My eighth grade son is having significant problems at school. I'm considering pulling him out and homeschooling him for now, and then trying again with public school next year. Are there any issues that could prevent him from being allowed to go to the public high school?

There are several varieties of homeschooling. The way to address your concern—what happens when your son tries to enter high school—is to develop a contract for independent study with his current school. This will lessen any resistance he may face when he tries to enter high school.

You and the school should develop a written agreement, or contract, that covers the following issues:

• The short- and long-term learning objectives that your son needs to meet before he can enter high school;
• Weekly and monthly assignments;
• The tests or work products that will be used to assess his progress;
• Regularly scheduled meetings with the supervising teacher, you, and your son to support his learning and any issues that might arise.

The school can loan you books and may encourage you to attend teacher-training workshops, if it offers any. It may also allow your son to participate in field trips, sports teams, or other activities.

Schools are more receptive to homeschooling when parents work through the school, because this does not cut off funding they receive for student attendance (ADA, or average daily attendance). Under a school-endorsed independent study program, the school will designate someone on staff as the supervising teacher, or primary contact.

The only caveat is that your local school board must have already established a policy relating to independent study. Most districts have, but if yours hasn't, ask your county office of education to direct you to a district that does accept independent study.