Guide to Homeschooling in Ohio

Resources

Homeschool Laws and Requirements in Ohio

Ohio homeschool notification forms must include parental information, names and birthdates of each homeschooled child, parent qualifications (high school diploma or GED), an outline of the intended curriculum, teaching materials, and assurance that they will teach all required subjects and at least 900 hours per year.

RECORD KEEPING

In Ohio, home educators must submit annual assessments of each student’s work. These assessments can be standardized test results, an outline of curriculum subjects, or samples of the student’s work. High school students may also submit a homeschool transcript. Although only one of these is required, Power Homeschool recommends keeping all these things on file. This will be helpful when students seek eligibility for secondary education or employment.

Power Homeschool’s online parent portal makes it easy to keep detailed records on file. You can access progress reports, grades, transcripts, and coursework examples through our easy-to-use app.

HOMESCHOOL STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS IN OHIO

Homeschool students have the choice to participate in standardized tests as their annual assessments each year. Students can take the Ohio Achievement Test or another nationally normed test; however, the tests must be administered by a certified teacher or another person authorized by the test provider.

Some parents choose to have their students participate in standardized tests to track progress and ensure there are no gaps in their curriculum and instruction.

HOMESCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS IN OHIO

Like most other states, the homeschool graduation requirements in Ohio are determined by the parents. Upon completion of these requirements, parents can administer high school diplomas to their graduates. Many parents set requirements based on their students’ plans after high school, such as particular courses of study in college. Ohio students of 16 years or older are eligible to take high school equivalency exams, as well.

Resources

Homeschool Support & Groups in Ohio

One of the keys to a successful homeschool experience is support networks. Luckily, Ohio offers plenty of options for parents and students to meet other homeschoolers in their town, city, or region.

The Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO) is a statewide organization that organizes events and workshops as well as provides information about homeschool and updates on legislation that affects homeschooling. CHEO also provides a commencement ceremony for homeschoolers graduating in Ohio. The association also offers member benefits, such as email alerts and discounts on events, retail stores, and magazine subscriptions.

In addition to the CHEO, Ohio has many homeschool support groups and cooperatives to give homeschoolers even more guidance. Homeschool support groups can either meet in person or operate online. However, whichever form you choose, all homeschool support groups allow parents to give and receive advice about everything relating to homeschool. They also allow students to meet other homeschoolers in their area.

Homeschool cooperatives or co-ops are more focused on teaching students in a group setting. These are volunteer-based groups that are typically taught by participating parents. Some co-ops concentrate on certain subjects, such as STEM, while others may structure curriculum around religious beliefs. Most of these groups have Facebook groups, so you can find one that fits your family’s needs with a simple query.

Check out our Power Homeschool Parent Support groups!

• Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Cleveland: With millions of specimens and artifacts, this museum allows homeschoolers to learn about various scientific fields, such as paleontology, zoology, and mineralogy.
• Back to the Wild in Castalia: Students can learn about the rehabilitation of wild animals through regularly scheduled programs as well as private tours or group tours for homeschool groups.
• National First Ladies’ Library in Canton: This site consists of a museum and the home of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley. The National First Ladies’ Library is dedicated to teaching visitors about the role and impact of U.S. First Ladies.
• William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton: Learn about the 25^th president of the United States and his career as a lawyer and politician in the place he called home for most of his life.
• Center of Science and Industry in Columbus: Over 300 exhibits give homeschoolers plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning at COSI. Exhibits include a dinosaur gallery, planetarium, demonstrations, and so much more!
• National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton: Home to the world’s largest collection of missiles and aircraft, this field trip is a great addition to any American history lesson. Students will learn about the early years of aviation, U.S. wars, and space exploration.
• Cincinnati Museum Center in Cincinnati: As a museum hub, visitors of the Cincinnati Museum Center can tour various museums, such as the Cincinnati History Museum or Duke Energy Museum. Some museums also offer “Homeschool Mondays.”
• Cincinnati Nature Center in Cincinnati: Explore nature and learn about conservation, animal species, and natural history of the region at this nature center. Homeschool programs and special events are available for the whole family.
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus: With 90 acres of botanical gardens, homeschoolers can learn about all plant life from biomes found around the world, including tropical rainforests, deserts, and mountain regions.
• Campus Martius Museum in Marietta: As the first organized settlement of the Northwest Territory, this museum highlights the first expansion from the 13 original states as well as pioneer life and early crafts that flourished into industries and businesses.