How to unschool legally when considering homeschooling

Are you wanting to remove your child from the public education system and pursue unschooling? Do you find yourself asking the question how to unschool legally when considering your next steps? The law clearly states that it is illegal to not have your child educated. However, the law does not dictate HOW to educate children. So no need to fear, I am going to walk you through how to unschool your child.

What is unschooling?

First, let’s discuss just WHAT unschooling is because the title may be a bit misleading. Contrary to your possible first assumption, there IS in fact learning occurring when unschooling. Unschooling is a form of homeschooling that is child led. Driven by the child’s interest, parent and child learn together through any and all means possible. They go to the library, museums, play at playgrounds, go to concerts, and spend time with experts in a subject of interest, etc. For example, if a child is interested in learning a new language and culture, the parent can pursue a friendship with someone of that culture and who speaks that language. This friend is what Ivan Illich would refer to as a skill model. Ivan Illich is the author of “Deschooling Society,” and his coined term “deschooling” is likely what the term “unschooling” was born from.

How to unschool and Where to begin…

So now that we are aware unschooling is a form of homeschooling, how do we start? Whether you have already started down the path of traditional schooling, or wanting to start unschooling from the get go, you need to do these two things first.

1. No matter where you live, I would suggest you fill out a letter of intent to homeschool. Not everywhere will require it, but it will be nice to have on hand incase laws change or you move.

2. Research your specific location’s requirements regarding homeschooling. A great resource for this in the United States is HSLDA.com. The requirements per state in the U.S. may influence whether or not you go all in with unschooling or choose a more relaxed homeschool approach to meet those requirements. Keep reading if you find your location has more strict requirements for homeschooling, but you have your heart set on unschooling.

Things I recommend you document and file, no matter your location’s regulations.

• Letter of Intent to Homeschool/ notarized affidavit
• Proof of your own education (HS deploma/ college deploma)
• The number of days expect to be educating your child/ the number of days you actually did
• Document what you do each day/week/month and categorize into subjects that can be translated into public school system.
• Keep a portfolio of child’s art, wrtiting, math, or any other paper worksheets they may do.
• Keep a reading log
• (Any required standardized or not required test scores where applicable)
• Immunization records
• Photo album of “field trips” 🙂

Final remarks on how to unschool and abide by the law.

I cannot emphasize enough how important knowing local laws and requirements are. Looking at things on HSLDA.com give me confidence that you can work out how to unschool legally no matter where you live in the United States. There are only 4 states considered “high regulation” and I am more than confident in your ability as a parent to foster your child’s drive to learn and develop. Taking that leap to trust their intuition will prove to be the best thing you do, and I believe that it will guide you through all of the required “subjects” more naturally than you could have ever imagined. If you are still nervous about starting to unschool or homeschool your child, check out my blog post with free sample toddler schedules and printable. Print the blank schedule and create your own:) You got this mama!

xoxo-T