Colorado Homeschool Guidebook

PREVIEW The H O M E S C H O O L GUIDEBOOK for COLORADO

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CHAPTER 3
Part I - Colorado Law
Part II - Homeschooling via
Independent Schools
CONTENTS:
Part I
A. Legally Homeshooling in Colorado
B. Basic Legalities of Homeschooling in Colorado by HSLDA
C. Value Your Homeschool Law!
D. Appendix: Homeschool-Related Colorado Revised Statutes
(C.R.S.) Text and Department of Education Information
- Revised by Mike Donnelly, Esquire -
Part II
A. What is an Independent School?
B. How are Independent Schools Legal?
C. Benefits of Utilizing an Independent School
D. Is an Independent School Right for Me?
E. Choosing an Independent School
F. Questions to Ask an Independent School
G. Questions to Ask Yourself Before Signing Up
H. List of Colorado Independent Schools
- Revised by Brenda Kelly -

(CHEC would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Mike Donnelly, Esquire, of the Homeschool
Legal Defense Association for authoring this section. He is the HSLDA attorney assigned to represent
member families in Colorado, among his duties concerning other states and nations.)
HSLDA considers Colorado to be a state of moderate regulation. To see how Colorado compares to
other states HSLDA provides a map available at www.HSLDA.org/laws. HSLDA serves hundreds of
Colorado families who homeschool under the various options that are available for parents who wish to
more personally direct the education of their children but encounter difficulties from local school districts,
CPS investigations, and other state authorities. HSLDA recommends complying with one of the options
available under Colorado’s compulsory attendance law1
.
Colorado compulsory education law requires that every child who is six years old on or before August 1st of
the current school year, and under the age of 17, must attend school. If a homeschool is operating under
Home educators in Colorado have worked diligently to establish a favorable homeschool law with moderate
regulations. The Colorado homeschool law, first passed in 1988, moved the right to homeschool out of the
jurisdiction of local school administrators and placed it where it belongs — with the parent.
Although Colorado homeschooling families enjoy much freedom, this should not
be taken for granted! We must remain vigilant in protecting the right to direct
the education of our children. CHEC regularly monitors proposed legislation at
both the state and federal level, assessing its effect on the homeschooling families
of Colorado. Please keep informed on legislative issues, and then make your voice
heard when necessary.
CHEC encourages homeschooling families throughout Colorado to follow the
law, and hopes this chapter will inform you so you are able to do so.
He who keeps the law
is a discerning son.
(Proverbs 28:7a)
But happy is he
who keeps the law.
(Proverbs 29:18b)
B. Basic Legalities of
Homeschooling in Colorado
Part I - Colorado Law
A. Legally Homeschooling in Colorado
_____________________________
1
Much of this content is adapted from HSLDA’s HS 101 series that is available at www.HSLDA.org. Used with permission.
HSLDA is a membership-based organization of attorneys who are focused on promoting and preserving the right to homeschool
in the USA and throughout the world.

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Colorado’s home education statute (Option 1, below), the parents may wait to begin actual instruction until
their child is 7 years old; however, they must still submit a Notice of Intent beginning with the school year
that the child turns 6 years old by August 1st.
Once your child is beyond compulsory attendance age, you do not have to comply with a home education
option. However, even if your child is beyond compulsory school attendance age (over the age of 17), there
may be situations where you would want to continue to follow the requirements of a home education option
recognized under Colorado law until your child graduates from high school (filing a home education Notice
of Intent (NOI), keeping attendance and other records, etc.). HSLDA believes that a parent-issued diploma
and transcript should be sufficient to demonstrate that a child has completed a secondary education, but
these other records may be requested in some situations, such as obtaining a driver’s license if your child is a
minor, enlisting in the military, applying to colleges, or demonstrating eligibility for Social Security benefits.
It is up to the homeschool parent to determine when a child has met the requirements for high school
graduation. If you are a member of HSLDA and would like additional details, please contact us.
Complying with your state’s homeschool law
In Colorado, there are three options under which you can legally homeschool. You are free to choose the
option that best meets your family’s needs.
Option 1: Homeschooling under Colorado’s homeschool statute:
Colorado law specifically refers to home-based education (aka homeschooling) in Colo. Rev. Stat. § 22-33-
104.5. To homeschool under this statute, you’ll need to follow these guidelines.
1. Decide who will be homeschooling your child.
Instruction must be provided by a parent, guardian, or adult relative designated by a parent.
2. Notify a school district that you are homeschooling.
The homeschool statute requires parents to provide 14 days’ Notice of Intent (NOI) before starting a
home-based education program and annually thereafter. You may file this Notice of Intent with any
school district in the state. The notice must include the names, ages, residence, and hours of attendance
of the children to be taught. No particular form is required by law, and HSLDA members may use
the Notice of Intent form we have designed to comply with the law available at www.HSLDA.org/co.
Although the law does reference a waiting period when withdrawing from a school, HSLDA believes
that the 14-day advance notice requirement could be considered an unconstitutional burden on parents
exercising their fundamental right to direct the education of their children. Under certain circumstances
the school district may request a curriculum plan. (The law provides that if a child is “habitually truant”
during the six months prior to beginning homeschooling, a school district may request a curriculum
outline.)
3. Teach the required subjects.
Homeschooling law requires 172 days of instruction, averaging four hours per day, in the following
subjects: the United States Constitution, reading, writing, speaking, math, history, civics, literature, and
science.
4. Keep good records.
The law requires Colorado homeschooling parents to keep attendance records, test and evaluation

