Legal/Homeschool Laws
Laws that regulate home education vary from state to state. It is important to understand the legal requirements in your state and to be aware of legislative and other legal issues that affect homeschoolers in your community. We've compiled resources that will help you become informed. Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, and the vast majority of homeschoolers face no problems, you may find that you need legal assistance at some point in your homeschooling career. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the support you need. And if you'd like to become more involved in working towards homeschooling freedoms, we discuss some of the issues facing homeschoolers that we hope you find compelling.
State Laws
Read the laws regulating home education in Oklahoma and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
Forms
Which forms do you need to fill out? Where can you get them? Here is a list of useful forms for homeschooling in Oklahoma.
Legal Support
If you need legal information or have run into a legal situation regarding your decision to homeschool, these resources will be helpful.
Lobbying Groups
A listing of local and national lobbying groups and information on how you can become involved in the political process to ensure the freedom to homeschool is protected.
Attorneys
When searching for an attorney, it is helpful to know whether he or she has experience working with homeschoolers and is interested in protecting the right to homeschool.
Legal Issues
Is homeschooling legal? Which laws pertain to homeschoolers and which don't? How do homeschoolers protect their rights to freely educate their children and to preserve their privacy?
Government Resources
A listing of local and state government resources, including your state's Department of Education, school districts, and Senate and House of Representative information.
What's Popular
Attorney General of Oklahoma - Opinion 73-129 (1973)
An Attorney General's Opinion, No. 73-129, was issued in response to four questions submitted by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In it, the Constitution, the Statutes, and several court cases were quoted to answer the Superintendent's questions.
70 O.S. 10-109
A. An attendance officer, any school administrator, or designee
of the school administrator who is employed by the school, or any
peace officer may, except for children being home schooled pursuant
to Section 10-105 of the Oklahoma Statutes, temporarily detain and
assume temporary custody of any child subject to compulsory full-time
education, during hours in which school is actually in session, who
is found away from the home of such child and who is absent from
school without lawful ex...
Section XIII-4: Compulsory school attendance.
The Legislature shall provide for the compulsory attendance at some public or other school, unless other means of education are provided, of all the children in the State who are sound in mind and body, between the ages of eight and sixteen years, for at least three months in each year.
Stand for Freedom
Some veteran home educators seem to take a firm stand on principles that others don't even recognize as issues. Is it that they are just stubborn, rebellious, or cantankerous? Probably not.
70 O.S. 11-103
A. Courses of instruction approved by the State Board of
Education for use in school years prior to 1993-94 shall be those
courses that are necessary to ensure:
1. The teaching of the necessary basic skills of learning and
communication, including reading, English, writing, the use of
numbers and science; and
2. The teaching of citizenship in the United States, in the
State of Oklahoma, and in other countries, through the study of the
United States Constitution, the amendments...
U.S. Department of Education
The website for the U.S. Department of Education.
Sample Withdrawal Letter
For use by those parents who are withdrawing their child from public school. Provided by HERO of Oklahoma.
47 O.S. 6-107.3
A. The Department of Public Safety shall deny a license,
restricted license, or instruction permit for the operation of a
motor vehicle to any person under eighteen (18) years of age who does
not, at the time of application, present documentation that such
person:
1. a. is a student enrolled in a public or private secondary
school, including any area vocational-technical school,
of this state or any other state,
b. has received a diploma o...
40 O.S. 80
The age and schooling certificate shall not be approved until the
parent or guardian of such child shall present a school attendance
certificate as hereinafter prescribed. A duplicate of such age and
schooling certificate shall be filled out and sent by the school
officer, before whom the same is made, to the Commissioner of Labor.
The blank forms for school attendance certificate and for the age and
schooling certificate shall be supplied to the principal, headmaster,
or equivalent ad...
70 O.S. 10-105
A. It shall be unlawful for a parent, guardian, or other person
having custody of a child who is over the age of five (5) years, and
under the age of eighteen (18) years, to neglect or refuse to cause
or compel such child to attend and comply with the rules of some
public, private or other school, unless other means of education are
provided for the full term the schools of the district are in session
or the child is excused as provided in this section. One-half (1/2)
day of kindergarte...
Oklahoma School Districts
Comprehensive listing of all school districts in Oklahoma with links to their individual websites.
Unschooling and The Law in Oklahoma
Homeschooling is a right guaranteed by the Constitution of Oklahoma, and by state statute. Oklahoma has placed very few legal restrictions on homeschooling, and as a result it is very easy to meet the state requirements. Parents can provide for their child any kind of education they choose.
Oklahoma Home School Laws from HSLDA
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Oklahoma. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Oklahoma.
40 O.S. 79
The age and schooling certificate shall be approved by the
principal, headmaster, or equivalent administrative officer of the
school which the child attends or should be attending or by one of
the child's parents if the child is being schooled at home, who
shall, for the purpose of this article, be empowered to administer an
oath. The principal, headmaster, or equivalent administrative
officer of the school which the child attends or should be attending
or by one of the child's parents i...
Oklahoma Department of Education
This is the official website for the Oklahoma Department of Education.
Looking for Another State?
Featured Resources
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this site.
Classical Education & The Home School
Classical education is an idea whose time has come again. When parents see the failures of modern education, they look for better solutions and classical education is one that has been tested in the past and found to be good. For the Christian home e...
Montessori International
Montessori International is the magazine for all parents and teachers. Montessori International magazine is a high quality colour education magazine with a Montessori focus and a truly child-centred approach. The magazine is for Montessori parents, n...
Great States Board Game
What is the capital of NJ? Where is the Football Hall of Fame? These are just a few of the hundreds of questions players are asked as they adventure around the USA discovering state attractions and landmarks, capitals, state abbreviations, state loca...
Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home
This book is not about "school at home"--it is about something better. It is about Real Learning. Homeschooling pioneer Charlotte Mason wrote with great wisdom about providing young minds with a living books education. She urged teachers to present g...
Greenleaf Press
Greenleaf Press is a small family-owned and operated publisher and supplier of quality books for children. They are committed to "twaddle-free", living books, and approach teaching history to children using biography and chronology. You will find sec...