Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do I do when pulling my child out of a private school mid-year to homeschool?
“The problem is that the Law does not clearly give direction for mid-year activity. It is undefined, so there is now clear correct answer. I would feel that if they register now with the 180 day wording and then again in August, there should be no problem. Then you have overcomplied with the law by registering sooner, rather than a year later. I would see no problem with this and if any questions were asked, they could be answered very simply by explaining the mid-year change of private school to homeschool. No letter of intent is or was needed because the child was in private school, not public.” Mike Flowers, President, CHEF of Louisiana, 2010
Editor’s note: Students who are withdrawn from public school during the school year, or who attended public school the year before enrolling in a private school, must provide a written notification of enrollment to the public school he attended within 10 days of enrollment in homeschool. This notification must include: Student’s legal name; Date of birth; Gender; and Race.
2. How do I register my homeschool with the state of Louisiana? Do I go to the local school board office?
You should first decide if you are registering with the state as a private school or applying for approval as a home study program. You may go to Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) to find out the requirements and explanations for both. With HSLDA membership, sample forms are available on HSLDA’s website to send to the State Board of Education. (Membership in HSLDA is available at a 15% discount with membership in a local CHEF of LA homeschool group.)
Private School You do not need to visit the school board office, unless you are needing to procure public school curriculum content to use at home. Sometimes the school board office will unintentionally mislead parents by saying that you have to be an approved private school by application. No application is necessary, as you are just supplying a letter of intent to homeschool as a Private School. The letter of intent only provides the name of your school, the number of students, and the name of the parent/educator. (To pick a school name, use something interesting to you, or use your last name, or make an acronym for easy recollection.) You can click here to find an example of a Sample Private School Letter.
Home Study If you are registering as a Home Study, you must fill out an application for approval the first year, and the second year, renew with a standardized test score. You must send in an application for approval as a Home Study if you desire to be eligible for TOPS (college scholarship) at the beginning of the 11th grade year of study. Visit the Louisiana Department of Education’s Home Study page for more information.
3. This Question is taken from TOPS administration FAQs:
Q. 160. I am a home study student. Can I receive TOPS and, if so, are there any special requirements?
A. Yes. The Louisiana Department of Education must certify to LOSFA that you are 1a student who successfully completed the eleventh, if applicable, and twelfth grade levels of a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).
bq. Parents who are interested in eligibility criteria for obtaining a TOPS scholarship should contact the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid (LOSFA) at 800-259-5626, extension 1012.
4. Where do I take my child if I need additional classes to supplement their home-based education?
Central Louisiana has other non-CHEF of LA homeschool groups, either loosely or more formally organized. First Class Homeschool Ministries is one such group. This group of local homeschool families gather for a once-a-week Monday School, meeting for two ten-week semesters each school year. Information about classes offered, schedules, and requirements can be found on their website.
5. Should I file for the Louisiana Department of Revenue tax deduction for homeschoolers?
For those who are trying to decide whether or not to file, the recommendation from CHEF of LA (+) is that each family make their own decision, based on the following disclaimer: this deduction has wording that says that it is for those in an “approved homeschool,” when you are not required to be approved as a private school option. Home Study schools are required to be approved, so that wording is accurate for Home Study.
The caveat is that this wording was unintentionally phrased incorrectly. CHEF of LA and others in the state are trying to get the wording changed back to its original intention, which was to say that registered homeschools are applicable. CCHSA does not make any recommendations either way, but please use your own judgment if you are a private school applying for this deduction this year. See the Louisiana Dept. of Revenue: for details and specific wording.
6. If my child is in the fourth or eighth grade, am I, as a homeschooler, required to do LEAP testing?
No, if you are planning to continue homeschooling for the following year. If, however, you intend to place your child in a public school in grades 5 through 9, then your child must take the LEAP for public school entrance with the expected level of achievement. (See p. 3 of SECTION 1: THE LOUISIANA EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, LEAP/GEE 2006–2007 ANNUAL REPORT at the Louisiana Department of Education.
+ For more details on the tax deduction or on other items listed above, please visit CHEF of LA. You can also request a FREE download of their best homeschool resource, a booklet with many more questions and answers on these issues and more for homeschoolers in Louisiana.