I have had several calls from homeschooling families considering moving to Oklahoma.  They have questions about how our state looks at and deals with families that homeschool their children.

According to the Homeschooling Legal Defense Association:

"Oklahoma is the only state with a constitutional provision guaranteeing the right to home school. Section 4, Art. 13 of the Constitution of Oklahoma guarantees the home school exemption by stating that the legislature "shall" provide for the "compulsory attendance at some public or other school, unless other means of education are provided of all children in the State who are sound in mind and body, between the ages of eight and sixteen, for at least three months each year."

It seems quite evident that the "other means of education" language is directly applicable to home schooling since it was added for the specific purpose of protecting the right of parents to choose home schooling. In 1907, during the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, one of the delegates, Mr. Buchanan, proposed that the phrase "unless other means of education be provided" be added to Article 13, Section 4. Favorably responding to Mr. Buchanan's proposal, another delegate, Mr. Baker stated,

"I think Mr. Buchanan has suggested a solution. A man's own experience sometimes will teach him. I have two little fellows that are not attending a public school because it is too far for them to walk and their mother makes them study four hours a day."

As a result of this discussion on home schooling, the "other means of education" language was added to Article 13, Section 4."

The Homeschooling Legal Defense Association has other information available for homeschooling families.

If I can help you with relocation information for moving to McCurtain County or Choctaw County in Southeast Oklahoma, give me a call at 580-212-5946.