I want to homeschool a child who is currently in public school. Where do I start?

First, send a letter of intent (LOI) to the school district.

Next, submit a withdrawal letter to the school your child attended. The letter should include the date of withdrawal, a statement saying you are withdrawing your child and a statement saying the child will be educated at home. The school may wait for your approval from the school committee before they put your withdrawal through.

There may be absences accrued before the withdrawal is finalized.  Do not be concerned.

If your LOI is approved promptly, bring a copy of the approval letter with you when you withdraw your child.

Be sure to make copies of everything you submit and receive, and keep the copies for your records.

What do I need to send into the district at the end of the year?

Send a simple end of year (EOY) letter. The superintendent’s office may send a letter with suggestions for what to include with the EOY — like work samples, standardized testing or portfolios.
We recommend giving the least amount of information possible while still obeying RI statutes. This helps to retain parental and homeschool rights for all RI families.

I have a Kindergarten aged child. Do I need to send in a letter to my district?

Compulsory attendance in Rhode Island has always been understood to be six (6) years of life on or before September 1 of any school year, or is enrolled in kindergarten, and has not completed eighteen (18) years of life as explained in RIGL 16-19-1.  It has always been understood that reporting for homeschooling is not required until the year your child is 6 by September 1st. While that is still true for many there is a caveat to be considered.

RIGL 16-2-28 which states:  Every child who has completed or will have completed six (6) years of life on or before September 1 of any school year shall be eligible to attend first grade during all the days that the public schools are in session during the school year. Every child shall be eligible to attend first grade only upon completion of a state recognized or accredited kindergarten program.

For families that are planning on homeschooling for first grade and beyond there is no change. However, if you plan on homeschooling for kindergarten (age 5) and then enrolling in public school for first grade (age 6) your district might not accept your child’s first grade enrollment if you did not submit an LOI and receive approval for your child’s age 5 year.  We are now recommending that you carefully consider if you will report at age 5  and err on the side of caution if you have any doubt.

Do I need to have a teaching degree in order to homeschool?

Do I need district approval before I begin homeschooling?

You only need to submit a letter of intent (LOI) to begin instruction. You should receive a letter of approval when your letter is approved at the next school committee meeting.

You can check your district’s website to see when they will be approving homeschool requests.

Do I have to follow the public-school calendar when homeschooling?

The only rule is that you must instruct “substantially equivalent” to 180 days (RI 16-19-1). How you schedule the 180 days is up to you.

Are there hour requirements I must meet?

The law states “substantially equivalent” to the instruction time of public schools. Homeschool families are often able to use their education time more efficiently.

Does my child receive a diploma?

Not from your district, but from YOU. RIGHT typically holds a graduation ceremony each year, and all members are invited to present their child with their diploma at the ceremony.

Can a homeschooled student attend college?

Absolutely! In fact, many colleges actively recruit homeschoolers. If you are considering specific colleges, contact them to find out what they require for admission. Then you can plan your child’s education accordingly.

I see RIGHT is a Christian organization. Do I have to follow a specific faith to join?

RIGHT welcomes families from a variety of faiths, but we ask that you respect the values we hold as an organization.

RIGHT upholds Judeo-Christian principles, so every member on our board agrees to our statement of faith.