Can I homeschool a friend’s child?

Hi Carol,

I would really like to homeschool my 3 children next year and would also like to pick up my daughter’s best friend as well. She and her mother have expressed an interest in having me homeschool her. I live in Maryland and am having a hard time finding info on whether or not I can do that and how to go about it. Do you have any info on that kind of thing? From what I understand, I would have to start up a small business. My question is would I have to be a licensed childcare provider? She is 9 years old, and her brother is 4 and I was considering schooling him also.

Thanks ahead of time for any help you can give me!
Karen

I’m not an attorney nor familiar with MD homeschool laws, so you’ll have to do some homework on whether it is legal to homeschool other people’s children.

Some states allow it; others apply restrictions. Many states do not address it at all!

Start with this helpful diagram from Homeschool Legal Advantage: http://homeschoollegaladvantage.com/statelaws/Maryland_Revised_09.pdf

and this explanation from HSLDA: http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Maryland.pdf

You could also contact the Maryland Home education Association at http://www.mhea.com/askmhea.htm

Then at the A to Z Home’’s Cool website (http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/laws/blMD.htm) I found this comment on using tutors and ‘alternative resources’ from the President of the Homeschool Association of Harford & Surrounding Areas

On the issue of tutoring and how much or use of alternative resource a homeschoolers uses, this is a huge NON issue. As long as the parents are overseeing the homeschooling program there is no issue or fear of using educational services.

I hope that’s a start!

P.S. For those of you outside of MD, You’ll have to do some homework for the homeschooling laws in your state. The links I share are a good place to start!

Carol Topp, CPA

Homeschool Business and Entrepreneur Directory (FREE!)

Homeschool Business and Entrepreneur Directory™has just been released this week by Paul and Gena Suarez, the publishers of  The Old Schoolhouse magazine.
This digital magazine is being sent out to homeschool families around the world.

And it’s free to everyone!

Feel free to pass this link to your friends. The directory is 200 pages and shares the following:

• What kind of homeschooler are you?
• What is your homeschooling style?
• Unit Studies
• Charlotte Mason Homeschooling
• Eclectic Homeschooling
• Classical Homeschooling
• Homeschoolers in business
• The Relaxed Homeschooling Lifestyle
• Special needs homeschooling
• Gifted homeschoolers
• BEST RESOURCES FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES

I have a few articles and ads in the Directory including:

The Homeschool Business and Entrepreneur Directory™ is full of article on homeschooling and a huge directory of resources and entrepreneurs ready to serve the homeschooling community!

Look and see!

Carol Topp, CPA

Ultimate Homeschool Expo:An online homeschool convention!

The Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2011  starts Monday May 2!

I have pre-recorded two sessions:
5 Ways a Homeschool Co-op Can Benefit Your Child
and
Career Exploration for Homeschool High School Students

and on Wednesday May 4 at 11 am EDT, I will be presenting:
What Your Child Can Learn From Starting a Business

The Ultimate Homeschool Expo is the largest on-line homeschool convention with over 100 sessions and 50 speakers.

Here’s a schedule for the week:
May 2 @ 11:00 AM EST Cindy Rushton:Lord, Give Me a Vision–YOUR VISION!
May 2 @ 2:00 PM EST Marnie Swedberg–Kitchen Shortcuts.
May 2 @ 4:00 PM EST Lorrie Flem:The Ten Suggestions for Moms.
May 3 @ 11:00 AM EST Rick Boyer:Take Back the Land.
May 3 @ 2:00 PM EST Debbie Strayer:Reviving Your Teaching and Your Students
May 3 @ 4:00 PM EST Coach Rick Andreassen-SAINTS Ministering to a Child’s Heart
May 4 @ 11:00 AM EST Carol Topp:What Your Child Can Learn From Starting a Business.
May 4@ 2:00 PM EST Kim Kautzer:College Prep: Is Writing on Track?
May 4 @ 4:00 PM EST Cathy Duffy:Learning Styles: Choosing Curriculum to Fit Each Child.
May 5 @ 11:00 AM EST Cyndi Kinney:Using the Psychology of Color in Education.
May 5 @ 2:00 PM EST Dr. “Doc” Thomas Sharp:Truth in Science: Biblical View of Dinosaurs.
May 5 @ 4:00 PM EST Regina Hicks:Incorporating a Thomas Jefferson and Classical Approach to Your Educational Adventure.
May 6 @ 11:00 AM EST Maggie Hogan:Highly Effective Habits of Happy Homeschool Moms.
May 6 @ 2:00 PM EST Denise Mira:7 Keys To Unlocking the Leader Within Your Child:
May 6 @ 4:00 PM EST Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. If Homeschooling Is So Good Why Don’t Educators Promote It?

Isn’t that a great line up?
But there are more audio sessions, a virtual vendor hall, with freebies like ebooks, audios, giveaways and door prizes.

Learn more here.

If you can’t join the Expo live, the workshops are recorded and you can listen on your computer or download to your mp3 player and listen at your leisure. I like to listen as I take my morning walk!

Tickets are $39.95, but on special for only $24.97 for a limited time.

Buy your ticket here

Carol Topp, CPA