| FAQs about Homeschooling |
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| Indigo Home Learners |
Q. Why homeschool?
A. There are many reasons that a family may choose to homeschool and usually it is a combination of several things.. Here is a
list of just a few of them: the desire to personalize their child's education, dissatisfaction with the school system, religious
reasons, safety concerns and social concerns. Here is a great article on reasons to homeschool.
Q. What are the benefits of homeschooling?
A. There are endless benefits to homeschooling, including (and definitely not limited to): the ability to customize your child's
education, more time to spend as a family, life schedule that doesn't revolve around the school system's calendar, the
opportunity for children to focus on what they really want to learn, safety from the dangers that are present in schools and
FREEDOM.
Q. I am interested in homeschooling, but still not sure how it works in real life?
A. Search out local homeschool groups or even online groups and talk to other families about how homeschooling works for
them. There are so many ways to homeschool that you are very likely to be able to find something that works for your family as
well!
Q. What about socialization?
A. One of the most frequently asked questions about homeschooling. Two quotes from John Holt (author of many books on
homeschooling) sum it up pretty well."As for friends, you are not going to lock your child in the house. I think the socializing
aspects of school are 10 times as likely to be harmful as helpful. The human virtues -- kindness, patience, generosity, et cetera
-- are learned by children in intimate relationships, maybe groups of two or three. By and large, human beings tend to behave
worse in large groups, as you find in school. There they learn something quite different: popularity, conformity, bullying, teasing
-- things like that. [Homeschoolers] can make friends after school hours, during vacations, at the library, in church." and “When
I point out to people that the social life of most schools and classrooms is mean-spirited, status-oriented, competitive, and
snobbish, I am always astonished by their response. Not one person of the hundreds with whom I've discussed this has yet said
to me that the social life at school is kindly, generous, supporting, democratic, friendly, loving, or good for children. No, without
exception, when I condemn the social life of school, people say, "But that's what the children are going to meet in Real Life."
And here is a great article on Social Skills and Homeschooling.
Q. Is it legal in Arizona?
A. Yes, yes, yes! Here is a link to the Maricopa County Homeschool Liason (there is a lot of information for Arizona
homeschooling families here) and also to the Arizona Revised Statutes Regarding Education.
Q. Do I need a special training to teach my child?
A. There are no qualifications required for parents in the state of Arizona.
Q. Is homeschooling expensive?
A. Homeschooling can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want it to be. There are endless resources and curricula
available. You can used a “boxed” curriculum or pick and choose from many different resources. And don't forget about the
public library! Here is a great comparison done by Covenant Home school Resources Center.
Q. Where can I find support?
A. Look for a local homeschool support group (and it may take trying out more than one to find the right “fit”) or even online
support groups. Many curriculum programs also offer support on their sites, so that you can talk to other families using the
same curriculum.
Q. What if my child wants to learn something I can't teach them?
A. Chances are, by the time your child is old enough to want to learn things you feel you can't teach them, they will be old
enough (and motivated enough) to learn it themselves. You can facilitate this by finding a tutor, joining a co-op or study group
through a local support group, enrolling them in a class at a local school or community college or an online school or university.
You might just find yourself learning it along with them and enjoying it!
Q. How does my child get a high school diploma/GED?
A. In order to obtain an accredited diploma, you need to use an accredited online or correspondence program as your home
school curriculum. After the student has completed the program, a diploma will be issued to the student. For a listing of
accredited programs, please refer to our Resource Directory, as there are a couple of programs listed there. For more
programs, or to check on the accreditation of a specific program, call the NCA Commission on Accreditation and School
Improvement at 1-800-525-9517. For GED information, please call the Arizona Department of Education’s GED information line
at 602-258-2410 ext. 222.
A. There are many reasons that a family may choose to homeschool and usually it is a combination of several things.. Here is a
list of just a few of them: the desire to personalize their child's education, dissatisfaction with the school system, religious
reasons, safety concerns and social concerns. Here is a great article on reasons to homeschool.
Q. What are the benefits of homeschooling?
A. There are endless benefits to homeschooling, including (and definitely not limited to): the ability to customize your child's
education, more time to spend as a family, life schedule that doesn't revolve around the school system's calendar, the
opportunity for children to focus on what they really want to learn, safety from the dangers that are present in schools and
FREEDOM.
Q. I am interested in homeschooling, but still not sure how it works in real life?
A. Search out local homeschool groups or even online groups and talk to other families about how homeschooling works for
them. There are so many ways to homeschool that you are very likely to be able to find something that works for your family as
well!
Q. What about socialization?
A. One of the most frequently asked questions about homeschooling. Two quotes from John Holt (author of many books on
homeschooling) sum it up pretty well."As for friends, you are not going to lock your child in the house. I think the socializing
aspects of school are 10 times as likely to be harmful as helpful. The human virtues -- kindness, patience, generosity, et cetera
-- are learned by children in intimate relationships, maybe groups of two or three. By and large, human beings tend to behave
worse in large groups, as you find in school. There they learn something quite different: popularity, conformity, bullying, teasing
-- things like that. [Homeschoolers] can make friends after school hours, during vacations, at the library, in church." and “When
I point out to people that the social life of most schools and classrooms is mean-spirited, status-oriented, competitive, and
snobbish, I am always astonished by their response. Not one person of the hundreds with whom I've discussed this has yet said
to me that the social life at school is kindly, generous, supporting, democratic, friendly, loving, or good for children. No, without
exception, when I condemn the social life of school, people say, "But that's what the children are going to meet in Real Life."
And here is a great article on Social Skills and Homeschooling.
Q. Is it legal in Arizona?
A. Yes, yes, yes! Here is a link to the Maricopa County Homeschool Liason (there is a lot of information for Arizona
homeschooling families here) and also to the Arizona Revised Statutes Regarding Education.
Q. Do I need a special training to teach my child?
A. There are no qualifications required for parents in the state of Arizona.
Q. Is homeschooling expensive?
A. Homeschooling can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want it to be. There are endless resources and curricula
available. You can used a “boxed” curriculum or pick and choose from many different resources. And don't forget about the
public library! Here is a great comparison done by Covenant Home school Resources Center.
Q. Where can I find support?
A. Look for a local homeschool support group (and it may take trying out more than one to find the right “fit”) or even online
support groups. Many curriculum programs also offer support on their sites, so that you can talk to other families using the
same curriculum.
Q. What if my child wants to learn something I can't teach them?
A. Chances are, by the time your child is old enough to want to learn things you feel you can't teach them, they will be old
enough (and motivated enough) to learn it themselves. You can facilitate this by finding a tutor, joining a co-op or study group
through a local support group, enrolling them in a class at a local school or community college or an online school or university.
You might just find yourself learning it along with them and enjoying it!
Q. How does my child get a high school diploma/GED?
A. In order to obtain an accredited diploma, you need to use an accredited online or correspondence program as your home
school curriculum. After the student has completed the program, a diploma will be issued to the student. For a listing of
accredited programs, please refer to our Resource Directory, as there are a couple of programs listed there. For more
programs, or to check on the accreditation of a specific program, call the NCA Commission on Accreditation and School
Improvement at 1-800-525-9517. For GED information, please call the Arizona Department of Education’s GED information line
at 602-258-2410 ext. 222.
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