results, and immunization records. The school district where you send your original Notice of Intent can
request access to these documents under certain conditions. If the superintendent “has probable cause
to believe” the homeschool program is not in compliance with the law and requests access to a family’s
homeschool records, he or she is required to provide the parent with 14 days’ notice.
5. Test or evaluate your student.
Students must be assessed with a nationally standardized achievement test or by a “qualified person” to
determine if they have made sufficient academic progress according to their ability. Your child must be
tested or evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The test must be a nationally standardized achievement
test. Contact the CHEC office, or HSLDA if you are a member, to verify which standardized tests are
acceptable.
If you decide to have your child evaluated rather than tested, you must choose one of the following
people to conduct the evaluation:
• a Colorado licensed teacher,
• a teacher employed by a private school,
• a licensed psychologist, or
• a person with a graduate degree in education.
Here is what to do with the test or evaluation results:
In addition to keeping a copy of the results in your own records, the results must be submitted to
either the school district to which you sent your Notice of Intent, or you may choose to submit the
results to an independent or parochial school within the state of Colorado. If you do not send the
results to the school to which you sent the Notice of Intent, you must inform that school where you
sent the test or evaluation results.
Here is what may happen if your student does not make “adequate
progress” according to the law:
If a child does not score above the 13th percentile on a nationally standardized achievement test,
he or she can be given an alternate version of the same test or a different nationally standardized
achievement test. If the score is still below the 13th percentile, the school district will require
the parent to place the child in a public, independent, or parochial school until the next testing
period. If an evaluation by a “qualified person” demonstrates that a child is not making progress in
accordance with his or her ability, the school district can require the child’s parents to place the child
in a public, independent, or parochial school until the next testing period. In this case you should
consult with HSLDA or an attorney immediately.
Option 2: Homeschooling with an independent school:
Subsequent to 1988 and the decisive case People in Interest of D.B., 767 P.2d 801 (Colo. App. 1988),
Colorado law allows for children to be enrolled in established Colorado “independent schools,” through
which parents teach their children at home under the independent school’s supervision. It is also possible for
two or more homeschool families to establish their own school by keeping minimal records and providing
instruction in the required subjects, in addition to complying with other statutory requirements. HSLDA
has created a specific memorandum on satellite...
...Chapter continued in full version

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CHAPTER 7
High School
CONTENTS:
A. Homeschooling Through High School
B. High School and Beyond Q & A
C. Personal Issues for Teens During High School
D. Planning Your High School
E. Keeping Good Records and Transcripts
F. Other High School Learning Opportunities
G. Graduation
H. Preparing for Careers: Post-High School Work and Service
I. Preparing for College
Appendix I: Resources
Appendix II: A Calendar for College-Bound Students
Appendix III: List of Colorado Colleges & Universities
Appendix IV: List of Colorado Community Colleges
- Revised by Julianna Dotten -

