Nevada law (NRS 392.070) provides for a waiver of the compulsory attendance laws if the parent or guardian provides written evidence to the local school district that their child will be receiving appropriate instruction at home. This written evidence should be prepared following the regulations set forth in NAC 392.015 - 392.075. The “Notification of Intent to Provide Home Instruction” form provided (Intent Form) by NNHS meets these requirements when completed and turned into your school district office. You are not required by law to use any form; however, this intent form will simplify this process for you. Call 852-NNHS or email NNHS@aol.com to request one.
Return to FAQ contents
Is home education legal? Yes! Nevada law (NRS 392.070) provides for a waiver of the compulsory attendance laws if the parent or guardian provides written evidence to the local school district that their child will be receiving appropriate instruction at home. This written evidence should be prepared following the regulations set forth in NAC 392.015 - 392.075. The “Notification of Intent to Provide Home Instruction” form provided by NNHS meets these requirements when completed and turned into your school district office. You are not required by law to use any form; however, this intent form will simplify this process for you.
Do I need to be a licensed teacher or have any special training to educate my children? No! You do have to be the parent or legal guardian. You have the constitutional right to direct your child’s education as you see fit.
Return to FAQ contents
How do I decide if home education is right for my family?
Become informed. Read books and magazines on the subject. Attend a curriculum fair. Contact other home educators, ask questions and familiarize yourself with the support groups in your area. Ask yourself if you are willing to make the lifestyle changes needed. Consider your time, energy and finances. Do you enjoy being with your children all day long? Write out your reasons for the decision and be willing to commit yourself to making it work for at least one full year.
Return to FAQ contents
How and where do I begin? Review this material carefully. A Notification of Intent form may be obtain by request to NNHS@aol.com or (702) 852-NNHS. Although an official form is not required it provides guidelines for meeting all of the requirements.
Understand these facts:
1) All children between the ages of seven and seventeen must attend public, private or home school. If you have children in this age range you must notify your local school district and supply them with the information required by NAC 392.015-392.075.
2) A child younger than seven may be taught at home without notifying or having any contact with the district. If already enrolled you may formally withdraw your child by writing a simple letter to the principal informing him that since your child is not of compulsory attendance age you will be keeping him home. If your child turns seven during the school year you will need to turn in intent forms at the beginning of the following school year. (Some districts have requested that you turn in intent forms at the time your child turns seven. Contact your local district to find out.)
**Beginning school year 1999/2000 this age range will change.
How do I choose curriculum and supplies? Just reading through catalogs gives you helpful information. Contact NNHS for names of experienced consultants who are willing to help you and a listing of excellent resources and catalogs.
1) NNHS sponsors workshops and a curriculum fair each year. Several publishers send representatives and catalogs for your examination. Most companies mail order you supplies very quickly.
2) Teacher supply stores may be useful as resources and filling in with specialty subjects.
3) In some cases, public or private schools have allowed former students to borrow texts through the end of the year.
4) If you wish to explore a completely nontraditional child directed education (John Holt style) refer to the consultant list for names of parents practicing this approach.
5) Above all, avoid the temptation to over buy. Set a budget for yourself before looking at what is available. Decide what your basic needs are (i.e., Math, Language, Phonics) and buy those things first. Then choose other things keeping in mind the use of the public library. Try to see what you are getting before you buy it.
Return to FAQ contents
What about testing? Testing is no longer required in Nevada. Parents will now be required to sign a waiver taking responsibility for providing equivalent instruction for their child.
You may choose to test or have your child tested at your own expense. Good resources for testing materials are Bob Jones University Press and Bayside School Services 1-800-723-3057 or email testinghq@usa.net.
Will my high school child receive a diploma or credits from the County or State? No! You will not be able to get a State or County diploma issued to your home educated high school student. No high school credits will be awarded for the work you child puts in at home. However, there are several legal and valid options listed below. (Please keep in mind how often you have needed to show your high school diploma to anyone.)
1. NNHS holds workshops to teach parents how to keep accurate transcripts and records to use for college entrance.
2. Your child may take the college entrance exams (PSAT, SAT, ACT) and use the scores for college entrance. You sign up for the tests at your local high school after getting the packet of information from the school counselor.
