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Home-Educated Students

 

Home Education in Ohio

In Ohio, parents and guardians have the right to choose the best educational option for their children, including homeschooling. No approval is required to home educate, but Ohio law mandates that children between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend school. If you choose to homeschool your child(ren), you are required to notify the local public school district superintendent of your intent.
 
Below are key details to help you navigate the home education process in Ohio.
 
Notification Requirements
When to Notify:
Parents/guardians must notify the superintendent of their local public school district within 5 days of:
  • Starting home education
  • Moving to a new school district
  • Withdrawing from a public or nonpublic school
If you are already homeschooling within the district, you must submit a notification by August 30th each year.
 
Required Information in the Notification:
Your notification should include:
  • Parent/guardian’s name and address
  • Child’s name
  • Assurance that your child will receive education in the required subjects under ORC 3321.042(C)

 

To notify the school district, complete the Ohio Home Education Notification Form and submit it by mail to the district office.

Instructions:

  1. Click this link to access the form.

  2. Complete the form.

  3. Mail it to:

    Northridge Local School District
    Attn: Jessica Adamson
    6097 Johnstown-Utica Rd
    Johnstown, OH 43031

 
Exemption:
Once the notice is received, your child’s exemption from compulsory attendance takes effect immediately.
 
Acknowledgment:
The district superintendent is required to provide written acknowledgment of receipt of your notification within 14 calendar days.
 
 
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Truancy:
Failure to notify the school district may result in truancy issues.
 
Extracurricular Activities:
  • Home-educated children are allowed to participate in extracurricular activities (e.g., sports) at their district of residence, provided these activities are not part of the graded course of study.
  • If the district does not offer a specific activity, your child may request to join a program in another district, with the approval of that district’s superintendent.
Diplomas and Graduation
Issuing Diplomas:
  • Parents/guardians are responsible for issuing diplomas to their home-educated children.
  • School districts do not issue diplomas for home-educated students. Parents may either create their own diploma or use a template found online.
For College or Employment:
When applying to colleges or for employment, the home education diploma should be accompanied by an official letter of excuse from the local district’s compulsory attendance office, indicating the student’s final year of home education.
 
Re-enrollment in Public Schools
Home-educated children can re-enroll in their district of residence and will be placed in the appropriate grade level based on district policies, without discrimination or prejudice.
 
Online Schools and Out-of-State Students
Children enrolled in private online schools located outside of Ohio are not considered home-educated under Ohio law. In such cases:
  • You do not need to submit an intent to home educate or meet the state’s annual assessment requirements.
  • The child will follow the testing and graduation requirements of the state where the online school is based.
 
Special Needs and Scholarships
 
IEP Services:
Home-educated children with special needs are not eligible for IEP services from their district of residence.
 
Scholarships:
Home-educated children may be eligible for the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship or the 
 
Autism Scholarship Program. To apply, parents must work with an approved provider. Please note that obtaining a high school diploma for a home-educated child is a separate process from the scholarship application.
 
This fact sheet provides an overview of home education in Ohio, including notification requirements, eligibility for extracurricular activities, and the process for issuing diplomas. For further details, consult ORC Sections 3321.042(C), 3313.5312, and 3313.6110, or visit the official Ohio Department of Education website.
 
 
For questions please feel free to contact Jessica Adamson, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at (740) 967-6631 or email jadamson@northridgevikings.org