Thousands of Colorado homeschooling families have successfully home educated through high school,
finding great success and accomplishment in doing so. Whether you are beginning or ending your home
education journey with high school, we want to encourage and prepare you for the years ahead so your
student can finish strong!
The Benefits
Homeschooling in the high school years can be a great joy for your family. If you
have had the opportunity to teach your children through their early, formative
years, then now is the season of harvest! Your teenagers can be a tremendous
blessing in your home. They are more independent learners, helpful around the
house, and excellent companions.
There are many advantages you can provide for your teens through home
education. They can continue to learn responsibility and self-governance, develop
confidence, grow spiritually, and pursue academic goals. Many homeschooled
teens are able to experience more of ‘real life’ than their counterparts in a
classroom. The flexibility of homeschooling allows time for volunteering in the
community, working at a part-time job, traveling, and spending time with a
wide variety of people. There is also time to develop special talents and work on
personal projects such as writing a novel or preparing for a senior music recital.
Understanding the Purpose of High School
In the early years of our country, most people’s education ended at eighth grade.
Soon afterward they entered adulthood, either through marriage, employment,
or apprenticeship. Many young women started teaching school when they were
15. Many young men entered college at 16. It was not until the beginning of this
century that what we now call “high school” came into existence. From its roots
as a method of training workers and assimilating immigrant children, high school
has now evolved into a basic educational entry level into society — either directly into the world of work or
to further studies at the college level.
In order to get the most benefit from these years, take your focus off the specific subjects young people study
in high school, and step back far enough to look at the bigger picture. What kind of adult would you like
your child to become? What are their interests, passions, and gifts? What areas of special ability do they
demonstrate? Involve your teen in this discovery process. During the elementary years you took the primary
responsibility in setting the direction for your child’s education; in high school this responsibility should be
shifting. It is almost impossible to motivate a young person to work and strive toward a challenging goal for
which they feel no personal ownership.
Hopefully, you will have provided a wide range of studies and experiences in the younger years so that your
young person has an idea of what interests them. Through prayer, reading, evaluating, and asking many
questions, you and your teenager can together begin to sketch out a future destination.
A. Homeschooling Through High School
Therefore, since we
have been justified
through faith, we have
peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have
gained access by faith
into this grace in which
we now stand.
And we boast in the
hope of the glory of
God. Not only so, but
we also glory in our
sufferings, because we
know that suffering
produces perseverance;
perseverance, character;
and character, hope.
And hope does not put
us to shame, because
God’s love has been
poured out into our
hearts through the Holy
Spirit, who has been
given to us.
(Romans 5:1-5)

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The most important thing you can give to your teen as you prepare them for life is good character. The
young person who shows honesty, promptness, an alert and interested attitude; takes initiative; knows how
to learn; can follow instructions; gets along with other people; and acts responsibly will have no problem
getting a job, being promoted, succeeding in college, or eventually running his own company. Use the high
school years to cement these character traits into your teenager.
The second thing you need to give to your teenager during these years is a gradual increase in his level of
personal responsibility. A teen needs to take more and more responsibility for his own learning,
finances, time, relationship with God, and personal growth. Help him to develop these skills under your
guidance and direction, providing the structure and opportunity for trial and error without irreversible
repercussions.
Be sure your teen is prepared to function independently with his life skills. Consider all the skills you
take for granted: maintaining a checking account, driving a car, cooking dinner, sewing on a button, caring
for the yard, paying bills, booking airline tickets, and so many other items. Don’t let your teen leave home
without these basic skills. (More ideas for teaching life skills are discussed later in this chapter.)
Your young person must also be prepared to compete in the larger arena of differing worldviews. Now
is the time to introduce the conflicting ideas and arguments that he will encounter in college and in the
workplace. Study David Nobel’s book Understanding the Times, or Let Us Highly Resolve by David
Quine. Subscribe to World magazine. Familiarize your teen with national and world events, and current
modes of thinking (such as postmodernism). Have deep discussions about poverty, feminism, euthanasia, the
role of government, the environment, welfare, abortion, violence and crime, and biblical family structure.
Prepare your teens with discernment skills they need to live in the world, but not be of the world. The
high school years can be a time of transition before your teens leave home when they are taught — and can
practice — discernment for making friends and the myriad of choices they will be free to make as adults.
Alert your teens to the dangers of pornography, alcohol, and drugs, and provide specific tools and strategies
they can use to guard themselves in these areas. Look for answers to tough questions in the Scriptures. A
Christian health textbook, such as Abeka’s A Healthier You, studied during their middle or early high school
years will help establish a foundation for good choices based on biblical principles.
Finally, don’t just worry about what your young person needs to know; teach him how to learn. This
might include how to conduct research, read for information, study efficiently, take notes, outline a book or
lecture, and then skillfully communicate what he has learned verbally and in writing. Help him develop his
vocabulary. Study logic and thinking skills. Teach time management. A young person who is skilled in these
areas will be a lifelong learner.
Since most adults change careers several times during their working life, these skills are necessary for survival.
Once you have considered the bigger picture, you are ready to start thinking about academics; however,
even in this area, don’t limit your thinking to your own high school experience. There are so many creative
ways to reach your goals. The more clearly you define the destination, the more efficiently you can map
out the route. Your teen has only a limited amount of the precious commodity time. Focus his efforts on
reaching the final goal.