3. The Community Colleges accept students 15 and up for courses and college credit. After earning at least 15 credits you may transfer to another school, university or the armed services on the merit of your college transcripts. Recommended reading: Home School High School Handbook by Mary Schofield
4. Many colleges (Harvard, for one) advertise in national home education publications for home schoolers to apply for scholarships. This is because of the excellent reputation of former and current students who have come from home schooling backgrounds. They ask for test scores, transcripts, and an essay written by the student. Recommended reading: Home Schooling for Excellence by David and Micki Colfax.
5. Most approved correspondence schools offer diplomas in their educational packages.
6. Some families print their own diplomas stating that their child has graduated from the family home school, using their carefully kept transcripts as supporting evidence. NNHS has diplomas stating that your child has met the course requirements that you have set forth. You may contact the NNHS secretary to obtain one.
7. Your child may take the G.E.D. after his 17th birthday.
8. Some districts will accept the transcripts from an approved correspondence course and award credit for the classes taken so that as your high school student enters in his junior or senior year he will be able to graduate with his classmates.
9. UNR, TMCC, and WNCC offer High School and College courses for credit by correspondence through the Continuing Education Office.
Return to FAQ contents
How do I fill out these intent forms? NNHS has tried to make this form as self explanatory as possible. Remember, if the forms are completed you cannot be turned down. You are not seeking permission to home educate but an exemption from the compulsory attendance laws.
A consultant must sign your intent form the first year (only) that you home school. We encourage you to let your consultant help you the first time through. They have all had at least three years of experience within the age range of your child (see enclosed list) and will be able to help walk you through it. These are fellow home educating parents who are there to help you, not police you. Any further contact is at your discretion.
If you choose to use an approved correspondence program you do not need a consultant. Enclosed is a list of recommended programs “approved” by the State of Nevada. Be aware of all the costs involved including refund policies. Send for samples of the curriculum and get everything in writing before committing yourself.
When, where and how do I turn in my intent forms? By law, the school year runs from July 1 to June 30. You may follow a traditional nine month calendar or devise your own variation of year round school. You must complete 180 scheduled school days with in this time frame. If you are starting at the beginning of the school year try to have your forms turned in 3-4 weeks before you begin. That is a courtesy to your district.
If you are starting anytime during the middle of the school year you may remove our child from their other situation after submitting the required information. Some districts prefer that you wait to remove your child from public school until your intent forms has filtered its way through the system and been formally approved. This is how the regulation reads (emphasis added by NNHS) NAC 392.015 “A child must be excused from compulsory attendance at public school when written evidence is provided to the board of trustees of the county school district.” The parent is providing the evidence. Wherever “board of trustees” is used, the unwritten “or their representatives” is implied. We never hand our intent forms to actual board members but we do turn it in to the staff. When the school board approves (technicality -they do not have the option to disapprove) the forms it is retroactive to the date it was submitted. This is acting in the best interest of the child.
You may hand deliver or mail in your intent forms but you are required to show or send a copy of your child’s birth certificate or other such document to verify their birth date. Be sure to keep a copy for your own records. Forms have been lost by the district.
To withdraw your child you need to inform the principal that you have met the requirements to begin teaching your child at home and when you plan to begin. You need no permission from anyone at the school and they may not refuse you. If they have any questions refer them to the district office. We suggest that you obtain your child’s immunization record so that if you want to enroll them at a later date you will not have to obtain a new one.
What about my special needs child? You have the same rights as every other parent. You will want to spend a little extra time on the parts of the forms that concern goals, methods, and materials in order to help you plan the best program for your child. See the enclosed sample form for the Special Ed. student. The school district may have a harder time letting go of the $$ that they get for your child but they cannot refuse you. You will have a harder time getting any services through the district but most parents have found that the alternative programs available to home educators are superior to what they were getting before. If you feel that you need more support or referrals to other parents teaching special needs children please contact NNHS and we will find the help and support you need. Please check the resource information for organizations and magazines that deal with this subject.
