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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma.
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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Oklahoma Department of Education
This is the official website for the Oklahoma Department of Education.
Unschooling and The Law in Oklahoma
Homeschooling is a right guaranteed by the Constitution of Oklahoma, and by state statute. Oklahoma has placed very few legal restrictions on homeschooling, and as a result it is very easy to meet the state requirements. Parents can provide for their child any kind of education they choose.
Sample Withdrawal Letter
For use by those parents who are withdrawing their child from public school. Provided by HERO of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Home School Laws from HSLDA
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Oklahoma. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Oklahoma.
70 O.S. 10-105
A. It shall be unlawful for a parent, guardian, or other person
having custody of a child who is over the age of five (5) years, and
under the age of eighteen (18) years, to neglect or refuse to cause
or compel such child to attend and comply with the rules of some
public, private or other school, unless other means of education are
provided for the full term the schools of the district are in session
or the child is excused as provided in this section. One-half (1/2)
day of kindergarte...
The Seduction of Homeschooling Families
Do the public school authorities feel threatened by homeschooling? Judging by their efforts to lure homeschooling families into dependence on local school districts, the answer is apparently yes.
47 O.S. 6-107.3
A. The Department of Public Safety shall deny a license,
restricted license, or instruction permit for the operation of a
motor vehicle to any person under eighteen (18) years of age who does
not, at the time of application, present documentation that such
person:
1. a. is a student enrolled in a public or private secondary
school, including any area vocational-technical school,
of this state or any other state,
b. has received a diploma o...
70 O.S. 11-103
A. Courses of instruction approved by the State Board of
Education for use in school years prior to 1993-94 shall be those
courses that are necessary to ensure:
1. The teaching of the necessary basic skills of learning and
communication, including reading, English, writing, the use of
numbers and science; and
2. The teaching of citizenship in the United States, in the
State of Oklahoma, and in other countries, through the study of the
United States Constitution, the amendments...
40 O.S. 80
The age and schooling certificate shall not be approved until the
parent or guardian of such child shall present a school attendance
certificate as hereinafter prescribed. A duplicate of such age and
schooling certificate shall be filled out and sent by the school
officer, before whom the same is made, to the Commissioner of Labor.
The blank forms for school attendance certificate and for the age and
schooling certificate shall be supplied to the principal, headmaster,
or equivalent ad...
70 O.S. 10-109
A. An attendance officer, any school administrator, or designee
of the school administrator who is employed by the school, or any
peace officer may, except for children being home schooled pursuant
to Section 10-105 of the Oklahoma Statutes, temporarily detain and
assume temporary custody of any child subject to compulsory full-time
education, during hours in which school is actually in session, who
is found away from the home of such child and who is absent from
school without lawful ex...
40 O.S. 79
The age and schooling certificate shall be approved by the
principal, headmaster, or equivalent administrative officer of the
school which the child attends or should be attending or by one of
the child's parents if the child is being schooled at home, who
shall, for the purpose of this article, be empowered to administer an
oath. The principal, headmaster, or equivalent administrative
officer of the school which the child attends or should be attending
or by one of the child's parents i...
Attorney General of Oklahoma - Opinion 73-129 (1973)
An Attorney General's Opinion, No. 73-129, was issued in response to four questions submitted by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In it, the Constitution, the Statutes, and several court cases were quoted to answer the Superintendent's questions.
HSLDA's Position on Tax Credits Generally
Although a credit or deduction could be helpful for homeschoolers, HSLDA opposes any tax break legislation that could come with governmental regulations. Homeschoolers have fought far too long and much too hard to throw off the chains of government regulation that hinder effective education and interfere with liberty. It would be inconsistent and foolhardy to accept tax incentives in exchange for government regulation. However, HSLDA supports tax credits that promote educational choice without t...
Section XIII-4: Compulsory school attendance.
The Legislature shall provide for the compulsory attendance at some public or other school, unless other means of education are provided, of all the children in the State who are sound in mind and body, between the ages of eight and sixteen years, for at least three months in each year.
Oklahoma School Districts
Comprehensive listing of all school districts in Oklahoma with links to their individual websites.
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Featured Resources
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A Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-To Manual
The immensely popular ideas of Charlotte Mason have inspired educators for many decades. Her unique methodology as written about in her six-volume series established the necessary protocols for an education above and beyond that which can be found in...
Tomorrows Child
Tomorrow's Child magazine offers insights and information that helps parents to feel confident that Montessori will prepare their children for the real world. It will help you understand and appreciate Montessori and apply it in your home.
Black Books Galore's Guide to Great African American Children's Books
"This is a great resource that fills a tremendous need. It should be on parents' shelves at home as well as in every school." —Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D. Harvard Medical School These are exciting times for African American children's literatu...
Pattern Blocks and Boards
This set of 10 simply designed colorful wooden blocks and pattern boards includes 100 blocks in six different shapes and colors. They help develop shape recognition and spatial relationship skills. The contents store neatly in a durable wooden case. ...
National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, Fourth Edition
Now in its fourth edition, the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America is the ultimate birder’s field guide. Sturdy, portable, and easy-to-use, it features the most complete information available on every bird species known...