Those who work at FEAST know this, and generally recommend various curriculum options to new homeschoolers to get started with. Most new homeschooling moms are not confident enough to “go it alone” and need the guidance of a laid out curriculum of some sort to get them started.

Not if they are homeschooling for non-religious reasons. If that is the case the bookstore employees drop you midsentence and show you their back. So, I am glad they were helpful to you but you must understand they aren’t to everyone.

Yes, a resourceful mom could use these lists to develop their own curriculum but most new homeschooling families aren’t experienced teachers and those lists would completely overwhelm them to even look at them! Those who work at FEAST know this, and generally recommend various curriculum options to new homeschoolers to get started with. Most new homeschooling moms are not confident enough to “go it alone” and need the guidance of a laid out curriculum of some sort to get them started.

It is odd that FEAST worded that paragraph the way they did. I can assure you that they know the state laws and they don’t advise people in that manner. I am sure it was just an oversight in the proofreading of how it was worded.

My recommendation to new (and “old”) homeschoolers is to check with THSC about manners concerning the law as they have the most up to date information and are constantly working to make sure our rights as homeschoolers are preserved.

I would hope that you have contacted FEAST about the “error” you found on their site instead of just complaining about it here.

Thank you for keeping a watch on what is going on!

Bizarre that they would say such a thing! Unless they have a vested interest in promoting purchased curriculums?

Section 25.086. EXEMPTIONS.
(a) A child is exempt from the requirements of compulsory school attendance if the child:
(1) attends a private or parochial school that includes in its course a study of good citizenship;

In a public letter from the TEA commissioner, she states that

“In the case of Leeper et al. v. Arlington ISD et al., the Supreme Court of Texas affirmed a decision by District Judge Charles J. Murray holding that a school age child residing in Texas who is pursuing, under direct supervision of his/her parents, a curriculum designed to meet basic education goals is attending a private school within the meaning of Section 25.086(a)(1) of the Texas Education Code and is therefore exempt from compulsory school attendance.”

Many Texas homeschool organizations like quoting from the Leeper decision the following about what constitutes a “legitimate” homeschool:

In order to be a legitimate home school, you must have a curriculum which teaches reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and a study of good citizenship, and you must pursue that curriculum in a bona fide (not a sham) manner. This curriculum may be obtained from any source and can consist of books, workbooks, other written materials, or materials on an electronic monitor including computer or video screens, or any combination thereof. (From the Texas Home School Coalition.)

My personal view is that some of these organizations would really like to be able to leave unschoolers out of the equation but that’s just my impression.

Anyway, as long as we do something about good citizenship, we’re set. In fact, no provisions have been made for the state to check up on us since we are private schools and Texas doesn’t regulate private schools. That’s why the FEAST statement is so disturbing. It makes it sound like you better have a curriculum or else. And while there are many other groups in the San Antonio area, FEAST is often the first stop for anyone interested in homeschooling in this part of Texas. It’s even listed as the “regional” support group by our unofficial state organization, THSC (which doesn’t represent all Texas homeschoolers but likes to think it does.) FEAST is the only organization with physical facilities that you can walk into unannounced on a daily basis to find out about homeschooling. It have been running the local homeschool bookfair for 17 years. So even if there are other resources, many see FEAST as being the “authority” on this issue in the area.

I was under the impression that homeschoolers in Texas could literally do NOTHING. That they didn’t even need to file as a private school. Is this not true?