Local Homeschooling Blogs:

 

 

If you have a blog where you talk about homeschooling, please let me know if you'd like it added to this list!

 

A Homegrown Life - Amanda Gauthier-Parker

http://crunchychristianmom.blogspot.com/

 

Dwelling Place: Planting Seeds of Greatness - Kati Johnson Wilson

http://dwellingplaceplantingseedsofgreatness.blogspot.com/

 

Homepreschool and Beyond -- Susan Lemons

http://susanlemons.wordpress.com/

 

Afterthoughts and Teaching Reading with BOB Books - Brandy Vencel

http://thoughtsaftergod.blogspot.com/

http://teachingwithbob.blogspot.com/

 

See Mom Blog - Melissa Peaker Whitten

http://www.seemomblog.com/

 

 

 

Filing Requirements for the State of California

 

IF you homeschool independently--meaning you file the annual private school affidavit with the state--you certify on that form that you are keeping certain records. These records are required of ALL private schools.It is highly unlikely that a government official would ever come to your home and check on your private school, but if one did, you would likely need to produce these records. If you do not have them, it can cause you legal trouble because the affidavit is a legal form and you signed your name saying you would do certain things.All of this is not to scare you but to make sure you understand the risks involved in NOT keeping the legally required paperwork. This is, honestly, why a lot of people like to pay for a PSP!With that said, the state requires six things:

• The Affidavit. This is filed each year between October 1-15. If you begin homeschooling after these dates, you do not file until the following year. You are required by law to keep copies of your affidavit for three years. Here is a link to the online affidavit form. I suggest you fill it out using the Private School Affidavit Filing Instructions from HSLDA.

• Attendance Record. There are many ways to keep attendance. Here is a simple, 1-page, 180-day blank attendance form. The state defines a day of instruction for private tutors as a minimum of three hours, so that is something to keep in mind. Public schools and private tutors are required to do 175, and I have heard legal organizations such as HSLDA suggest that we do 175 as well, but that is just advice and not a legal requirement. You can decide how long your school year actually is.

• Course of Study.  See information here.

• Faculty Information/Qualification. A resume for yourself and your husband will work. If you are insecure about your resume (maybe you don't have much education or something) you can write a letter instead. I would suggest that if you think your resume is weak, you can add in your own continuing education--did you go to a conference? read a book to educate yourself? take a class? listen to a lecture? Include all of that.

• Immunization Record/Waiver. Your doctor can help you with the record. If you use the waiver, here is HSLDA's page on the new, burdensome immunization issues.From the looks of this page, it seems that those of us who were using the waiver in 2013 are safe to continue under that waiver for elementary school.

• School Entry Health Exam/Waiver. Current law says that this health exam can be up to 18 months before entrance to first grade, so you can do it at age five even though we don't keep records until the child reaches truancy age, which is 6. (If you do the vaccine waiver, you want to wait, though.) The form is here. If you for some reason prefer not to do the health exam, the waiver form is here.

And that's all! Notice that the first three items need to be done annually, while the other three are done once and then you just keep them on file.

 

 

Local Homeschooling Support Group Links

 

If you know of other groups which are open to new members, please message me info so I can add it. Thank you!

 

Local homeschooling support groups:

 

 

Bakersfield HomeschoolGroup (BHG):https://www.facebook.com/groups/537398389728133/  An event co-op (non-directed support organization) open to all homeschoolers.  Ongoing activities include rollerskating, ice skating, museums, volunteer work, parties, park days, outdoor movies, yoga, paper rockets, and woodworking.

 

Bakersfield Homeschooling Network (BHN) on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/groups/118122198273435/  – This is an online information group open to all local homeschoolers, regardless of other group affiliations.

 

Bakersfield HomeLearners (BHL): https://www.facebook.com/groups/215585051944899/  -- A social activity group open to all local homeschoolers, with park days, field trips, holiday parties, and other parent-organized activities.

 

Charlotte Mason (CM) Primer: A reading/study group for momsascribing to the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education; meets every 4-6 weeks on Tuesday nights starting at 7:00 p.m. Contact Brandy Vencel for more information: vencelfamily@gmail.com Nursing infants are welcome to attend with their moms.

 

Christian Home Educators of the County of Kern (CHECK): http://www.checkca.org/ -- A social activity group open to Christians homeschooling privately, with park days, field trips, parties, and other parent-organized activities. Annual membership fee: $25.

 

Classical Conversations: Downtown Bakersfield, NW Bakersfield, and Tehachapi campuses: http://www.classicalconversations.com/index.php?zipcode=93304&option=com_findcommunity&task=  --Weekly Community Days centered on a classical, Christian curriculum shared by member homeshooling families. Currently offering Foundations, Essentials, Challenge A and Challenge B programs for ages 4 through 15, plus nursery.

 

Home Educators Resource Center, Bakersfield region (HERC):http://www.hercbakersfield.org/enter/ -- A parented-directed resource center for Christian homeschooling families, offering supplemental academic classes for middle and high school, clubs, educational counseling, graduations, curriculum loaning library, testing, and other resources. Annual membership fee: $30, plus registration fees for classes, etc.

 

Thinking About Homeschooling: Monthly information sessions with homeschool veteran and author of “Homepreschool and Beyond,” Susan Lemons, held May through September. Email: mentormom@outlook.com  Website: http://susanlemons.wordpress.com/  Phone: 661-827-0540

 

Also, if you belong to a large church, be sure to ask if they have a church-based homeschooling group available.

 

 

Private school programs for homeschoolers:

 

Legacy Christian Academy: http://legacychristianacademy.us/ -- A hybrid homeschool/part-time private school based on the University Model.

 

North Kern Christian School, Home Study Program:http://www.northkernchristian.org/index.php/hsp -- offers educational consultations and support, testing and evaluations, participation in the school’s extracurricular programs, homeschool social activity group, etc. Costs vary.

 

Stockdale Christian School Private Satellite Program:http://www.stockdalechristian.com/District/Department/33-Homeschool -- offers educational consultations and support, participation in the school’s extracurricular programs including after-school sports and competitive music groups, homeschool social group, etc. Costs vary.

 

Public charter school programs:

 

Valley Oaks Charter School (VOCS), K-12 grades, offered through Kern County Superintendent of Schools: http://www.valleyoakscharterschool.org/ -- a public school program for homeschooling families, providing curriculum, weekly enrichment classes, credentialed teacher supervision, museum membership and educational events, and other resources.

 

California Virtual Academy (CAVA): http://www.k12.com/cava  -- A state-wide online charter school which offers K12 curriculum and credentialed teacher support.

 

State organizations offer annual homeschooling conventions, online discussion lists, larger group activities such as camping and theme park visits, and legal advice and assistance.

 

California Homeschool Network (CHN): http://www.californiahomeschool.net/  (Convention in Los Angeles area.)

 

Christian Home Educators Association of California (CHEA): http://www.cheaofca.org/(Conventions in Pasadena and Bay area)

 

HomeSchool Association of California (HSC): http://www.hsc.org/ (Convention in Sacramento area.)

 

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA): http://www.hslda.org – A national political advocacy group, providing legal advice and homeschool news and information for homeschoolers, from a Christian perspective.