Homeschooling Ontario: Everything You Need To Know
Homeschooling Ontario: Planning to start homeschooling in Ontario, Canada? While every parent’s homeschooling journey looks different, there are some things that everyone should know before they begin.
To jump ahead to a certain topic, click a link below:
To learn more about all of the topics above, continue reading. Or, if you have any questions about homeschooling in Ontario, contact the team at EZ-Teach today and we will do our best to help you!
Homeschooling Ontario
1. Ontario Homeschooling Policies
It is actually quite easy to homeschool in Ontario. Most parents do not need to do much to get started homeschooling their child.
If you are a parent who has registered your children with a school board, you should let your school board know when you plan to homeschool. By the time children are 6 years old, they must begin school (whether it is through public school, private school, or home school).
If you choose to homeschool, the Ontario Government says that the parents should provide the school board with the following information of the child(ren) who will be homeschooled:
Name
Gender
Date of Birth
A letter stating the intent to homeschool should be provided. It states that this should be completed by September 1st of every year.
2. Homeschooling High School Students
As you homeschool elementary and middle-school aged children, there will definitely be challenges that arise. When it comes to homeschooling high schoolers, things can get a bit more complicated.
When it comes to high school, one of the biggest challenges is preparation for university. As a homeschooling parent, you want to ensure that your children have the same opportunities as those who attend public school.
However, a unique challenge for parents who choose to continue homeschooling into the high school years - or for students who go from public school to home school during high school - is the OSSD: The Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
When choosing to homeschool high school students, there are some extra considerations to think about.
The OSSD is only given when a student completes a Ministry-approved program through an accredited, Ministry-approved school. A homeschooling student cannot get a high school diploma, unless they complete virtual courses that are Ministry-approved.
Due to this, some parents will choose to do a blend of traditional homeschool and virtual learning through a Ministry-approved program so that their child can get an OSSD.
Some things to note about the OSSD:
A high school diploma is not necessarily required to qualify for university and college programs. However, it is important to look into admission requirements far in advance.
A high school diploma may or may not be required while applying to certain jobs.
Some institutions or workplaces may accept alternatives to the OSSD, such as a GED or a homeschool certificate of graduation.
The Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents is a great resource when looking at everything you need to know about homeschooling high school students. Learn more here.
3. Ontario Curriculum and Homeschooling
One of the biggest considerations for homeschool parents to think about as they begin their homeschool journey is: “What curriculum do we use?! Is there an Ontario curriculum we have to follow?”
Fortunately, there is no Ontario curriculum that any homeschooling parent has to follow. There are, however, Ontario curriculum guidelines, and these are publicly available to anyone.
The guidelines outline subject matter and suggested curriculum for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12.
The Ontario curriculum guidelines outline all subjects, including art and physical education (PE).
Because of this, you have tons of flexibility as a homeschool parent to choose what curriculum works best for you and your family. If you find a curriculum you love but want to ensure it closely adheres to Ontario guidelines, you can compare and contrast using the Ontario curriculum guide linked above.
You can also use a combination of your own created curriculum (this is easier for younger students but can be done at any age with enough prep work and research) as well as curriculums that you purchase or find online.
4. Ontario Homeschooling Investigations: Why Do They Happen?
It is unlikely that an investigation will happen if you choose to homeschool. However, if a school board has reasonable grounds to suspect that a student may not be receiving adequate instruction at home, the board can investigate the matter.
If you want to learn more about potential reasons for investigations and what an investigation entails, click here.
5. Can I send My Child To Public School After Homeschooling?
Sometimes, homeschooling comes to an end. There are many reasons why this may happen. Homeschooling may have always been a temporary choice (for example, during the COVID-19 pandemic), too.
A parent may have to return to work and cannot continue homeschooling. Or, as a child gets older, a parent may allow them to make an informed choice about their schooling options and they choose to attend public school.
No matter the reason, you won’t have to worry about transitioning to public school from a practical standpoint. You can enroll your child in an Ontario school at any age without previous school records.
While there are no technical hurdles to deal with, you may have some challenges with the transition from home school to public school. If you are preparing for this transition, click here to get some great tips to help.
6. Working Parents and Homeschooling
If you are a working parent but would still like to homeschool, the good news is that you can! There is no regulation or rule that says homeschooling can only be done by a stay-at-home-parent (SAHP).
Children do not have to be schooled during the typical school day, but they must receive adequate education and instruction, and must be cared for during the times that you are working.
Using some virtual learning resources may allow for more flexibility for working parents who also homeschool.
For parents who have flexible jobs and work from home, you may choose to work while your child works by combining virtual learning and more traditional homeschooling.
There are lots of ways to make your schedule work - that’s why so many parents love homeschooling! It allows you to create a flexible schedule that works best for your unique family needs.
Homeschooling Ontario Resources by EZ-Teach
At EZ-Teach, we’re committed to enriching education and helping you choose the very best homeschool curriculum for your needs and your child’s needs. We offer unique resources that help connect parents to teachers with great curriculum, connect students to amazing teachers, and help homeschool parents get the support that they need. To learn more, contact us now!
