With uncertainty surrounding public and private schools alike in the Golden Triangle this fall, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, homeschooling could be a real option for parents. No stranger to being new to a different learning method, Columbus resident Michelle Remson started homeschooling her two children last year.
“It took a few weeks for the kids to get used to not waking up and going right to school,” Remson said. “But they really enjoyed it.”
She advocated while parents new to homeschooling might be nervous about teaching their kids, homeschooling can let children have a say in their curriculum.
“I want parents to know even though it sounds intimidating to homeschool, don’t let that hold you back,” Remson said “There are tons of resources out there to help. Mississippi is one of the few states that make it really easy to homeschool. Asking the kids what they would like to learn and how is important. Let them have a say in the process. If your child likes animals and wants to be a vet, you can gear your learning more towards that.”
Remson said she plans her lessons through textbooks through two different online homeschool suppliers, Rainbow Resource Center and Homeschool SuperCenter. Free online curriculums can be found using websites such as Khan Academy, Easy Peasy and Discovery K12.
Meanwhile, Melissa Shields is much more of a homeschool veteran and has been homeschooling her three children located in the Lowndes County School District for the last 10 years. As part of a military family, Shields said homeschooling made transitions from one duty station to another easier and enhanced relationships in the family. Other benefits, according to Shields, include “witnessing the ‘Aha!’ moments when ideas click” and being able to customize learning to fit the individual needs of each child.
To register for homeschool, a parent must file an annual certificate of enrollment (on or before Sept. 15th) that includes your and your child’s names, address, and telephone number, your child’s date of birth, and a “simple description” of the type of education your child is receiving.
To request a certificate of enrollment form, one must contact the school attendance officer at the public school district where your child lives. When submitting the form in person, it is important to ask for a document receipt to keep for your own records.
The state of Mississippi requires no teacher qualifications, standardized testing requirements, required subjects or days of instruction.
A more detailed explanation on how to enroll a child in homeschool in Mississippi can be found at https://hslda.org/post/how-to-comply-with-mississippi-s-homeschool-law
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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