You have decided to homeschool, now what do you do? The first thing to do is figure out how to comply with the laws in your state. If you live in AK, CT, ID, IL, IN, NJ, MI, MO, OK or TX you are lucky, because there are NO notification requirements for homeschooling! If you live in MA, ND, NY, PA, RI or VT, get ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work, your requirements are a bit more involved. And for all of you in states not mentioned, it will be pretty easy to comply. Trust me, complying with the laws is much easier than hiding and wondering if you will get caught! To get started, you should read the homeschooling laws for your state. You can find these at www.hslda.org, along with summaries to help explain the laws. I always suggest that you print off the laws to have them on hand if anyone questions you (I have been homeschooling for ten years and not had to show the laws to anyone yet).

The next thing to do is find support groups, associations and resources in your state. You will want to talk with local veteran homeschoolers who can explain how to comply with the laws in your state. Also, it is best to have others who support your decision to homeschool and you will find that locally in groups. For many of us, our extended families are not that supportive. You can find the support you need at www.homeschool.com.

And finally, determine what homeschooling style best fits your family. For my blog post on styles, click here. Deciding what style best suits you will help you discover what kind of curriculum, method or path you would like to take in educating your child at home. There are only three styles to choose from which will make your job easy. Keep in mind that you may change your style over the years, so pick a style that will be best to start with for your family.

Here is a recap on how to get started:

1. Read the laws in your state, www.hslda.org
2. Locate local support groups, www.homeschool.com
3. Determine your homeschooling style