CS>I've been interested in finding out the particulars of homeschooling in
CS>PA for a while.  From what I hear locally though, the state of PA isn't
CS>really that concerned with all of those rights.  In a district not to
CS>far away they are not allowing home-schooled students to participate
CS>in extra-curricular activities, (sports, clubs..ect.)
We have a woman in our community that pioneered the way for us she
attended school board meetings and searched out the laws for PA. She
realized law allows our children to participate in local extra
activities so she challenged the school board, and won. Because of her
some of our area homeschoolers, have been asked to play varsity
football, have been choosen to participate in special musical groups,
(one is the lead pianist for jazz) all band and chorus, and my daughter
will be taking drivers training this summer. I will pay for the class
room work, but the school instructer takes her in the school car free of
charge.
CS>This worries me since we all still pay taxes, right?  If I were to
decide CS>tommorow to pull my son from public school (since he certainly
performs CS>academically better at home 2 hours a day than he does in
school for CS>six and half..), what will there be for him when he
reaches adolescence CS>and wants/needs more peer interaction?
We are very active in our home church (which has an active youth
group). My daughter also belongs to a 4-H club dealing only in horses
(she would tell you the greatest animal God made) Plus the activies in
school. She goes to chorus, and hopes to try out for volleyball next
year.
CS> CN> Being registered as a private school in PA would not work. I like 
hat
CS> CN> all that is required for homeschooling is a high school diaploma. In
CS>I hope I'm not miss-reading this message, because....
CS>This is something I did not know....otherwise my husband and I never
would CS>have enrolled our son in a public instituion.
I am going to give you an address to write to and a number to call for
further information.
Christain Homeschool Information
307 Troy Street
Canton, PA 17724
(717)673-7020
She can give general information also send:
Guide to PA Homeschool Law, sixth edition (by Richman)
Pa Homeschool Requirements-At-A-Glance
CS>Right now, I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.  My six (almost)
CS>seven year old is having difficulty with reading.
Do you realize that you did not even have to put your child in school in
PA till the school year he would turn eight. This could give parents 2
or 3 years to try things at home then decide what they want to do.
The problem is once they are in public school (before 8) you can not
just take them out.(I think)
CS>Are than any good materials out there for us to work with?
CS>Has anyone out there found reasonable approaches to these types of
CS>problems, that could lend us some experience and good advice?
CS>His first grade teacher has farmed him out to (not 1), but 2 outside
CS>the classroom reading groups, (one of which causes him to miss a portion 
f
CS>gym class and the begining of lunch.)
My daughter was in the same boat when in public school. She was held
back in 2nd grade I do not regret it. But by the time she was put into
private school 6TH grade, she was still below grade level. I believe if
she was left in public school she would have graduated almost
illiterate. This is not the fault of our school system  it is just she
is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole and it just was not
working for her. Private school for her helped but was not the answer.
She just need to be sat and kept on track. One on one works for that, A
teacher in private or public school does not have the time to deal with
that.
CS>This has kind of thrown me for a loop all year long.
CS>If anyone has any suggestions....I would kindly appreciate them!
Peace,
Cheryl
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