Homeschooling Fact Check: Materials and Resources

This week we continue our Homeschooling Fact Check series in which we examine some of the most common questions we receive and some of the biggest myths about homeschooling in Massachusetts. If you have questions or topics you'd like to suggest for this series, you can email us at info@ahem.info.

Claim:

It is sufficient to give a very general list of materials in your education plan; your town isn't entitled to specific titles or the names of resources.

Reading the Law:

The Care and Protection of Charles says: "The superintendent or school committee must also have access to the textbooks, workbooks, and other instructional aids to be used by the children and to the lesson plans and teaching manuals to be used by the parents. This access is necessary only to determine the type of subjects to be taught and the grade level of the instruction for comparison purposes with the curriculum of the public schools. The superintendent or school committee may not use this access to dictate the manner in which the subjects will be taught." (Charles at 339; emphasis added) Brunelle adds: …some of the most effective curricular materials…may not be tangible. For example, travel, community service, visits to educationally enriching facilities and places, and meeting with various resource people, can provide important learning experiences apart from the four corners of a text or workbook. (Brunelle at 518)

Verdict:

False. While many homeschoolers receive approval after giving only general lists of materials (such as that found in AHEM's sample education plan), the law states that towns are allowed to access materials to determine subjects and grade level which implies a greater degree of specificity.