Thank you. I have been looking for this info. I have been homeschooling my kids for over 5 yrs and this year when I went in to inform the school like we do annually, they sent a new form. It had all these questions on how we homeschool and how I plan, what resources, etc. It looked a little suspicious so I started researching if things have changed. Thank you. I will not be filling this form out as we live in Ontario and I feel the less they know, the better it might be for us. I have been getting this weird vibe in my gut that things might change...cross fingers that it stays lax. I want to homeschool my kids how I want to. Bad enough that the relatives scrutinize us...don’t want the govt doing the same.
Yes, some schools do over-step with their letters of intent. But just send a standard one and don't fill out anything extra. I don't know if things will change but I certainly hope not! We love the freedom that Ontario currently offers.
Thank you. I’m just a little concerned because it contained the appendix D which is titled “Sample form for gathering information in an investigation”. Is this the form that you mentioned that does not have to be submitted? I have only informed the school because that’s what they told me. Does this mean I will be under investigation whether or not I fill this in? I pulled my oldest daughter out in kindergarten and have been informing the school annually. I missed last year but the secretary said no problem because I was also late in filing my younger son’s papers. I regret filing my son’s registration papers now as I didn’t know I didn’t have to do that. All this paperwork is quite confusing and I just want to be left alone to school my children. Please help explain this for me. I keep researching but google keeps giving me the same info but it’s not helping to explain why I received this. Should I just send my intent to homeschool forms to the board instead of the school? I know this school has been losing students due to mismanagement, so I’m skeptical if they’re sending this for other reasons or just not knowing the procedures. Thank you.
@@kristinect ignore their paperwork. Send your basic letter of Intent directly to the school board. I recommend emailing it because you get a time stamp. The moment it’s sent, you’re good to go. You don’t need to wait for their approval or respond. And you want be investigated. It worded that way to scare you. Just send the basic letter off every august and then just go about your business.
I’m confused so for homeschooled kids are they taking any tests at any point to get grades on a report card which they can use for university applications?
Almost every university or college has it's own set of homeschool criteria. It varies from having 12 Grade 12 classes from an accredited teacher, to portfolio work, to entrance exams like SATs. Or they can attend as mature students. While kids can get the high school diploma, there are also other options open to homeschoolers that don't require testing, report cards or even a diploma.
I spoke to the provincial school attendance counselor when looking for proof of Ontario rules, and she told me about ppm 131, and then indicated to me that she could conduct an investigation. Ppm 131 states they "could" or "should" or "may" do things in the line of this...EVERYONE says they cannot. So where is there proof that they can't?? I'm so confused.
Do you mean your local public school attendance counsellor? Technically they could do an investigation provided they truly believe that you aren't educating your child, just pulling them to avoid the trudency officer. It is trickier if you have a history of attendance issues, Because it gives them concerns (if you can't get them to school, there's a chance you can't teach them at home). But many are uneducated about the truth about homeschooling, and believe it's not a realistic option. That's one (of many) reasons why it recommended that you don't contact the school when you pull your children, rather send your letter of intent to the school board (which is the legal requirement).
Hi! We live in BC and my kids have been registered homeschoolers here but we’re planning to move to Ontario soon. If my kids have never been registered in Ontario, do you know if I need to do anything for them? Thanks!
I agree...all the work that parents do for $500 a year. It isn't worth it. And the string that come with the money on what you can actually spend it on are wild.
Private school is a little different but basically you would just withdraw them from the school and go about homeschooling as if they've never been in public school. Just make sure you pick up their file from the school so it doesn't get sent to the local public school.
Private schools often push kids to maintain their "standards" of being advanced even at the detriment of the child. If you're finding it too much and your child is struggling, then I would highly recommend a talk to administration about your concerns.
Why do we need to provide our phone number and address to the letter of intent and need to let them know a change of address if we move? This is the first I've heard of sending the letter of intent to the OFTP as well Would that publicly funded be offered for psychoeducational assessment as well?
You don't need to send it to OFTP. that might be my fault. I was just saying that you can find a template of the letter of intent on their website. You send it to your board office. You would only need that information if you need a letter of acknowledgement to access resources. For example, speech or occupational therapy. You would need your address to prove that you live in the area to receive services. I don't believe that psychoeducational assessments are publicly funded.
Thank you. I have been looking for this info. I have been homeschooling my kids for over 5 yrs and this year when I went in to inform the school like we do annually, they sent a new form. It had all these questions on how we homeschool and how I plan, what resources, etc. It looked a little suspicious so I started researching if things have changed. Thank you. I will not be filling this form out as we live in Ontario and I feel the less they know, the better it might be for us. I have been getting this weird vibe in my gut that things might change...cross fingers that it stays lax. I want to homeschool my kids how I want to. Bad enough that the relatives scrutinize us...don’t want the govt doing the same.
