What you need to know about homeschooling in Ontario.
YES! IT'S LEGAL TO HOMESCHOOL IN ONTARIO! You do not have to register your children as homeschoolers, but if any of them are in school you will need to fill out a LETTER OF INTENT and submit it to your child's school. Your child/children can start homeschooling at any time.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A TEACHER. Anyone can home school, as long as they can read and be resourceful (a homeschool group is a great resource). Parents learn right alongside their children. If you feel that a teacher is needed, ask for help in your homeschool group. Some teachers choose homeschooling for their own children and are happy to help other families.
YOUR CHILDREN DO NOT NEED TESTING, but you can choose to get them tested. To learn more about this ask how other parents have done it in the group. Studies show that testing isn't the most effective way of finding out what a child knows. It is used as a tool in schools due to the challenges of mass education, but at home this method of assessment likely isn't necessary. Homeschooled children show their parents what they know through narration and other more natural practices, or through quizzes in their chosen curriculum. Instead of grading (which can place unhealthy pressure on children) many homeschoolers will only test to prove mastery (when necessary) before moving on. They don't just give a mark and move on even if the child hasn't grasped a concept.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO FOLLOW THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM. There are ways if you are determined to get it. Ask your group or contact your local school. There are so many other options out there, that most homeschooling families choose alternatives. Each family and each child is unique and that is why it just makes so more sense for homeschoolers to customize what they use. See Getting Started Section for more.
NO, THERE IS NO FUNDING OR TAX CREDITS. While homeschooling families in other provinces, like British Columbia and Alberta provide homeschoolers with funding, Ontario homeschoolers sometimes need to adjust their standard of living to accommodate homeschooling their children. We however, have little to no regulations in this province which affords us a great amount of freedom. Fewer policies means more freedom to be flexible with our children, and a better likelihood of meeting each child's specific needs.
For more information go to Ontario Federation Of Teaching Parents.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A TEACHER. Anyone can home school, as long as they can read and be resourceful (a homeschool group is a great resource). Parents learn right alongside their children. If you feel that a teacher is needed, ask for help in your homeschool group. Some teachers choose homeschooling for their own children and are happy to help other families.
YOUR CHILDREN DO NOT NEED TESTING, but you can choose to get them tested. To learn more about this ask how other parents have done it in the group. Studies show that testing isn't the most effective way of finding out what a child knows. It is used as a tool in schools due to the challenges of mass education, but at home this method of assessment likely isn't necessary. Homeschooled children show their parents what they know through narration and other more natural practices, or through quizzes in their chosen curriculum. Instead of grading (which can place unhealthy pressure on children) many homeschoolers will only test to prove mastery (when necessary) before moving on. They don't just give a mark and move on even if the child hasn't grasped a concept.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO FOLLOW THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM. There are ways if you are determined to get it. Ask your group or contact your local school. There are so many other options out there, that most homeschooling families choose alternatives. Each family and each child is unique and that is why it just makes so more sense for homeschoolers to customize what they use. See Getting Started Section for more.
NO, THERE IS NO FUNDING OR TAX CREDITS. While homeschooling families in other provinces, like British Columbia and Alberta provide homeschoolers with funding, Ontario homeschoolers sometimes need to adjust their standard of living to accommodate homeschooling their children. We however, have little to no regulations in this province which affords us a great amount of freedom. Fewer policies means more freedom to be flexible with our children, and a better likelihood of meeting each child's specific needs.
For more information go to Ontario Federation Of Teaching Parents.