Guide to Homeschooling in Oklahoma

Resources

Oklahoma Homeschool Laws and Requirements

While there are always requirements parents need to consider to legally homeschool, Oklahoma’s home education laws are straightforward and easy to follow. First, parents may want to submit a notice of intent to homeschool to the principal of the student’s current school. Parents must also consider the mandatory hours of instruction for homeschoolers and record keeping requirements.

For any questions about legally homeschooling in Oklahoma, we recommend parents reach out to the Oklahoma State Department of Education or Home School Legal Defense Association.

RECORD KEEPING

Homeschool laws in Oklahoma do not require parents to submit any reports, but it is always a good idea to maintain records of anything pertinent to your child’s education. This includes progress reports, samples of coursework, standardized testing results, and transcripts. Oklahoma requires homeschoolers to provide instruction for 180 days per year, so parents should also track attendance.

Power Homeschool’s online parent portal makes the record keeping process easy. Through the app, parents can download coursework, access progress reports and transcripts, and track attendance. We also encourage parents to keep any standardized testing results or evaluations on file. Homeschool records are beneficial to have when your student is applying for post-secondary education or wants to transfer to a public or private school.

HOMESCHOOL STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS IN OKLAHOMA

While homeschoolers in Oklahoma are not mandated by the state to participate in standardized assessments, some home educators use these to evaluate their student’s progress from year to year and make sure there are no gaps in their curriculum.

The Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP) is a series of tests that students take between third and eighth grade. High school students should also take the ACT or SAT if they plan to attend college after graduation.

HOMESCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS IN OKLAHOMA

In Oklahoma, parents are responsible for establishing the graduation requirements for their homeschool students as well as issuing diplomas. We recommend that you set graduation requirements based on what your student plans to do after high school. Most colleges, universities, trade school, and employers share their eligibility requirements for homeschool students. Beginning the discussion early about your student’s goals ensures they meet any necessary requirements throughout high school. In addition to receiving a homeschool diploma, your student can take a high school equivalency exam such as the General Education Development (GED) test.

Resources

Homeschool Support & Groups in Oklahoma

Parents and students can find homeschooling support groups and organizations across the state of Oklahoma. Homeschool associations, support groups, and co-ops all exist to enhance the home education experience by connecting families, sponsoring events, sharing resources, and much more!

Oklahoma’s statewide homeschool association is called the Homeschool Oklahoma (HSOK). With four membership levels, homeschoolers can receive a variety of perks when joining the organization, including discounted admission to the convention, member-only resources, and tax deduction information.

In addition to joining the statewide association, homeschoolers in Oklahoma can connect with other parents and students by joining homeschool support groups and co-ops. These support groups may meet regularly in person or offer an online forum. Either way, homeschool support groups allow parents to share advice about homeschooling as well as organization outings and events.

Like support groups, homeschool co-ops allow students to meet other homeschoolers; however, co-ops are more academic focused and provide group learning opportunities. While some co-ops are general, many have a particular emphasis, such as STEM education or religion-based instruction.

Many homeschool support groups have Facebook pages or websites, making them easy to find online. The following are examples to give you an idea about the types of homeschool support available in Oklahoma:

• LIGHT Homeschool Group
• Lawton Christian Home Educators
• Christian Home Educators Fellowship (CHEF)
• Educators for Christian Homeschoolers of Oklahoma (ECHO)
• Cornerstone Christian Academy
• Red River Christian Homeschoolers (RRCH)
• Norman Area Home Educators (NAHE)
• Trailblazers Homeschool Association

Check out our Power Homeschool Parent Support groups!

• Leonardo’s Children’s Museum in Enid: With plenty of hands-on exhibits, children have many different opportunities to engage in educational play. From the Power Tower to the Critter Clubhouse, young learners can spend the whole day learning at this children’s museum.
• Black Mesa State Park and Nature Preserve in Kenton: Homeschoolers can learn about the region’s landscape and geography by hiking up to the state’s highest point and hopefully seeing plants and animals native to the area along the way.
• Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks: With both fresh and saltwater species, visitors can learn about aquatic reptiles, 176 different types of fish, mammals, and more. The aquarium offers homeschool days with special pricing for tours and scavenger hunts.
• Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma City: Exploring animals from habitats around the world is the perfect way to enhance units of ecosystems and life cycles. This zoo offers education programs for students of all ages, including classes, special events, camps, and more.
• National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City: Learn about Western history, art, and culture through exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of the American cowboy, Native American culture, and other individuals who made up the American Wild West.
• Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art in Norman: Located on the University of Oklahoma’s campus, visitors can tour works of art from around the world. This art museum also offers programs that allow students of all ages to explore their artistic skills.
• Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum in Fort Sill: Made of three different museums, Fort Sill allows students to learn about the U.S. Cavalry Fort, weapons dating back to the revolutionary war, Native American warriors, and much more!
• Museum of the Great Plains in Lawton: With more than 3,000 artifacts, this museum lets students discover the rich history and culture of the Great Plains by featuring interactive activities, educational programs, and special events.
• Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton: Visitors can explore the caves and cliffs where many outlaws hid from prosecution. The park’s activities include hiking, horseback riding, and climbing, which makes this a great field trip for daylong family excursions.
• Cherokee National Museum in Park Hill: This museum is home to permanent and temporary exhibits that tell the story of the Cherokee people and their heritage. Educational activities and special events allow visitors to experience Cherokee culture firsthand.
• Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City: With special exhibits and demonstrations, this museum is dedicated to the women who played an essential role in Oklahoma’s development as well as the country’s progress through the decades.