Q: Does the school department in Worcester provide books or a curriculum for homeschoolers to use?

A: No, the school department does NOT pay for or provide any books, workbooks, curriculum or materials for homeschooling. Homeschoolers pay for and provide their own books and choose their own curriculum. There are no requirements that a certain textbook be used. Homeschoolers choose (and pay for) their own materials. Worcester Public Schools do not provide any support for the average homeschooling family.

Q: Do homeschoolers have to use a special curriculum? Does the Department of Education require certain books or materials?

A: No, there are no special books or curriculum. Homeschoolers must learn the subjects listed in the General Laws c. 71, Secs. 1, 2, and 3, at some time in their school career, the same as all other students in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, but the school officials may not dictate how they are taught.

Q: What is the deal with socialization? How do homeschooled children meet other children?

A: There are so many opportunities for homeschoolers to gather and interact with other children and adults that sometimes it can be overwhelming. Sign up for your local support group, look up other homeschoolers on Facebook, ask at your local library or even go to the local park during school hours and you will find homeschoolers galore! Homeschoolers play sports, do theater, volunteer at charitable organizations and take classes. There are scout groups, 4H, music lessons and church activities. Homeschooling can be schooling out in the wide, wide world. You will meet new faces and make new friends. Support groups can be found on Facebook or through groups like AHEM and MHLA.

Q: Can you homeschool through high school?

A: Yes! There are lots of homeschoolers who do high school at home....or at colleges...or at co-ops or with tutoring and mentors. There are so many options! Take dual enrollment courses at local colleges or online classes. Set up a hybrid school or just go in with a few other families and hire a tutor for math or chemistry. Find a local homeschool resource center. The CLEP and AP tests lets students test out of classes that they may have studied on their own or have practical knowledge of before heading off to college. Check out the hundreds of high school curricula on line and MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) that teach college level classes for free or by fee.

Q: Do homeschoolers go to college?

A: Oh, yes! Colleges love homeschoolers because they are self motivated and organized. Many students have already taken college level classes through dual enrollment. Check out the specific college websites to see any special requirements they may have for homeschoolers or just contact them directly.

Q: Do homeschoolers get a diploma from the school department? How do you graduate from homeschool?

A: No, in Worcester the Superintendent does not issue diplomas to homeschoolers. Homeschoolers may receive diplomas if they are members of a homeschool organizations or they may simply design their own diploma. High school diplomas are not needed for most homeschooling students who go on to college. Some state colleges may require a GED.

Graduating from homeschool is an individual decision. If the student and parent believe they have finished all the necessary work and if they are mature enough to move onto the next phase of their lives, then the student is ready to graduate. Education is compulsory until age 16 in Massachusetts but that education does not have to be in a high school building. Some students are ready to start their college education at 16, but others may choose to continue their high school studies until age 17 or 18 or 19. The graduation date is up to you.

Q: Can homeschoolers participate in school activities?

A: In the city of Worcester, students may not take classes during the regular school day in Worcester Public Schools. However, subject to availability of space and athletic eligibility, homeschoolers may participate in extra-curricular sports and activities with the approval of the Superintendent or his/her designee.

Q: Does the school department offer support to special needs students on an IEP?

A: Yes, schools in Massachusetts are required to provide services for a homeschooled student with special needs if the parents sign onto an IEP (Individual Education Program). Parents are not obligated to seek such services if they so choose.

Contact the Child Study Office or the Special Education Department for more information. WPS Special Education Department will provide a Request for Special Education Evaluation Form to parents or guardians who believe that their child may have a disability. The district will schedule an appointment to conduct an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education.

Q: Do homeschoolers take the MCAS?

A: No, homeschoolers are not permitted to take the MCAS, according to the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education.

Q: How do homeschoolers know what they have learned if they don't take standardized tests?

A: Homeschoolers may take standardized tests if they want to. There are many options available, such as Stanford and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The test scores may be used to report progress at the end of the school year. Some testing is offered through WPS for those interested.

However, many homeschoolers choose not to use standardized testing. There are many ways to judge academic progress without testing. Parents can decide if a student has mastered a subject by simply looking at their work, by quizzing them or by making and giving tests in a similar way to school. Students themselves often know if they understand a subject. Online programs (such as Khan) and many computer based text books will not let a student move forward in topic until they show they have learned it. When there are only a few students learning a subject in a family, homeschooling parents usually have a very accurate idea of a child's knowledge.

Q: Do homeschoolers have snow days? Do homeschoolers do school work in their pajamas? Do homeschoolers have school vacation?

A: Ah, the classic questions that homeschooling children have been asked since homeschooling reappeared on the educational screen. Yes, homeschoolers have snow days, if they want to go sledding (and someone has to shovel the sidewalks). Homeschoolers can do their school work in their pajamas, if their parents let them. It is always school and always vacation, when you homeschool. Homeschooling offers lots of flexibility to take time off when the rest of the world is in school. And many homeschoolers continue their education year round in one form or another because it is a natural part of their lives, something they do constantly. There are as many forms of homeschooling as there are families who homeschool!

Q: My family doesn't live in Worcester. Can I still use these forms and documents?

A. Yes, the state guidelines on homeschooling apply to the entire state of Massachusetts. Each town or city has its own interpretation but the basics still apply. You must submit an educational plan and have it approved at the beginning of your homeschooling year and you must report on your progress once per year and reapply for the following year. There may be some variation in details but the big picture is still the same. Check your school department website or call them directly to find out who is your contact.