School Choice

You may send your child to any legally operating private school in the country. This is your right as a parent.

Under the United States Constitution, parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their children. In 1925 the Supreme Court recognized that “liberty,” protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, includes the right to choose a private education. Confronted with an Oregon statute mandating public school attendance, the Supreme Court ruled the statute unconstitutional. Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, 268 U.S. 510 (1925).

In the words of the Court,

The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations. (268 U.S. at 535)

Virginia Families

You may sent your child to any private school that you want to, including schools outside your district.

  1. Contact your local public school.
  2. Inform them that you are withdrawing your child from public school and sending them to a Private school.
    • Get written confirmation that the public school acknowledges this withdrawal.
  3. Local schools may have specific forms or withdrawal procedures.
  4. Enroll at Rhyme and Reason Academy!

Virginia Laws for Parents

  • Virginia’s compulsory attendance laws require children to attend school — public, private, denomination or parochial — during the period of each year the public schools are in session and for the same number of days and hours per day as the public schools. The length of the school term for public schools is at least 180 days or 990 teaching hours. Va. Code §§22.1-254, 22.1-98.

Maryland Families

You may sent your child to any private school that you want to, including schools outside your district/state.

  1. Contact your local public school.
  2. Inform them that you are withdrawing your child from public school and sending them to a Private school.
    • Get written confirmation that the public school acknowledges this withdrawal.
  3. Local schools may have specific forms or withdrawal procedures.
  4. Enroll at Rhyme and Reason Academy!

Maryland Laws for Parents

  • Maryland law requires that all children between the ages of 5 and 18, who live in Maryland, attend school.
  • Every child under 18 years of age must attend public school unless the child is receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age such as homeschool or private school. See the Law.

FAQ

  • What laws does Rhyme and Reason Academy operate under?
  • Does Rhyme and Reason Academy have a “Certificate of Approval” from the State of Maryland?
    • No. Our school is in Virginia and is not subject to laws regarding Maryland schools. Only schools operating in the state of Maryland are subject to Maryland’s laws.
  • I’m a Maryland resident, can I send my child to a private school that doesn’t have the Maryland Certificate of Approval?
    • You may send your child to any legally operating private school in the country. This is your right as a parent.
    • The Certificate of Approval is a requirement placed on businesses to legally operate in the state of Maryland, much like a restaurant license. If the private school is outside the state of Maryland, they may legally operate without Maryland’s approval.
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