Karen Arnesen

I was introduced to home schooling before I was married and while I was an eighth grade English teacher. A friend of mine was expecting her first child and planned on teaching her at home. I was immediately impressed with the idea. As a teacher I could see benefits in the small "class size" and was intrigued by the idea of having my children stay home with me. It seemed a good way to emphasize the importance of the family and to create a close-knit family. It also seemed an ideal way to focus on the spiritual aspects of education and life so lacking in public education.

To educate your child at home, you must submit a signed affidavit each year to your school district. By submitting the affidavit, you are informing the school district that your child will attend a home school and receive instruction as required by law.

Since the Utah homeschooling affidavit was new as of May 2005, many home educators have questions about having their children excused from attendance at public schools. You can find the answers to your affidavit questions in our Legal Issues section. If you have further questions, please send us a note.

Linda Tagliaferro

My son Eric, puts the finishing touches on his paper-mache volcano. He takes the model out to our yard, adds baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring to the hollow insides and creates a life-like volcanic eruption. I sign him off on one requirement for his Webelos Geologist badge, and I also check him off on his homework for science and art.