Homeschooling in Idaho: Maybe It’s Not What You Think
Exciting news from Farm School, resources for Idaho homeschool families, and why homeschooling may be very different from what you imagine.
We have exciting news for our homeschool families: Urban Green Harvest is now an approved vendor with Idaho Home Learning Academy (IHLA)!
That means eligible IHLA families may now be able to use Supplemental Learning Funds toward approved Farm School programs. We're also an approved provider with Empowering Parents for families who still have eligible funds available.
We've been working toward these approvals for one simple reason: we want more families to have access to Farm School.
And while we're celebrating, it seems like a good time to talk about something we care deeply about:
Homeschooling doesn't have to be complicated.
Already homeschooling? You probably know that.
Considering it? We hope this encourages you.
Never considered homeschooling? Maybe you should.
Because it may be very different from what you think.
You Don't Have to Bring School Home
One of the biggest misconceptions about homeschooling is that you have to recreate school at your kitchen table.
You don't.
Children were learning long before anyone created classrooms.
They learn because they're curious. Because they want to participate. Because they see someone doing something and want to try. Because they have a question they can't stop thinking about. Because something didn't work and they want to figure out why.
Homeschooling gives us the freedom to make room for that.
It can include curriculum, classes, workbooks, and online programs if those things serve your child.
But it can also include books on the couch, cooking dinner, raising animals, building something, gardening, traveling, talking with grandparents, visiting the library, and having enough uninterrupted time to become completely absorbed in an interest.
Some families use curriculum. Some use online classes. Some unschool. Some enroll with programs like IHLA. Many families find their own combination and change it as their children grow.
There isn't one right way to homeschool.
And we don't have to turn every experience into a lesson for learning to happen.
When children plant tomatoes, they're learning. They're observing insects, soil, weather, roots, growth, and change. They're making connections and drawing conclusions—often without saying a word about it.
When a child becomes fascinated with snakes and reads everything they can find about them, they're following their own questions as far as their curiosity takes them.
We don't need to stop and point out the science, create a worksheet, ask what they learned, or turn the experience into a lesson.
The learning is already happening.
In our eagerness to teach, it's easy to interrupt that process. We explain before a child has had time to wonder. We point out what we think they should notice before they've had a chance to notice it themselves. We ask questions we already know the answers to instead of leaving room for their questions.
Our role can be to provide a rich environment, answer questions when they come, and give children the time and space to observe, experiment, think, and discover for themselves.
Learning doesn't begin when we start teaching. It's already happening.
Homeschooling in Idaho Is Surprisingly Simple
Idaho gives families considerable freedom to direct their children's education.
Independent homeschool families aren't required to register their homeschool with the state or use a state-selected curriculum. There are no state reporting requirements, parents aren't required to hold teaching licenses, and independently homeschooled students aren't required to participate in state testing.
Parents are responsible for providing instruction in subjects commonly and usually taught in Idaho public schools, but families have considerable freedom in deciding how that education happens.
And yes, it really is that simple.
If you're considering homeschooling, start with Idaho's official information. It's an easy way to see for yourself what the state actually requires without getting overwhelmed by all the advice online.
Idaho Department of Education — Homeschooling
What About IHLA?
Idaho Home Learning Academy (IHLA) is a K–12 public-school option for Idaho families who want their children learning primarily from home.
It's important to understand that IHLA isn't the same as independent homeschooling. Children enrolled with IHLA are public-school students, so families have program requirements to meet.
In return, families have access to teachers, educational resources, curriculum options, and supplemental learning opportunities.
Eligible IHLA students may also have Supplemental Learning Funds that can be used toward qualifying programs and experiences through approved vendors—including now, Urban Green Harvest.
If you're curious about IHLA, go directly to them for the most current information about enrollment, funding, requirements, and how the program works.
Your Community Can Be Part of Your Homeschool
Homeschooling doesn't require one parent to know, teach, plan, and provide everything.
Your child wants to learn pottery? Find a potter.
They're fascinated by birds? Find a field guide, visit a nature center, and go outside.
They ask a question you don't know the answer to? Find out together.
A question can lead to a book. A book can lead to an experiment. An interest can lead to a class, a mentor, or an entirely new interest.
Libraries, museums, grandparents, artists, musicians, farmers, tradespeople, nature centers, homeschool groups, community programs, and other families can all become part of a child's education.
Home education doesn't have to happen only at home.
And you don't need to use every resource you discover. Choose the people, places, and experiences that make your family's life richer, while leaving plenty of unscheduled time for children to follow their interests, play, get bored, create, and simply be home.
Resources should expand a child's world, not make homeschooling more complicated.
A Few Treasure Valley Homeschool Resources
We have some wonderful resources right here in the Boise area.
The WaterShed offers educational programs centered around water, science, and the environment.
Idaho State Museum is another great place to watch for homeschool programs, exhibits, and hands-on opportunities.
Boise Parks & Recreation offers classes and outdoor programs throughout the year, including opportunities through places like the Foothills Learning Center and Boise Urban Garden School.
And don't overlook your local library. Books, audiobooks, programs, digital resources, and simply being able to wander through the shelves following an interest make a library card one of the best homeschool resources available.
You don't need to do all of these things.
Pick what makes your family's life richer and leave the rest.
Farm School Can Be Part of That Life, Too
And that brings us back to our exciting news.
Urban Green Harvest is now an approved IHLA vendor.
We're also an approved Empowering Parents provider for families who still have eligible existing funds available.
Learn More About Empowering Parents
We pursued these approvals because we want more families to have access to Farm School.
Eligible families may now be able to use available educational funds toward approved Urban Green Harvest programs.
Our Farm School serves children ages 4–12 on our working urban farm in West Boise. Children spend their days outdoors gardening, cooking, caring for animals, building, creating, working, exploring, and playing.
For a homeschool family, Farm School might simply become one day in the rhythm of the week.
We don't recreate school on the farm.
We don't need to turn gardening into a science lesson or cooking into a math lesson to make those experiences educational. Children are already observing, experimenting, problem-solving, making connections, asking questions, and learning through the work itself.
Life provides plenty to learn from already.
Farm School gives children another community, another environment, different adults to learn alongside, friendships, meaningful work, and interesting things to encounter.
And now, becoming an approved IHLA vendor gives more Idaho families another way to make Farm School part of their own homeschool life.
We're very happy to finally be able to offer that.
Have Questions About Homeschooling?
Homeschooling and alternative education have been part of our family life for more than three decades. We've learned, evolved, tried different approaches, and gained a lot of experience along the way.
If you have questions about homeschooling, we're always happy to share what we've learned. Leave a comment below or send us a message.
