Independent Homeschool Option

Homeschool charters are a newer option in Oregon, and while they offer some advantages, many thousands of families have been homeschooling independently for years.

As of 2018*, there were 22,000 registered homeschoolers in the state, all NOT using charters. (If you use a charter, you don't need to register as a homeschooler, since legally they are publicly funded and supervised.)

This is compared to about 16,000 students in 2020 with homeschool charters.

How do I become an independent homeschooler?

Oregon's homeschool laws are simple. To start, turn in a basic registration letter with the child's name, age, and the fact that you are going to homeschool. This goes to your County Education Service Department, and many ESD's have an online form. Next, notify your local school (if you had been attending) that you won't be returning. There are no explanations or permissions needed.

That's it.

Oregon does not require any particular curriculum and the only testing required is math and language arts, in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. There are no reports to turn in or records to keep, other than testing. If your child has a learning disability, there are alternative assessment methods.

How do I know what to teach? What to do next?

Take some time to do some research. Check out the Oregon Home Education Network web site, OHEN.org. Join several Facebook groups (see list below) to find local resources, curriculum, and common homeschool methods.

There is no one way to homeschool - everyone does their own version, and it changes over time. The important thing is to do what's best for YOUR child and YOUR family, which may look different than what other families do, or what you grew up with.

It is beyond the scope of this web site to go into all the options for independent homeschooling, but there are a lot of resources out there! Start with some of these groups below.

Portland and Oregon Facebook Groups

• Homeschoolers of Portland - All inclusive homeschooling discussions, a good place to find local activities, classes or events.

• Portland West Side Homeschoolers and Unschoolers - Connect with families in the Portland metro area, West of the Willamette river.

• Eastside Portland Unschoolers - Connect with families in the Portland metro area, East of the Willamette river.

• Secular Homeschoolers & Unschoolers of Clackamas County! and:

• Clackamas County Christian Homeschoolers - Residents of Clackamas County, who may be farther from the center of town, meet each other and find events closer to home.

• School at Home Adventures - The administrator of this group organizes field trips for homeschoolers. Factory tours, group admissions to theater events, etc.

• Secular Homeschoolers of Portland, Oregon - Local to the Portland area.

• Portland Unschoolers - Families who learn at home with their children using an unschooling philosophy.

• Oregon Christian Home Education Association Network (OCEAN) - Networking with a Christian religion world view.

• Homeschooling in Oregon - Talk with OHEN - Covering the entire state, Oregon Home Education Network is an advocacy and volunteer group for homeschoolers.

• Oregon Homeschool Support - For all homeschoolers in Oregon state.

• Outdoors in Oregon with Homeschoolers - Activities and places to go and meet outdoors!

• Secular Homeschoolers in Oregon - Statewide focus, connect with families outside the PDX area.

• Homeschooling 2e, LD and special needs in Oregon - A very active group, but not public. Contact admin for an invitation.

• ASDHomechoolersPDX - Families in the Portland metro area, homeschooling kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (or thinking about it).

National Facebook Groups

Just a few of Many...

• Homeschooling Resources Support Group - Great for those who are new to homeschooling and looking for widely available materials and ideas.

• Homeschool For Free - Resource ideas that are available for free or very low cost.

• Secular, Eclectic, Adademic Homeschoolers - Primarily for academic homeschoolers, or unschoolers discussing academic resources. Excellent for researching and getting real-world feedback on books, documentaries, online curriculum, apps, etc, that are religion-free.

• Unschooling Mom2Mom - For those who learn with an unschooling philosophy, support and ideas.

• It's Not That Hard to Homeschool High School - National group focusing on high school and college preparations. Admin is Ann Karako of Annie & Everything blog.

• Special Needs Homeschooling - Admin is Heather Laurie, who has a blog of the same name and wrote a book, "Homeschooling when Learning isn't Easy". The FB group has members with all types of special needs.

• Homeschooling with Dyslexia - Not a private group, but a good page to "follow". Great advice on teaching kids with reading, writing, and math difficulties. Run by a homeschooling mom of 7, several of whom have learning challenges.