Oklahoma Homeschooling Laws
Homeschooling in Oklahoma is not regulated by the department of education. There are very few guidelines parents are required to observe such as providing education to children between 5-18 years for a minimum of 180 days every school year. There are no testing or reporting requirements for homeschoolers. Homeschooling parents in Oklahoma are also not required to register with state or local officials. Although there are no mandatory subjects that should be taught, courts have recommended that subjects taught in public school should be included in the homeschool to ensure the child’s education remain relevant. The following are the suggested subjects: language arts, maths, social studies and science. This page provides more information on homeschooling in Oklahoma:
· Requirements to Homeschool in Oklahoma
· Letter of Intent to Homeschool
· Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Oklahoma
· Requirements for Graduation in Oklahoma
· Switching from Homeschool to Public School
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Oklahoma
The following outline and points below are not legally binding; they are merely suggestions that assist in providing quality instruction:
· Submit a letter of intention to homeschool to the local school principal informing him/her of your intention to start homeschooling your child.
· Include the recommended subjects in the homeschool program such as mathematics, language arts, science, social studies including the US constitution and civics, safety, health, conservation and physical education.
· Keep the child’s academic records to show the progress over time.
· Provide instruction to children between 5-18 years of age for a minimum of 180 days per school year.
These guidelines ensure instruction provided in the homeschool is equivalent to that provided in public schools.
Notice of Intent to Homeschool in Oklahoma
Parents homeschooling their children should submit a letter to the principal of the local school informing him/her of their intention to homeschool. The letter should include:
· The name, grade level and age of the child
· The telephone number and address of your home
· Invitation to the principal to contact you in case of any concerns regarding the homeschool
The letter should be sent through certified mail which return receipt requested. Officials from public schools are not entitled to inspect or visit homeschools.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Oklahoma
A recommended method of keeping records for homeschoolers is creating a homeschool portfolio which should include information such as: the number of days taught to fulfill the 180 days requirement, textbooks used, lesson plans used, field trips taken, etc. Maintaining accurate records is beneficial when creating homeschool transcripts, returning to public or private school after homeschooling, applying to colleges, universities, and workplaces. A portfolio shows the quality time spent together learning.
Requirements for Graduation in Oklahoma
Homeschool parents in Oklahoma are free to set the graduation requirements for their student. Parents also determine if and when their student will graduate and are also able to award a high school diploma under their own terms. Parents are advised to consult with colleges the student may be interested in to know the requirements the child must meet so as to align the homeschool goals and curriculum with those requirements.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Oklahoma.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Oklahoma |
For students to receive a diploma they need to complete at least 23 course credits in the following subjects: math, English, citizenship and history, laboratory science, computer technology or foreign language and speech or fine arts. |
Parents in Oklahoma have the liberty to determine when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. |
| Testing requirements in Oklahoma | Students must pass the following tests: English II, Algebra I, and either two among Geometry, Biology I, the History of US, Algebra II or English III. |
There is no law in Oklahoma that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
|
Oklahoma high school transcripts |
A minimum of 23 course credits is required for high school students broken down to: 3 years of laboratory science, math and history related course, 2 years of computer technology or foreign language, 4 years of English and 1 unit of speech or fine arts. |
Parents in Oklahoma can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
|
High school course credits in Oklahoma |
The following course credits must be completed by the student: 3 Sciences including Chemistry and Biology, career and tech instruction or Physics, 3 Math including Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2,and Statistics Probability, 3.5 Social Studies(History of the world, the US, Geography, Economics and Government and Citizenship), Language Arts, Physical education, Art and 7 electives. |
Many parents in Oklahoma choose to specify or assign academic credits to the courses taken during the homeschooling period as this may aid during the transcript creation process. |
|
Eligibility for GED in Oklahoma |
Students who are 18 years and above are eligible to take the GED. Those below 18 must obtain a signed permission form from the parent and the school administrator. Students must prove their identity using an ID or a driver’s license as a requirement to take the test. |
Homeschoolers in Oklahoma are eligible if the meet the same criteria as public school students. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Oklahoma
Students being enrolled to a public school after homeschooling are subjected to standardized test. Parents should submit evidence showing the child tool the test by providing the actual test and the results of the test. The test results determine whether the child has been provided with sufficient instruction as his/her age mates in public schools. Such records are to be maintained by the school for 1 year.
Lernsys Homeschooling makes it easy to keep a summary of the curriculum used including grades, topics covered, quiz and test scores, teacher credentials, etc.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Oklahoma
Have other questions about homeschooling in Oklahoma? You may find the following pages helpful.
