Legal/Homeschool Laws
Laws that regulate home education vary from state to state. It is important to understand the legal requirements in your state and to be aware of legislative and other legal issues that affect homeschoolers in your community. We've compiled resources that will help you become informed. Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, and the vast majority of homeschoolers face no problems, you may find that you need legal assistance at some point in your homeschooling career. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the support you need. And if you'd like to become more involved in working towards homeschooling freedoms, we discuss some of the issues facing homeschoolers that we hope you find compelling.
State Laws
Read the laws regulating home education in New Jersey and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
Forms
Which forms do you need to fill out? Where can you get them? Here is a list of useful forms for homeschooling in New Jersey.
Legal Support
If you need legal information or have run into a legal situation regarding your decision to homeschool, these resources will be helpful.
Lobbying Groups
A listing of local and national lobbying groups and information on how you can become involved in the political process to ensure the freedom to homeschool is protected.
Attorneys
When searching for an attorney, it is helpful to know whether he or she has experience working with homeschoolers and is interested in protecting the right to homeschool.
Legal Issues
Is homeschooling legal? Which laws pertain to homeschoolers and which don't? How do homeschoolers protect their rights to freely educate their children and to preserve their privacy?
Government Resources
A listing of local and state government resources, including your state's Department of Education, school districts, and Senate and House of Representative information.
What's Popular
New Jersey Backlash
An interview with Timothy Haas of the New Jersey Homeschool Association regarding the bill introduced by Democrat Loretta Weinberg that would tighten regulations on homeschoolers.
Bill A1918 - Legislative Resources
Listed here are documents which chronicle what has already transpired regarding this legislation. Also included are files which can be used as resources and reasons for opposing bill A1918.
18A:38-27. Truancy and juvenile delinquency defined.
Any child between the ages of six and 16 years who shall repeatedly be absent from school, and any child of such age found away from school during school hours whose parent, guardian or other person having charge and control of the child is unable to cause him to attend school and any pupil who is incorrigible, actually vagrant, vicious, or immoral in conduct, shall be deemed to be a juvenile delinquent and shall be proceeded against as such.
New Jersey Home Educator’s Affidavit - Standard Form
This affidavit form is provided by Education Network of Christian Home-schoolers of New Jersey (ENOCH).
State v. Massa (1967)
In court, the parents were charged with failing to cause the child to attend school under the compulsory education law. The only issue before the court was whether the parents were providing equivalent instruction. The court held that the language under the compulsory education law, providing for equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school, required showing only academic equivalency and not equivalency of social development derived from group education. In educating the child at home, the pa...
What the Law Says About Homeschooling
New Jersey law states that “parents have a constitutional rite to choose the type and character of education they feel is best suited for their children.” To comply with this law, homeschooling parents must insure that all children between the ages of six and sixteen receive instruction equivalent to that provided in the public schools.
New Jersey Home Educator’s Affidavit - Christian Perspective
This affidavit form is provided by Education Network of Christian Home-schoolers of New Jersey (ENOCH).
18A:38-30. Assistance of sheriffs, police officers, etc.
The sheriff and his officers and all police officers and constables shall assist attendance officers in the performance of their duties.
New Jersey Department of Education
This website is the official internet presence for the New Jersey Department of Education.
18A:38-29. Warning and arrest of vagrants or habitual truants.
The attendance officer shall examine into all violations of this article, shall warn any child violating any of the provisions of this article and the parent, guardian or other person having charge and control of the child of the consequences of the violation if persisted in, and shall notify such person in writing to cause the child to attend school within five days from the date on which notice is served, and regularly thereafter. The attendance officer shall have full police power to enfor...
NJ Assembly Bill 1918
This is the text of a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg, District 37 (Bergen). Would require certain testing and medical examinations of home-schooled children.
18A:38-25 Attendance required of children between six and 16; exceptions.
Every parent, guardian or other person having custody and control of a child between the ages of six and 16 years shall cause such child regularly to attend the public schools of the district or a day school in which there is given instruction equivalent to that provided in the public schools for children of similar grades and attainments or to receive equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school.
18A:38-26. Days when attendance required; exceptions.
Such regular attendance shall be during all the days and hours that the public schools are in session in the district, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the board of education of the district that the mental condition of the child is such that he cannot benefit from instruction in the school or that the bodily condition of the child is such as to prevent his attendance at school, but nothing herein shall be construed as permitting the temporary or permanent exclusion from school by the b...
Sample Curriculum Outline
This sample curriculum outline is provided by Education Network of Christian Home-schoolers of New Jersey (ENOCH).
Sample Letter Reporting Intent to Homeschool
This sample letter is provided by Education Network of Christian Home-schoolers of New Jersey (ENOCH).
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Featured Resources
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Kingdom of Children : Culture and Controversy in the Homeschooling Movement (Princeton Studies in Cultural Sociology)
More than one million American children are schooled by their parents. As their ranks grow, home schoolers are making headlines by winning national spelling bees and excelling at elite universities. The few studies conducted suggest that homeschooled...
For the Learners' Sake: Brain-Based Instruction for the 21st Century
This proposal for a platform of education reform needed to prepare students for a 21st-century workplace and society draws on information and ideas from two current areas in neuroscience: brain research (physiology and applications to learning) and s...
100+ New Jersey Drivers Licensing Exam Facts That You Need To Know: Quick Review for the Written Test
Prepare for the New Jersey's Driver's Written Exam. Know the 100+ important facts for the test. Be prepared to ace the exam!
Pass Your New York DMV Test Guaranteed! 50 Real Test Questions! New York DMV Practice Test Questions
This book is written by a former DMV classroom instructor. He shares the 50 most common questions and answers to the New York DMV written test. A great guide to help your teen pass the DMV test on their first try.
Choosing & Using Curriculum: For Your Special Child
Homeschooling a child with special needs can be challenging. This book lays out a discussion of different reading and math programs, how to adapt materials for special situations, resources for blind, deaf and speech/language, and curriculum types an...