Words of Encouragement
As you and your student seek the Lord for His will for the high school years, be assured that He will equip
you for whatever that road may look like. Even if you’re going through a crisis — be it a family member
with cancer or a major remodeling project — God will use those years for the good of your student. The
remarkable Corrie Ten Boom, a faithful servant of the Gospel of Christ and survivor of the Holocaust, said
in her classic autobiography, The Hiding Place:
“Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the
future that only He can see.”
The information contained in this chapter may seem daunting at first, maybe a bit overwhelming.
Remember, many other ordinary families just like yours have successfully homeschooled their children
through high school and have raised amazing adults with whom they now enjoy a life-long friendship as
brothers and sisters in Christ. Relax. Read. Learn. Discuss. Plan. Achieve. Work together with your student
to chart a course for the high school years. The course can be modified as you go. In the end, you will be
glad you helped your student enjoy his high school years by challenging his mind, molding his character,
and helping him set goals to achieve in his future adult life.
Challenges to Consider
The decision to continue, or to begin, homeschooling through high school is one that requires serious
consideration. Choices involving classes, career goals, college preparation, work, volunteer experience,
driver’s training, and social development will all affect your young person’s entrance into adulthood.
Since the essence of home education is individualized instruction, this section cannot outline one perfect
course of study for your high school student. Deciding upon the best course of study will involve research
and multiple decisions. Class choices should be made with consideration of your student’s long-term goals,
interests, and abilities.
Once you start homeschooling your high school student, be prepared to follow it through! In the elementary
years you may have homeschooled on the theory, “If it doesn’t work out she can go back to public school
next year.” That is not necessarily true in high school. The acceptance of homeschool credits has varied from
district to district in Colorado, and you cannot assume that your local public high school will accept your
student’s work without question.
School districts have the legal authority to test previously homeschooled children to determine grade
placement. According to the law, they are to accept transcripts so long as they correspond with testing
placement. Private schools are usually more accepting of homeschool credits if re-entry into a traditional
school becomes necessary.
If homeschooling is begun during the high school years due to a dissatisfaction with the previous school
situation, parents may have additional challenges to consider. Social problems can take time to overcome,
especially if rebellion is involved. Take whatever time is necessary to address problems with your child’s
heart and attitude. Make it your highest priority. Academic problems are more easily addressed when godly
attitudes and relationships are restored...

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CHAPTER 8
Different
Learners
CONTENTS:
A. A Different Kind of Homeschooling
B. You Can Successfully Teach Your Different Learner
C. Get Started
D. Testing
E. Learning Challenges and Teaching Strategies
F. Exceptionally Bright Learners
G. Resources
- Revised by Teri Spray -

Homeschooling Different Learners
Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of our Creator. We have been blessed with gifts
and talents, areas of strength and areas of need. God has a plan for each and every life that He has created.
When we become parents, the Lord blesses us with the responsibility of raising His children. Our ultimate
purpose as parents is to raise His children to seek Him and discover His will for their lives. This purpose does
not change with our circumstances.
The Lord has given some parents a special assignment in the form of children
who learn about their world very differently. He has promised to give us the
wisdom we need to meet this challenge when we seek Him.
Our attitude toward our children is a great test of our faith as parents, whether
or not they have a special needs label. Only as we seek the Lord on our knees can
we hope to meet the challenge of parenting. Blessings await when we meet the
challenges in His strength and follow His plan.
Many parents decide to home educate their ‘different learner’ because of their
struggles in institutional schools, but they don’t know where to begin, or what
to do. This can be disconcerting, but parents do not need to remain in this
place. They can analyze, evaluate, learn, observe, and resolve how to successfully
homeschool their different learner.
We might describe these children as out-of-the-box learners, and we may need
to become out-of-the-box teachers! On the following pages you will find helpful
information as well as many practical tips and suggestions for educating children
who learn differently. Nothing in these pages is meant to be the final authority,
for only the Lord holds that position.
At Christian Home Educators of Colorado, there are fellow home educators
and graduates who are here to walk alongside you and encourage you along the
way. The most important advice we can give you is to ask the One who has all
the answers. Pray to the Lord for His wisdom and guidance. May He bless you
abundantly in this journey as you parent and educate your children.
A. A Different Kind of Homeschooling
For You formed my
inward parts; You
covered me in my
mother’s womb. I
will praise You, for
I am fearfully and
wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your
works, And that my soul
knows very well. My
frame was not hidden
from You, When I was
made in secret, And
skillfully wrought in
the lowest parts of the
earth. Your eyes saw
my substance, being
yet unformed. And
in Your book they all
were written, The days
fashioned for me, When
as yet there were none
of them. How precious
also are Your thoughts
to me, O God! How
great is the sum of
them!
(Psalm 139:13-17)

