Legal/Homeschool Laws
Laws that regulate home education vary from state to state. It is important to understand the legal requirements in your state and to be aware of legislative and other legal issues that affect homeschoolers in your community. We've compiled resources that will help you become informed. Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, and the vast majority of homeschoolers face no problems, you may find that you need legal assistance at some point in your homeschooling career. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the support you need. And if you'd like to become more involved in working towards homeschooling freedoms, we discuss some of the issues facing homeschoolers that we hope you find compelling.
State Laws
Read the laws regulating home education in New Mexico and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
Forms
Which forms do you need to fill out? Where can you get them? Here is a list of useful forms for homeschooling in New Mexico.
Legal Support
If you need legal information or have run into a legal situation regarding your decision to homeschool, these resources will be helpful.
Lobbying Groups
A listing of local and national lobbying groups and information on how you can become involved in the political process to ensure the freedom to homeschool is protected.
Attorneys
When searching for an attorney, it is helpful to know whether he or she has experience working with homeschoolers and is interested in protecting the right to homeschool.
Legal Issues
Is homeschooling legal? Which laws pertain to homeschoolers and which don't? How do homeschoolers protect their rights to freely educate their children and to preserve their privacy?
Government Resources
A listing of local and state government resources, including your state's Department of Education, school districts, and Senate and House of Representative information.
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How to Withdraw Your Child from School in Colorado
If you want to start homeschooling during the school year and your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, you may formally withdraw your child from that school. If you are going to start homeschooling after the school year is over, and your child is considered enrolled for the following year, we recommend that you withdraw your child before the next school year begins, so that the school does not mark your child as absent or truant.
Procedures Manual for Home School Operators in New Mexico (pdf)
Issued by the New Mexico State Department of Education, this Procedures Manual for Home School Operators in New Mexico is intended to provide parents, legal guardians, and local school district officials direction for implementing the legislation regulating home education. This link goes to a pdf file, requiring Adobe Reader to view.
How to Comply with Colorado's Homeschool Law
In Colorado, there are three options under which you can legally homeschool. You are free to choose the option that best meets your family’s needs. These options include homeschooling under Colorado's homeschool statute, homeschooling with an independent school, and homeschooling with a certified teacher.
Guidelines for Combining Instruction at Home and School
Students who are in a registered home school, as provided in Section 22-1-2.1, NMSA, 1978, may also attend public schools if the local school district wishes to provide such an option to home school students. However, in order for home school students to be claimed for state funding purposes by a local school district, state law requires that students be "regularly" enrolled in one-half or more of the minimum course requirements approved by the State Board of Education....&uot; Section 22-8-2.M,...
Notification of Establishment of a Home School - Online Notification
This form must be completed with all the required information and submitted to the state superintendent within thirty days of the establishment of a home school and by April 1st of each subsequent year.
Colorado Statute 25-4-901
This statute relates to state of Colorado school entry immunization requirements.
Colorado Home School Laws
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Colorado. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Colorado.
Special Education Provisions for Colorado: Regulations and Resources for Your Special Needs Homeschool
If you are homeschooling a child with special needs, you need to follow your state’s homeschool regulations. There are no additional requirements for homeschooling children with special needs.
Colorado Statute 22-32-116.5
Extracurricular and interscholastic activities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, each school district and each public school, subject to the requirements of this section, shall allow any student enrolled in a school or participating in a nonpublic home-based educational program to participate on an equal basis in any activity offered by the school district or the public school that is not offered at the student's school of attendance or through the student's nonpublic home-ba...
Colorado Statutes - Complete Text
Online access to complete text of Colorado statutes. Those pertaining to home education include: 22-33-104 (Compulsory school attendance); 22-33-104.5 (Home-based education - legislative declaration - definitions - guidelines); 22-7-409, 1.2-d-III (Assessments); and 22-32-116.5 (Extracurricular and interscholastic activities).
Procedures Manual for Home School Operators in New Mexico (Word Document)
Issued by the New Mexico State Department of Education, this Procedures Manual for Home School Operators in New Mexico is intended to provide parents, legal guardians, and local school district officials direction for implementing the legislation regulating home education. This link goes to a Word file, requiring MS Word to view.
Definition of Homeschooling in New Mexico
A summary of the laws regulating home education in New Mexico, provided by Homeschooling PACT, Parents and Children Together.
Colorado Statute 25-4-903 - Exemptions from Immunization - Rules
Regulations concerning exemptions from required immunizations in the state of Colorado.
The Importance of Recordkeeping in Colorado: Best Practices for What Records to Keep
Good records equip your student with proof of education for continuing their education, entering the military, or passing an employer’s background check. It may also prove valuable if there are ever any questions about your homeschool.
22-12-2. Compulsory school attendance; responsibility.
A. Any qualified student and any person who because of his age is eligible to become a qualified student as defined by the Public School Finance Act [Chapter 22, Article 8 NMSA 1978] until attaining the age of majority shall attend a public school, a private school, a home school or a state institution ...
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Featured Resources
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Should I Home School?: How to Decide What's Right for You & Your Child
Have questions about homeschooling? This book has the answers. The information in this book will help you decide if homeschooling is right for you and your child.
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