Homeschooling in Idaho (Vanity)

The more I read and experience with the public school system, the more disgusted I get. I only envision it getting worse. Thus, I am seriously thinking about homeschooling.

We may be moving to the Boise, ID area, and I was wondering if any FReepers could tell me of any good homeschooling groups around there. Also, if anyone has any wisdom that they are willing to share in regard to this, I would really welcome it. I will be homeschooling four children ranging in age from 7 to 16. One of them has Tourettes and is also high functioning autistic. I had tried homeschooling him six years ago, rather unsuccessfully. However, both he and I have matured since then and I would really like to get these kids out of the public schools. I appreciate your advise.

As a former resident of Idaho, I can tell you that, at least when we homeschooled there 10 years ago, it was as wide open as any state in the Union.

I doubt it has deteriorated much in the intervening years either, considering the fact that almost 90% of the elected officials in the state are Republicans.

Feel free to freepmail me, and I can give you a couple of contacts there, who I'm sure will be glad to steer you to the right folks. It may take me a day or so to respond, but I'll do what I can.

Also, Jeff, whom I flagged, lives there and is quite politically active. Perhaps he can give you the proper contacts.

God's richest blessings to you and your family.

PS...I'm jealous---if it were possible, I'd move back there in a minute. ;-)

You want info? You got it:

Advocates for Home Education
P.O. Box 2742, Pocatello, ID 83206 (ph# 208-234-7876)
Email: AdvoHomeEd@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/AdvoHomeEd/index.html

Home Educators of Idaho
3618 Pine Hill Drive, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 (ph# 208-667-2778)

Idaho Home Educators
PO Box 4022, Boise, ID 83711
Contact: Blair and Delta Cavner

Idaho Home Educators
P. O. Box 1324, Meridian, ID 83680 (ph# 208-323-0230)

Idaho HomeSchool on the web
10106 Calico Street, Boise, Idaho 83709 USA (ph# 208-376-5052)
Fax: (208) 376-5024
Contact: Debbie Roper
Email: ihs@micron.net
Web site: http://netnow.micron.net/~ihs
Legal & state homeschool information is included on the web page

Idaho Intermountain Regional Homeschoolers
204 - 5th Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (ph# 208-522-1536)
Contact: Sharon Portela
Email: we-teach@srv.net
Legal Info: Not much legislation on homeschoolers in Idaho. We are pretty much left to our own devices, and allowed a tremendous amount of freedom. Dual enrollment is available for those who would like to send their children to school part-time.

Lake View Home School Association
PO Box 7, Hope, ID 83836 (ph# 208-264-5212)
Contact: Larry Nelson

Magic Valley Home Educators
429 8th Ave N, Buhl ID 83316-1105 (ph# 208-543-5986)
E-mail: jody@magiclink.com
Contact: Jody and Susan Hollander

Port Cities Home Educators
1880 Old Spiral Hwy., Lewiston, ID 83501 (ph# 208-746-0874)
Homeschooling status: Excellent! Idaho citizens should provide a well rounded education including the three "R's" The state of Idaho does not require yearly testing although PCHE encourages its members to test privately through Idaho Coalition of Home Educators, a statewide home ed. group, providing ITBS testing to its members for the purpose of encouraging favorable laws for home ed. freedoms. We feel it's the best state to home school in!

Other info: We have too much going on to list here...24 hr. Activities Hotline, newsletter, field trips, art shows, formal tea parties, gingerbread house making party, gymnastics, bball, Presentation (talents) Night, statewide and local graduation ceremonies...on and on.

The Bulletin c/o Brad & Diane Schrader, 605 S. Robinson, Nampa, ID 83687
News, features, reviews, excerpts & reprints... 16 page format minimum, published monthly (12/yr). Subscriptions are $12/year. Send check made out to Brad Schrader to above address. For more information e-mail bschrade@micron.net.

We have homeschooled our 3 children from the beginning .. now one is in 11th, the other is in 10th, the third in 7th.

Last year, we started using the Bob Jones Home Satellite system (check the Web for info on HomeSat . ..). We found it to be an EXCELLENT resource for assisting us. (Great for science and math that need more help than Mom can provide . .. great for foreign languages . .. I would heartly recommend checking it out!

I see the difference at our church between the typical home school kid and the typical public skool kid. (There are variations . .. but on the overall, the odds are more favorable for the home school kids to get a better overall education, and be more polite, respectful, and desirous of learning!)

Good luck!! Mike

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