First off – yayyy! We get to stay in Texas!
So, some things that have been on the back of my mind are coming to the forefront now that I’m starting to look at our options for adoption and foster care. Foster care has always been something I thought I would do “someday.” I’ve just always had a heart for caring for kids having a hard time. But I have some concerns of how that will fit into our family.
Well, really just one main concern is my homeschool convictions. I have an idea that foster kids will pretty much HAVE to go to public school. Believing that public school, the way it exists today, is not the best thing for kids anyway, I imagine how hard it would be to send these kids, that are already having a hard time, away to school all day while B gets to be “home.” And then I also imagine it will be hard for B to have them go away, leaving him the only kid at home all day.
Any other concerns I’ve thought of don’t seem like they’d be very difficult to adjust to. But the school issue looms over me as something that might cause problems. So, I’m wondering if there are any homeschool families that provide foster care??? Does that combination even exist. If it does, I’d love to hear how it has worked out. Can the two coexist? Is this going to be something that eliminates foster care as a possibility for us? I’m just wondering.
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UPDATE 4/11: I’m searching around and have found this 10 year old article from the HSLDA newsletter stating that TX did not allow homeschoolers to become foster parents, but they were working on changing that. On the Texas Homeschool Coalition FAQ, this is the answer to the question, “May someone else homeschool my child?”
Yes. Home schools in Texas have been determined by the Texas Supreme Court to be private schools. Private schools are not regulated by the state of Texas. There are no requirements such as teacher certification or curriculum approval. The ruling of the Leeper case states that a parent “or one standing in parental authority” may educate a child. However, if a person is teaching more than three students outside her family, the teacher may encounter problems with local zoning ordinances, and the state will require that the teacher be licensed for child care.
I also have found this information about a house bill that sounds like foster care homeschooling is allowed:
HB 614 is a bill by State Representative Robert Puente that allows funds to continue to go to foster care families with children who are over 18 years of age and still in high school pursuing a diploma. Representative Puente accepted an amendment from Representatives Ken Paxton and Larry Phillips on the House floor last week to delete the word “accredited” defining the school. This change will allow home schooling foster parents to take advantage of this change as well.
And here is a quote from a letter written in 2005 by the Texas Homeschool Coalition on behalf of one of it’s members:
The Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services has assured me that home schooling is routinely allowed for foster children.
Of course, the letter was written because social services was not allowing that family to homeschool. I’ve also seen some references to a NJ battle in 2004, with media reporting as if all homeschoolers are abusing their children. So, although it seems it may be possible, I’m not sure I want to add that extra hassle, potential harassment, to my life. We’ll have to seriously and prayerfully consider whether foster care is a good fit for our homeschooling family. I’ll contact some folks for further consideration and will be asking lots of questions before we decide whether to proceed in that direction.
*I have an idea that foster kids will pretty much HAVE to go to public school. Believing that public school, the way it exists today, is not the best thing for kids anyway*
I’m interested in this post but I’m confused over what you mean above. Why do they have to go to public school if you think it isn’t the best thing for kids?
Tina
Hi Tina,
My assumption is that the state or institution will require the kids to attend public school and not allow me to school them at home. That could be a wrong assumption, I admit. Please correct me if that is incorrect.
Thanks!
Melissa
I have no idea…but what a huge leap to make a requirement like that! I think it would be especially advantageous to home-school kids who’ve been in foster care. They need that message that they are special. I personally don’t homeschool, but I can’t think of a better application of homeschooling! I hope you get to do that with your future kids.
Tina
I don’t know if you are a member of HSLDA but I would ask them. (www.hslda.org) This is something that I have thought of as well. My husband and I have said maybe someday too. We are also a homeschooling family and I could not, under any circumstances, send a child to a public school – especially a child that is in need of foster care – so I would be curious as to the law on this as well. I know that the above organization could answer this question for you though.
I know this is an older post you wrote, but many foster and adoptive parents on my blogroll homeschool. The parents at “Navigating The Maze” homeschool, as do “Two Disciples”, and “Building A Bigger Family”. I think it is fairly common, especially with foster children who need more one-on-one, or are lagging behind and classrooms/teacher are too swamped. (BTW – I am a foster and adoptive mom through foster care. If you have any questions, I’d be glad to answer anything at all!)
