Q What is homeschooling and how does it relate to the Dar-us-Salaam Hifzh School?

A Homeschooling is when parents agree to remove their child(ren) from the public school system and accept full responsibility for educating them in all the academic areas including Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Science. The Dar-us-Salaam Hifzh School is a full-time Qur'an memorization school that does not offer instruction in these academic areas. Parents of students in the Hifzh School are responsible for ensuring that their children are registered with their state as homeschoolers, and that they are following their state's laws with regard to home education.

Q What are the different ways parents homeschool their children?

A There are three main methods parents can use to educate their children at home:
· Registering with a correspondence school and selecting the option of the "teacher grading" service in which the school's teachers correct the student's work through the mail. The school keeps track of the grades and provides transcripts when needed.
· Registering with a correspondence school but only buying the curriculum. With this option parents themselves accept responsibility for grading the children's work and maintaining accurate records.
· Developing a curriculum by selecting books from various textbook companies and schools. For this option parents must develop their own program of study in all academic areas as well as grade the work themselves.
Details about the first two options will be given below.

Q Is home education legal? What are the laws concerning it?

A Home education is legal in all states, however regulations vary according to the state and county. Parents must register as homeschoolers with the public school system of the county they are living in. Below are general guidelines for the states of Maryland and Virginia, but parents should take note of the websites and numbers listed below to get complete information and forms.
Maryland State Laws
· Parents who are homeschooling their children must provide instruction in the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music (Qur'an and Islamic songs are accepted), Health, and Physical Education.
· In order to start homeschooling, an "Assurance of Consent for Home Instruction" form must be submitted to the county in which you are living at least 15 days before you plan to start home education.
· Twice a year, all parents must have samples of their children's work reviewed by a reviewer from the county's division of pupil services. However, if their children are registered in a non-public correspondence school approved by the State of Maryland, reviews are not conducted. These non-public schools are listed at: http://www.msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/home_instruction/home_inst_list.htm
· See the full regulations for the State of Maryland at:
http://www.msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/COMAR13A_10_01.html
· More information as well as relevant forms for Prince George's County may be obtained from Carolyn McKie: 301-952-6372. The Assurance of Consent form for Montgomery County may be found online at:
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/forms/pdf/270-34.pdf
Virginia State Laws
· Parents may homeschool their children if one of the following four conditions are met:
o The parent has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education
o The parent has a teaching license
o The parent enrolls the child in a correspondence program approved by the Board of Education. Approved programs may be found at:
http://www.vhea.org/corr-courses2001.pdf
o The parent designs a program of study providing evidence that the parent can offer an appropriate education according to the Board of Education's standards
· Parents must inform the superintendent in August of their intent to homeschool. This should be submitted in writing.
· By the 1st of August following the decision to homeschool, parents must provide evidence of their child's academic achievement either through a standardized test or through an evaluation with the superintendent.
· See the full regulations for the State of Virginia at: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Parents/factshee.html

Q How do correspondence schools work?
A Correspondence schools offer courses to students through the mail. When students register for a course, they receive a text and a study guide that explains the text and contains homework assignments. Parents have the option of signing up for a teacher grading service in which the student mails his homework assignments to a teacher at the correspondence school. The teacher corrects the work and returns it to the student by mail. With some programs parents can also elect to just buy the course material and grade the work themselves. This option does require more work on the part of the parent, but it is less expensive.
Some schools allow parents to select the academic subjects they want to register for but other schools require parents to register for all subjects at that grade level. Furthermore, prices for courses vary considerably so parents will have to do some research before registering with a school. The Internet is an excellent source of information on correspondence schools, and some schools even offer their courses online. To find out about some of the programs available, refer to the websites below under the question "Where can I get more information on homeschooling?"

Q How do I actually teach my child?

A People often assume that to teach effectively one must have a degree in education and be a licensed teacher. Yet homeschooling parents of all educational backgrounds will testify that teaching skill is something that one may have even without a degree in education. For some, it is an innate skill, and for others it is something that is developed. In fact, the skills taught in education schools are often not appropriate for the homeschooling setting, because the class size and environment is completely different. If teaching skill is a concern for you, speak to other parents who have homeschooled and get tips from them on how to help your child. Or, if there are some subjects you are uncomfortable with teaching, then have others proficient in those areas tutor your child.
For the older grades, students can often work independently, especially if they are enrolled in a correspondence course. These programs are designed for students who are independent learners. Again, tutors may be a big help for parents if they feel it is necessary for their children.

Q Can my child obtain a high school diploma and be admitted to college?

A Once you decide to withdraw your child from the public schools, you forfeit your child's right to obtain a high school diploma from the public school system. However, there are many excellent correspondence programs that are accredited and will grant a diploma to students who pass their degree requirements. Through one of these programs, homeschooling students can obtain a high school education equal to or better than that offered through the public schools, and also have a diploma. The key is to pick a school that is accredited and that has coursework that will prepare the student appropriately for college. Most colleges will accept students with diplomas from accredited correspondence schools, but parents should always check in advance with the college's admissions officers.
The following Web page contains a list of correspondence schools, including several accredited high school programs: http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/methods/DLPsCorrespondence.htm

Q Where can I get more information on homeschooling?

A The following websites are fairly comprehensive sources of information on homeschooling:
A to Z Home's Cool: http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/
About Homeschooling: http://homeschooling.about.com/

Q What if I need support?

A With homeschooling, it is likely not a question of "if" you will need support, but "when." Homeschooling is a new, unexplored field for many parents and it is important to have people to talk to seek advice from. Reach out to people you know in the field of education and ask their advice about teaching techniques and curricula. More importantly, talk to people who have actually been homeschooling, because they will have experienced the unique challenges that parents who travel this road face.
Consider attending some of the support groups run by non-Muslim organizations. They may be of help if you cannot find Muslims in your area or if you need more advice and guidance with teaching or legal issues. The following Web addresses have more information:
Maryland Support Groups: http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/groups/9.html#Maryland
Virginia Support Groups: http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/groups/9.html#Virginia
In addition, consider looking into the various homeschooling organizations for your state. Below are listed some relevant Web addresses:
Maryland Home Education Association: http://www.mhea.com
Home Educators Association of Virginia: http://www.heav.org
Virginia Home Education Association: http://www.vhea.org

Q All this information is very overwhelming. Any parting advice?

A It probably seems like the laws, regulations and issues related to homeschooling are too many and too complex. Homeschooling is a big decision, and all parents feel some anxiety at first. Take your time to do research on homeschooling and how it works, and you will see things coming together. Talk to people who have homeschooled and get their advice and encouragement. And remember that if you do this for the sake of Allah, He will make things easy for you and put your heart at ease. Once you do your research, make du'aa, and place your trust in Allah, Insha'Allah you will see how homeschooling can work for your child.
For further information, the following brothers and sisters will be able to answer your questions:
Abid Sadiq: 301-486-1840
Hasan or Merium Khan: 301-208-8207
hasanmkhan@yahoo.com/merium_khan@yahoo.com