The state says. •A home school that is not certified has no minimum days or hours.•The state's education office still suggests 1,062 hours over at least 170 days.•A certified home school must meet those numbers.•Certified is a choice. A school gets it only if it applies.

You do. 1.Keep an attendance record for each child.2.To follow the state's suggestion, track your hours too.

The state says. •There is one way: a home school.•The state counts it as a private school.•The private school rules apply to it.

You do. •Nothing to choose.•Give your home school a name. Then send your letter.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. •Ages 6 to 18.•A child who is 6 by August 1 must be in school that year.•A child who started school before 6 is covered too.•A home school counts as school.

You do. •List each child of school age in your letter, every year.•That is ages 6 to 18, and younger if the child already started school.

The state says. •Yes, every year.•Send a letter to the superintendent of your local school district.•The superintendent is the head of the district.•List each child's name, age and home address.•Send it within the first two weeks of the school year.•If you take a child out of public school, send it within two weeks of that day.•The district must accept it.

You do. 1.Write the letter. The state's packet has a sample.2.Mail it. Certified mail with a return receipt is a good idea. It proves the date. The state does not require it.3.Keep a copy, and the receipt if you have one.4.Send a new letter every year.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. •The state's education office says it may not set teacher license rules for home schools.•None of the steps in the state's packet asks for a license or a degree.

You do. •Nothing to file for this one.•You teach, with the books you choose.

The state says. •The subject rule in the law covers only certified schools.•A certified school teaches in English.•It teaches the subjects public schools teach.•The state's education office may not choose lessons for home schools.

You do. •Choose what to teach.•The state's public school standards can help you plan.•The Academic Planner shows what each grade usually covers.

The state says. •The state's list of home school duties has no test on it.•You keep a report card for each child.•The state calls it a scholarship report.•It lists the courses finished and the grade for each.

You do. 1.Write each child's courses and grades as each grading period ends.2.Keep them at home.3.Show them if the district's attendance officer asks.

The state says. •The state's shot law tells every parent or guardian to have a child's shots, with some exemptions.•An exemption is a paper that lets a child skip a shot.•Your letter to the district does not include shot records.•The school shot rule names a home school child only for school classes, sports and school activities.

You do. 1.Keep each child's shot record at home.2.Bring it before your child joins a school class, team or activity.3.For a religious exemption, use the state's form, signed in front of a notary.