Oh thank you so much for addressing this issue, I am to be certified here in a couple weeks to become a foster parent, I have 4 girls of my own and will be homeschooling this year for the first time. I hate the idea of sending the fosterchild to school while I keep all my kids at home. I would love to chat with someone who could relate via email. My addy is JessicaBeller@peoplepc.com
Hey Jessi, thanks for stopping by. It’s always good to hear that I’m not the only “oddball” thinking about some thing or other. 🙂 Since moving and beginning to meet some folks here in TX, I’ve heard of many families that are homeschooling foster kids. What I’ve heard so far, word of mouth, is that you have to have the kids a certain amount of time (like 2 months?) before you are allowed to homeschool them. But I haven’t yet begun investigating for myself yet. We are still focused on settling in. It will take some time before we’re ready for all that.
Let me know what you have come up with. I am considering foster care as well. We have a pretty large home, so we can accomodate several children. I have homeschooled all my kids and I see the benefits of homeschooling foster children as well.
I was wondering the same thing…..
We have three children and homeschool. I had met w/ a foster care agency (in VA) last spring, and they made it clear to my husband and I that “their” children were NOT to be homeschooled. They stated “You can homeschool your own BUT NOT OURS…EVER!” I was crushed b/c I have such a vision in my heart for doing special needs foster to adoptive care. We prayed about it and then last summer in one of our homeschooling groups I got talking with another mother who uses peopleplaces.org (again, this is in Virginia) and this agency helped pick special needs kids for her family that she was able to homeschool and adopt. Since then I have talked with many other families, that at least in our state, if you work with the RIGHT agency that advocates for you, your able to homeschool the foster kids. They make sure homeschooling would best fit the childs IEP.
One website that has spoken volumes to me is http://www.everydayhomemaking.com/about-us.html
This women and her family have fostered, adopted and homeschooled countless children and NOW their ministry is homeschooling preg. teenage girls-homeschooling them…and teaching them HOW TO BE MOMMYS! Also, I’ve read some great books by aurthors who have adopted/fostered and homeschooled. Search “Special needs Homeschooling” and “adoptive homeschooling” on Amazon.com
We have not started doing foster to adoptive care yet ( we are traveling with my husbands job right now), but it’s in our hearts and hope to start taking in children by this summer. I hope you find these resources helpful.
J. Stewart (Va. 08)
Thanks J. Stewart, for the info. If you browse my blog, you’ll find that we lived in VA for a while. That’s where we adopted our son (B). But we never looked into foster care while there. I look forward to hear how things go for you when you head down that road.
This post has been looked at quite a bit, so I’m probably due for an update. I was waiting for more info., but I should at least post on what I’ve learned so far. So, off to do that.
Hi…was searching for information on foster/homeschooling blends and came accross your site. Just FYI….we are a homeschooling family in NE PA, and recently applied to become resource parents with our county, in eventual hopes of adding to our three child family. Though for all intents and purposes and promulgated published rules it looked as thought homeschooling was not an option for foster children in our midst, that is not the response we were given when we boldly asked! We were told that they would decide what is best for the child, and if a child had been in our home for a long period of time then of course division of the children, foster and natural, would be detrimental. The only glitch would be if bio-parent objected, but even then, barring a parochial or otherwise religious private school (which judges have precedent of not overturning parents wishes thereto), the county would petition the judge to allow homeschooling.
Thanks!
We are in the first stages of becoming foster to adopt certified. I want to homeschool the kids when they are placed and not have the additional transition issues on top of everything else. I know I can provide a better educational environment for the kids but our state’s requirements say “accredited” school. I’m hoping that an IEP might be able to override this but we aren’t there in the process yet. I keep asking though.
Would love ot hear updates on those who have walked this before.
We are “homeschooling” our foster son, but they only allowed it because we agreed to go through a public school charter. Our other 3 boys are still homeschooled independently, but it was a fight to get them to allow the charter for the foster son.
