Now that’s a good question! Many states require 180 days of instruction for public school students.
While that is not a requirement for homeschool students according to the Chapter 12 Rule Compulsory
Attendance Exceptions, let’s assume a 180-day school year.
As a homeschooler, you do not need to follow the DOE school calendar. You determine the beginning
and the ending dates for your homeschool and everything in between. If you want to school for 180
days, you can spread that out over a 12 month period or condense it however you choose.
If you use a traditional textbook curriculum, many of those programs are geared for 180 instruction
days. Depending on the subject, you may choose not to cover every lesson or every workbook page.
When setting up your calendar, remember to include holidays, vacations, and breaks – maybe even
birthdays!
Here are some suggestions for a year-round schedule; modify as needed.
- A 5-day school week for 36 weeks with 16 weeks of breaks. Schedule the breaks according to
your needs and preferences. - A 4-day school week with 45 weeks of school with 7 weeks of breaks to intersperse as needed.
Again, schedule the breaks that best fits your needs. Day 5 can be used for catch-up,
appointments, field trips, etc. - A 5-day school week, with 6 weeks of instruction followed by a 2 week break. Repeat the cycle
5 more times for 180 days of instructions. You will still have a few more break weeks.
The key is determining a schedule that works best for you! Be flexible and still diligent in completing
your school year!