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Advantages of Homeschooling a Different Learner
• FOCUS:
You love your child more than anyone. Now you can become your child’s advocate and expert. You
are free to research and coordinate a special learning program based around your child’s particular
needs and strengths.
• SAFETY:
Home education provides a safe, nurturing environment proven to enhance learning.
• VARIETY:
Children and parents are free to use a variety of methods and approaches.
• ONE-ON-ONE:
One-on-one, tutorial instruction that is natural in a home environment may be necessary for a child
with special learning needs.
• AT YOUR OWN PACE:
An individualized learning program is easy to provide at home and can be paced according to needs
and abilities.
• PRACTICAL:
Life skills are more easily taught as a natural part of daily living in the home. (Deuteronomy 6,
Proverbs 22:6)
• HEALTHY:
Physical activity becomes a part of the education process. Home cooking reduces allergens and
additives.
• COMMUNITY SUPPORT:
Consultants and therapists are increasingly available to parents of children with special needs.
• BEHAVIOR TRAINING:
Children can learn self-control in a safe, structured environment from a loving adult. Behavior
expectations should be the same for ‘different learners’ as they are for typical learners. Clear
expectations and consistent training can be provided in your home.
• SCHEDULES:
At home, therapy becomes a part of your school day instead of an addition to it.
• FREEDOM:
For accelerated learners, being at home allows more time for the child to be challenged in areas of
special interest.
Sue Welch, former editor of The Teaching Home Magazine (out of print), says:
“As Christian homeschoolers, we are committed to the belief that God, having entrusted children to
our care, has also enabled us to provide for their needs in all areas. Armed with faith in God’s wisdom
and knowledge of His Word, we may begin to examine the confusing array of information available on
the subject of learning disabilities.” (The Teaching Home, July/August 1994, p.1.)
B. You Can Successfully Teach
Your Different Learner

Legal Information for Homeschooling Different Learners
Yes, it is legal to teach your own children even if they are different learners. There are no specific statutes
governing the homeschooling of children with special needs; however, there are some questions that are
frequently asked about teaching them. The following questions were submitted to the Home School Legal
Defense Association (HSLDA), and the answers reflect their response.
Q. Are there any different laws governing the homeschooling of children with special needs?
A. No.
Q. Are Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) required of families?
A. No. However, if the family is receiving special needs assistance from the public school, an IEP would
probably be required by the public school. Note: Assistance could be therapies or participation in a
specific class.
Q. Are children with special needs required to be evaluated more often than every other year?
A. No.
Q. What if a child never reaches a third grade level? Are evaluations to be submitted at all?
A. No, not if all circumstances truly point to the child not progressing past second grade level.
An additional comment from CHEC:
Non-public (independent schools) may have different requirements, and your district may also. You
should verify this with your district or independent school where your child is enrolled.
Q. Can Colorado children receive special education services through government funds?
A. Yes, about 90% of funding for public school special education programs comes from the state —
not the federal government. Although the federal government will not allow its Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) money to go to homeschoolers in “homeschool law states,” the states
can distribute their 90% in any way they choose. Some states have enacted laws that provide services to
“homeschool” students; these provisions are included in the summaries below.
If a state is a “private school law state,” homeschoolers are eligible for services funded by both the federal
IDEA program and the state.
Colorado has a private school provision. If homeschoolers are operating under private schools, they are
eligible to receive special services...

Colorado Homeschool Guidebook

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