They were desperately looking for a place for the little boy. We met him at church and felt drawn to him. We made it clear we COULD NOT take him in as our own if we couldn’t treat him like our own. The attorney said NO WAY, but the CPS worker went over his head and used the bio mother’s “educational rights” (she was ok w/ us homeschooling) to get him in. The attorney came back with a fight, but seems to have backed down.
Homeschooling has seriously been a god-send for this little guy. All the wonderful books I’m reading on attaching say to spend as much time as possible, etc. etc. etc., and all I can think of is “why don’t these books promote homeschooling? they are describing homeschooling!” I feel like our attachment is getting along faster due to homeschooling.
Anyway, we hope to have our son adopted and completely OURS soon. I think he will be adopted by the end of the year. The teacher w/ the charter is a Christian and knows our heart is with independent homeschooling. She has no problem with us leaving the charter mid-year next year. The charter is a “parent-driven” charter which is not tightly standards based, so it hasn’t been too much of a problem to use them.
BTW: 2 great books are Attaching in Adoption by Deborah Gray and Parenting the Hurt Child. Both are really helpful with tips and doses of reality.
We are a homeschool/foster family. Our youngest foster child is young enough to be home with me, and do preschool. Our fourth grader does have to do public school, but we’ve found it healthy in the sense that she really does need certain resources only they provide. But also, we have three young children of our own, who I homeschool. This has been an awesome scenario for us to reaffirm our own children needs and place when big sis is away. It’s an insane, while journey. No day is predictable, but we wouldn’t change it for the world.
I currently teach in the public school system and on a daily basis see that we are not giving children whom have undergone various types of trauma what they need. I would love to open a private/home school for foster children or low-income children in need. Physical, emotional and educational needs all must be balanced in order for a child to grow. I am very concerned that a lot of children out there are not being well served. I know there are people like ourselves who would like to help fill the current educational gap that is becoming more common place. I no longer want to feel forced to place children into a certain mold. It’s time for change, it’s just finding out how to go about that. There are programs for teens, but the need for such programs at the elementary level is imperative. I see that need on a daily basis by now!
If I could only figure out how to get through the various regulatory hurdles I would start putting together a program. I’m hoping people with similar dreams and ambitions can help each other out so there is more hope out there for our children. Does anyone have experience in this area?
I live in Ohio and my husband and I are just beginning the process of getting licensed to foster and adopt. We have two children and are expecting our third but the classes and paperwork, etc, will take at least a year, probably more with his work schedule, so we have some time but as I’ve been reading on this and other sites, we are a home schooling family and at my first Q&A meeting I was told absolutely no private or home schooling for foster kids. My children will all be home schooled and it breaks my heart to think I’ll have to split my children up every day and send some to public school environments. Can anyone point me to any loopholes? I think OH foster care systems are all government agencies if I’m not mistaken, so there’s no going to a different agent. I could be wrong. We are very seriously considering moving to a different state just to be able to home school our potential foster kids. This is where my heart is so there’s no going back. Any advice would help. Thanks.
Journeytomom, i am new to tx and was thinking about foster/adoption. I was wondering if you have learned anything in the last couple years? I am very concerned about this too.
thanks,
Jill
Hi. We are a foster care family and we homeschool. We typically fostered only younger children. When our oldest son moved in, he went to public school. I needed him to go cause I was recovering from a miscarriage and was barely keeping it together. A year later I tried to request to homeschool him. His lawyer said no and I left it at that. It was a sticky case and we were in the process of hoping to adopt him. He finished 9th grade, adopted two days after he started. Got through 9th grade, went to two days of 10th grade and came home and said homeschool me. We are ending his 11th grade now.
Last year I had a 2nd grader placed with us. And then his 5 year brother. The 2nd grader started public school. It was an adjustment. (I am getting ready to blog this all, have had many people ask how we do it) When then 5 started Kindergarden, I started my kindergardener there. I know what you are thinking. But the key to fostering is understanding it is not like a normal family. I knew my kids were going back, so I had to keep them adjusted to public school. I knew that my one k-garder was a high need child and I was exhausted all the time dealing with him. I treasured the time of him in school-cause I was happy to see him at the end of the day!
I do have an other foster care mom who home schools, who has had home schooled foster children.