Yes, some schools do over-step with their letters of intent. But just send a standard one and don't fill out anything extra.
I don't know if things will change but I certainly hope not! We love the freedom that Ontario currently offers.
Thank you. I’m just a little concerned because it contained the appendix D which is titled “Sample form for gathering information in an investigation”. Is this the form that you mentioned that does not have to be submitted? I have only informed the school because that’s what they told me. Does this mean I will be under investigation whether or not I fill this in? I pulled my oldest daughter out in kindergarten and have been informing the school annually. I missed last year but the secretary said no problem because I was also late in filing my younger son’s papers. I regret filing my son’s registration papers now as I didn’t know I didn’t have to do that. All this paperwork is quite confusing and I just want to be left alone to school my children. Please help explain this for me. I keep researching but google keeps giving me the same info but it’s not helping to explain why I received this. Should I just send my intent to homeschool forms to the board instead of the school? I know this school has been losing students due to mismanagement, so I’m skeptical if they’re sending this for other reasons or just not knowing the procedures. Thank you.
@@kristinect ignore their paperwork. Send your basic letter of Intent directly to the school board. I recommend emailing it because you get a time stamp. The moment it’s sent, you’re good to go. You don’t need to wait for their approval or respond. And you want be investigated. It worded that way to scare you. Just send the basic letter off every august and then just go about your business.
@@RaisingAtoZ thank you. I feel better 😊. I will do that.
I never knew this can be done here in Ontario that easily for home schooling. thank you for all the information.
Any time!
Thank you so much, this is excellent information!
You are so welcome! I'm glad it was helpful!
Yes! Living for the Canadian homeschool content! 🙏🏻
Yeah!
And the best part now letter of intent are filled online
Yes! Emailing is awesome because of the time stamp.
It's bizarre that several U.S. states make it more difficult to homeschool than Ontario Canada.
Yes! Every where is different and some places are so strict and others are way lax
I’m confused so for homeschooled kids are they taking any tests at any point to get grades on a report card which they can use for university applications?
Almost every university or college has it's own set of homeschool criteria. It varies from having 12 Grade 12 classes from an accredited teacher, to portfolio work, to entrance exams like SATs. Or they can attend as mature students. While kids can get the high school diploma, there are also other options open to homeschoolers that don't require testing, report cards or even a diploma.
I spoke to the provincial school attendance counselor when looking for proof of Ontario rules, and she told me about ppm 131, and then indicated to me that she could conduct an investigation. Ppm 131 states they "could" or "should" or "may" do things in the line of this...EVERYONE says they cannot. So where is there proof that they can't?? I'm so confused.
Do you mean your local public school attendance counsellor? Technically they could do an investigation provided they truly believe that you aren't educating your child, just pulling them to avoid the trudency officer. It is trickier if you have a history of attendance issues, Because it gives them concerns (if you can't get them to school, there's a chance you can't teach them at home). But many are uneducated about the truth about homeschooling, and believe it's not a realistic option. That's one (of many) reasons why it recommended that you don't contact the school when you pull your children, rather send your letter of intent to the school board (which is the legal requirement).
Hi! We live in BC and my kids have been registered homeschoolers here but we’re planning to move to Ontario soon. If my kids have never been registered in Ontario, do you know if I need to do anything for them? Thanks!
If they've never been registered in Ontario, then no need to register or do anything when you get here.
Awesome, Thank you so much!
100% freedom over funding any time. That funding is a drop in the bucket anyway.
I agree...all the work that parents do for $500 a year. It isn't worth it. And the string that come with the money on what you can actually spend it on are wild.
Thanks for the video.
what if the child was in a private school and never went to a public school? do we still need to inform the private school?
Private school is a little different but basically you would just withdraw them from the school and go about homeschooling as if they've never been in public school. Just make sure you pick up their file from the school so it doesn't get sent to the local public school.
Private schools often push kids to maintain their "standards" of being advanced even at the detriment of the child. If you're finding it too much and your child is struggling, then I would highly recommend a talk to administration about your concerns.
Why do we need to provide our phone number and address to the letter of intent and need to let them know a change of address if we move?
This is the first I've heard of sending the letter of intent to the OFTP as well
Would that publicly funded be offered for psychoeducational assessment as well?
You don't need to send it to OFTP. that might be my fault. I was just saying that you can find a template of the letter of intent on their website. You send it to your board office.
You would only need that information if you need a letter of acknowledgement to access resources. For example, speech or occupational therapy. You would need your address to prove that you live in the area to receive services.
I don't believe that psychoeducational assessments are publicly funded.