Homeschooling In Utah: How We Did It
After moving from California to Northern Utah, we homeschooled our two oldest children for 1 year. To educate your child at home, you must submit a signed and notarized affidavit each year to your local school district.
By submitting the affidavit, you are informing the school district that your child will attend a home school and receive instruction in the subjects the State Board of Education requires to be taught in public schools in accordance with law, and for the same length of time as children in public schools (180 days per year - 990 hours, 810 hours for first grade).
I obtained a form from the school district office. It asked for my children's names and grades. I was a bit hesitant about giving this information since this was never required in California. I signed the bottom of the form and had it notarized. The district will accept a non-notarized form (or letter) but since the law requires it (and my bank offered the service free), I had it notarized.
Utah law allows you to create and submit your own affidavit. You are not required to use an affidavit provided by your school district like I did. Some school district forms may ask for information that is not required by law. For example, they may ask the reason you are educating your child at home, the curriculum you are using, etc. You are not required to provide this information. If you disagree with any of the language on the school district's form, you can simply cross it out and initial it.
For more information on submitting your affidavit to homeschool, visit the Utah Home Education Association. They walk you through the process and provide sample affidavits online you can print.
We never had any problems at all while in Utah. The homeschool community was rather large and the activities were endless. Coming from California, I did not like having to give my children's names when completing the homeschool
affidavit. However, now that I am in Arizona - where I have to supply a birth certificate - I wish I hadn't complained!
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