. I'm not sure if that is true in KC or not.

[mominbc]

I know this is off topic but we are visiting Missouri in the fall and I was wondering if there are any good homeschool bookstores in Missouri?
Thanks:)

[phathui5]

PP had good details so I won't repeat. We live in St Louis and have found MO to be a pretty easy state to homeschool in. Most of the metro areas have active support groups.

Where is it that you may be moving?

If you are interested - Classical Conversations (http://www.classicalconversations.com/StateManagers/SMSusanReilly.html) is becoming more active in this state too. We have several new groups starting this coming year too.

What do you do with Classical Conversations? Can you describe it?

[Donna A.]

I know this is off topic but we are visiting Missouri in the fall and I was wondering if there are any good homeschool bookstores in Missouri?
Thanks:)

Whereabouts in Missouri are you going? If you come to the KC area, check the Good Shepherd Academy Bookstore that I linked to in an earlier post. I think they'll be at their new address by the fall, so bookmark it and check back later.

[kls126s]

What do you do with Classical Conversations? Can you describe it?

Classical Conversations is a weekly coop of sorts focusing on memory work and classical learning skills. Each week we learn some history facts, grammar facts, geography, do a science experiment and a fine arts project, and do a presentation. You can read more about about it on their website (www.classicalconversations.com (http://classicalconversations.com/)) or contact the MO state manager (http://classicalconversations.com/StateManagers/SMSusanReilly.html). I know she directed a class in Belton, which I believe is the only class in the KC area. As of January she is now the state director and someone else will be directing the Belton class, but I don't know who.

[phathui5]

Dh is back now. He had three interviews, then went out with a realtor for a tour of the city. They haven't made an official offer yet and we're waiting to hear from them. Have I mentioned that I'm not good at waiting?

[phathui5]

Keri,

Is CC a co-op where parents have to help out during the classes or is it something where you pay and the child goes? In the past, we haven't been able to let ds and dd do co-op classes because the younger boys want me to stay with them.

[Donna A.]

Keri,

Is CC a co-op where parents have to help out during the classes or is it something where you pay and the child goes? In the past, we haven't been able to let ds and dd do co-op classes because the younger boys want me to stay with them.

You might want to start a separate thread about this so that more Classical Conversations participants can respond. :)