Answer 0107: We just moved back here after living in Mississippi for two years. I needed to register my child as a homeschooled student with the school administration there. Are there any similar steps I need to take here to keep homeschooling my children legally?

The short answer is no. You can get a simple overview of Indiana law, and what it takes to get started homeschooling in Indiana, by visiting our online brochure: "Get Started!" http://gettingstarted.ihen.org/

In Indiana, you are a non-accredited private school, and the only thing you may be required to do, is to REPORT ENROLLMENT ... but even that is only at the request of the State Superintendent of Schools. We are assuming that when you left Mississippi, you gave notice to the school administrators that you were leaving the state and no longer homeschooling there? In Indiana, we are responsible for our own enrollment and "attendance" as opposed to some states, that require public school employees to track individual parents/children who homeschool. It's a paperwork thing, and sometimes a control issue for some states, but if they were responsible for your "attendance" in Mississippi, then they might want to know they aren't responsible anymore... since you're gone and all. :-)

Bottom line: In Indiana, you are responsible for your child's attendance in your private school, and you are only required to report the enrollment of your children in your school upon request of the State Superintendent of Schools. You may be asked for your attendance records by the State Superintendent or your local school district Superintendent, so keep some records of your attendance. Join the IndianaHomeschoolers discussion list for more support, resources and information about homeschooling in Indiana. www.IndianaHomeschoolers.com


Links:

IHEN.org
IndianaHomeschoolers.com
IHEN Statewide Resource Directory
IHEN Mail Directory