Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly IS homeschooling?

Homeschooling is an education that is both taught and funded by parents, taking place primarily in the home. Any form of education that is not both parent-directed and parent-financed falls under public, private, or parochial schooling. Homeschooling is uniquely tailored to fit each family and child’s needs, fostering a lifestyle of learning that goes far beyond traditional textbooks.

What are the advantages to homeschooling?

Parents can design a curriculum and course of study that reflects their child's unique abilities, learning style, needs, and future goals.
They have increased opportunities to focus on character development and to teach from the worldview they choose.
Homeschooling allows families to move at the child’s own pace-spending more or less time on specific concepts as needed.
Children benefit from one-on-one, personalized instruction and have more time to explore their individual interests.
High schoolers can get a head start on college or career preparation.
Learning together strengthens family bonds and fosters a lifelong love of learning.

What about socialization?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions of homeschoolers. Many homeschooling families have found that true, healthy socialization happens naturally within the community, where children interact with people of all ages-not just peers in a classroom setting. Kids develop social skills through everyday experiences such as grocery shopping, library visits, spending time with grandparents, church and support group activities, park days, and community events. Most importantly, some of the richest and most meaningful social development takes place within the supportive and loving environment of home and family.

Research shows that homeschooled students are in general well-adjusted socially, and go on to become successful adults.

Will homeschooling make my kids weird?

The answer is, "Yes, maybe!!"-and that’s actually a good thing!

Homeschooled children are often respectful toward adults, comfortable interacting with people of all ages, and responsible when it comes to completing tasks. They tend to be self-motivated learners who can set and achieve academic or entrepreneurial goals, think critically, and actively contribute to their communities. Plus, many homeschoolers develop an above-average vocabulary along the way! If that is weird, than we are all for it!

How much does it cost to home educate?

The cost of homeschooling varies widely from family to family. It depends on several factors, including:

The type of curriculum and learning materials you choose
The number and kind of extracurricular activities your child joins
The field trips and enrichment experiences your family participates in

Tips for making homeschooling more affordable:

Browse online marketplaces and social media groups where homeschoolers buy, sell, or exchange materials.
Take advantage of your local library—many now offer homeschool-friendly resources such as classes, activity kits, educational videos, and even curriculum exchanges.
Join or create a homeschool co-op, where parents share their expertise by teaching classes. These are often very affordable since families contribute their own time and skills.
Explore financial assistance options-HSLDA, for example, provides need-based grants for curriculum and emergency relief.

Nevada does not have state funding for homeschooling.

Home education is an investment - a very worthy investment - in your children and their future!

How much time does homeschooling take?

Much less than you might imagine!

Because homeschooled students don’t spend time lining up, switching classrooms, or commuting to and from school, they can work efficiently and move at their own pace. Especially in the elementary years, many families find that just a few focused hours a day are enough to complete their academic work.

Since there’s no evening "homework," homeschoolers often have more time for family activities, hobbies, and personal interests.

At the same time, homeschooling tends to become a way of life-learning happens naturally throughout the day, woven into everyday experiences. For that reason, it’s often difficult to measure learning strictly by the number of hours spent.

I don't have a teaching degree. Can I really teach my child?

Yes!

Nevada does not require parents to have any special certification or qualifications to homeschool their children.

Both research and experience demonstrate that it’s commitment and effort-not formal training-that lead to excellent educational outcomes in a homeschool environment.

Studies also show that a parent's level of education does not have a significant impact on their child’s academic success while homeschooling.

Can a child with special needs be homeschooled?

Thousands of families successfully homeschool children with a wide range of special needs—from Attention Deficit Disorder to complex physical or learning challenges. Many parents discover that when their children begin learning at home, they make remarkable progress after being freed from the limitations of traditional classrooms. Without the comparisons, labels, social pressures, and distractions of a school environment, students can thrive.

Homeschooling allows parents to provide a truly individualized education, offering flexibility, encouragement, and support-an approach especially beneficial for children who are learning-disabled, medically fragile, or have attention challenges.

Likewise, students who need a faster pace or more advanced coursework can excel through homeschooling, reaching their full academic potential without being held to a grade level that doesn’t match their readiness.

HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) also provides valuable resources to guide families on their special needs homeschooling journey.

How will my homeschooled child receive a diploma?

Parents create and maintain their child’s transcript and issue the diploma. A homeschool transcript and diploma are just as valid as those issued by a public school. Homeschooled students in Nevada can receive a high school diploma, but it is issued by the parent, not by the public school system.

Home educated students are not required to take any of the state-mandated tests that are required for public school graduation.

There are many factors that you will want to consider, depending upon the path that your child wants to take after graduating from homeschool. Maintaining clear records-like transcripts, course descriptions, and work samples-can help ensure that colleges, universities, or employers accept the diploma.

Is a homeschool graduate eligible for college admissions, grants, and scholarships?

Nearly every college in the United States accepts homeschool graduates, and many actively recruit them, often offering scholarships to attend. Homeschooling has even been called "a new pathway" to prestigious universities like Harvard.

Stanford University states that it is "eager to embrace" homeschoolers, noting that the brightest homeschooled students bring unique experiences, strong motivation, and intellectual independence-qualities that help them thrive in college.

Colleges value homeschoolers' strong work ethic and preparedness for college-level coursework. Most institutions accept transcripts created by parents, especially when supported by standardized test scores that reflect the student’s academic performance.

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