Homeschooling

Ok, so I'm almost ready to give up on the public schools and pull my daughter.  The only thing that is holding me back is her.  She doesn't want to leave all her classmates - I get it, it's a hard thing to do.  But she isn't learning anything and she isn't happy - in fact its quite the opposite.  DD is significantly delayed in reading & english (writing) skills.  She entered 6th grade this year. The delay is looming larger than ever & it's causing all sorts of issues.  In addition she has missed a large amount of class time due to medical issues.  She is essentially developmentally delayed both in size and maturity.  This has again produced some issues this year.  She is the 6th grader that desperately doesn't want to be around boys - still thinks they are ick and doesn't relate to the boy crazy, happy to have curves, girls with the potty mouths that she is going to school with.  She HATES that her body is changing & doesn't want to have ANYTHING to do with any study related to what is going on with her - or any animal for that matter.  

I'm wondering if there are any Texas homeschoolers out there that have pulled kids with the intent of intense educating in a specific area and have or had the plan to let them return to public once they are "caught up". 

In my case, if I can focus her study on reading/writing and give her the attention that they can't - she could be ready to return to public and REPEAT 6th grade - which from what I can tell would be right at the right developmental level for her.  (She seems to hit the developmental maturity points at the end of the year that all the other girls hit at the beginning of the year.) 

I have asked for YEARS for the public to hold her back but they refuse. 

Hi Welcome to the Board!! I hope you find the support that you need!

I'm not from Texas but I do know people who have pulled kids in order to "skip" junior high where it can be really tough and the hormones have gone wild.  My best friend did this and when it came time to go to high school, her dd said that she didn't ever want to go back.  Now she is in college and thriving.  She was behind in maturity and wasn't interested in the things that jr high girls were and her parents just knew that it would be a bad fit.  They only intended to homeschool her for junior high only and now the entire family is homeschooled.  It was a blessing to them.  I hope you are blessed as well and find what works for you.  Keep your mind and heart open and see where the journey leads. 

For now, I think if you reassure dd that she can still get together with friends during after school hours then homeschooling might be more palatable.  Also get involved in a support group of some nature where she can meet other kids.  She will need this as there is sort of a sports team mentality of schools in that she might not be a part of the team anymore.  Does that make sense?  I think that it's healthy to have friends from lots of sources.

Again, welcome!!! and best wishes,

Homeschools are considered private schools under Texas law. I know of at least one school district that doesn't count time spent as a homeschooler as time in school (even though this is illegal) and forces kids to repeat grades not spent in "real school", but because you plan to return your daughter to her present grade next year, it wouldn't affect your plans even if you live in a town like that. Our town is happy to accept homeschoolers at their stated grade.

As a Texas homeschooler, you would not be required to provide any documentation to the local district or the state, although the district might tell you otherwise.

Deborah

But, if it is a school that follows the law, they put her in at the level that they deem she is supposed to be at, ahead of where you want her, because she has an IEP. They may also hassle you about how you are going to provide the services that are in the IEP. Some may be much easier for you to do than others, say, individualized reading program, others they may say you don't have the training and want her to come in to school regardless. Not trying to be negative, just to alert you to the possibilities. I think that you have a great plan if you can get it to work. (Although you may decide that home is a better place for a few years!) I suggest you ask the school and see what they say, and be prepared with plan B if they don't do what you want.

School is for education, not socialization. Ask your daughter what activities she would still like to do for socialization and sign her up. Get her to get a list of phone numbers of friends that she can stay in touch with after school. At 6th grade she is getting to the point of less recess and lunch anyhow.

Good luck with everything!

The IEP only applies to a child enrolled in a particular school. Education is compulsory in Texas (as in the rest of the US), but enforcement is not within the scope of the public school system. A parent who takes a child out of school does not have to explain or report to the public schools at either the local or state level.

If school personnel gave me trouble, I'd print out the relevant parts of the law (available online) and bring the details to their attention.

The Texas Home School Coalition, an organization I don't care for because of the way it tries to manipulate its members by preying on their fears, is nonetheless a useful "watchdog" and resource for parents who have trouble with interference from the public schools.

Deborah