** Note concerning the #7. Example 3 all-in-one letter format above **
This letter format fulfills ALL requirements of the law. HOWEVER, we *strongly* suggest (from experience 1000s of times over) that an all-in-one letter and curriculum list format such as this one should not be used when you are notifying for the first time, especially, when you are notifying for the first time AND it's a mid-year notification. Please understand, this letter COMPLETELY fulfills the law, but we have found that 99% of the time, when superintendents inappropriately come back to request more information, it is because of using a letter format instead of the suggested form and a curriculum outline such as Example 1. This is NOT your issue - it's their's, it's an issue of reading comprehension - and we have suggestions on ways to follow up when this happens. But as a fair warning - a letter format causes much more "pushback" that you might then have to deal with, than the form.
As mentioned in the Primer, step 3:
When you are sending in your notification of intent to homeschool, no form is required by law - you can do it in a letter format. However, we HIGHLY suggest most people use the simplicity of a form, especially for a new or mid-year school withdraw, to make sure you are giving all the required information, but *nothing* extra. Using a form also makes the notification “scannable”; meaning, the office worker will not have to carefully read anything you write in order to see that you have covered Ohio requirements.
Additional Informational Notes
1 - As noted on line (2), write in "N/A" (for "not applicable") on the "Email and telephone number (optional)" line. Ohio law notes that providing a contact email and phone number is "optional", but it is not recommended to provide this means for the district to contact you. All official communication must be in writing, so providing alternative means to contact you results in procedures not being followed by districts, and sometimes family harassment.
2- These lines are only used for the circumstance of someone other than the parent providing most/all of the home education, such as a family member or friend who provides the home education instead of the parent. Otherwise, write "N/A" here. This is NOT to be used for supplemental, activity, or co-op classes, or for noting purchased curriculum programs or academies.
3- As noted on line (4), include ONLY those children who will be home educated AND who are of compulsory age. (Age 6 by the first day of school in your district, through age 18 or graduated.) If you have children who will be continuing in school, or children outside of the compulsory age range, do NOT include them on this form - even if they are 4 or 5 and are doing preschool or kindergarten at home. We notify for purposes of obtaining an excuse from compulsory attendance only, not to announce or make homeschooling "official". If your child is not compulsory age, you do not need an excuse from compulsory attendance. See the FAQ page for more.
4- As noted in lines (6) and (7), please see the How to Homeschool in Ohio - Primer step #3 for information on completing a curriculum list/addendum. For the form itself, simply checkmark/X your assurance, and then attach the curriculum addendum as noted in the Primer.
5- At the end of Page 2 is a privacy notice before your signature. If you decide to not use a form, or not to use a law-aligned form provided by OHP or a legal organization like HSLDA, please write in this privacy notice so that your family's data will not shared without written consent. In this age of common core data mining, this is very important.