Homeschooling and Traveling with Kids
How to Navigate the Bureaucracy
Traveling with children is a unique experience that can enrich their lives in extraordinary ways. The opportunity to explore the world with little ones is exciting, but it presents unique challenges, including educating children while on the road.
To maintain absolute freedom in our decisions regarding travel, we chose a still little-known educational adventure in Italy: Unschooling. This teaching method is 100% based on family rhythms and the children’s requests.
In this article, I will address the most tedious part of this world: the bureaucracy. If you are more interested in reading about how we handle studying and traveling concretely, you can read the article Homeschooling, Our Educational Adventure.
In this article, I describe our learning adventure as Homeschooling, even though it is much closer to the world of Unschooling, but the bureaucracy is the same.
If you want to know the difference between Homeschooling and Unschooling, refer to the dedicated article: Homeschooling vs. Unschooling: Is There a Difference?
Why Choose Homeschooling During Travel
Traveling with children is a unique learning opportunity. Every place visited offers lessons in history, culture, and geography that textbooks cannot match. Unschooling allows parents to customize their children’s education, adapting it to real-time travel experiences. By not following classic ministerial programs, one is free to study what surrounds them. Moreover, unschooling allows avoiding the rigid schedules of traditional schools and creating a more flexible and engaging learning environment.
The Challenges of Homeschooling During Travel
While homeschooling during travel offers numerous advantages, it is essential to address the associated challenges. Maintaining a consistent educational program, finding educational resources, and managing time are just some of the challenges homeschooling parents may face. However, the most important challenge concerns navigating the bureaucracy.
Bureaucracy and Laws
Every country has its own education and homeschooling laws. These laws can vary significantly from one nation to another and even from one state to another. However, as long as children maintain residency in Italy, they must follow Italian education laws.
Articles 30-33-34 of the Italian Constitution state that it is the parents’ right to maintain, educate, and instruct their children.
This statement demonstrates that it is education, not school attendance, that is mandatory.
Thanks to these articles, any form of education and instruction is permitted in Italy, unlike in many parts of the world where homeschooling is illegal.
Steps to Follow to be a Legally Compliant Homeschooler
The bureaucracy for regularizing parental studies is quite simple:
Communication: Parents must communicate to the reference school (the one closest to their residence) their intention to conduct parental education. Note that it is a communication, not a request. It is a possibility established by law, so you do not have to ask for permission, just send a communication via PEC (Certified Email) of your choice (usually by January of the academic year).
Study: During the entire homeschooling period, it is not necessary to demonstrate study hours or the program carried out, although it is advisable to keep a diary of all the activities in case of an exam.
Exam: The reference school must examine the child’s level of study at the end of each year and approve the transition to the next grade.
In this phase, a world of possibilities opens up. We personally, due to difficult relationships with the reference school, decided to have the eligibility exam conducted at the private parental school Novalis. Here is the link to check it out. (No ads)
This school deals daily with homeschooling families, putting children at ease with less academic and more relaxed methods.
The exam consists of multiple parts: submission of the logbook, submission of written tests, and an oral interview, which in specific cases can be conducted online.
Taking the eligibility exam is not a mandatory practice; it would be enough to take the exam at the end of each educational cycle (5th grade, 8th grade, 12th grade). However, if you choose to take the exam every year, the child will have the opportunity to re-enter the traditional school class at any time, should they change their mind.
Resources for Homeschooling Parents on the Go
The bureaucracy for regularizing parental studies is quite simple:
Communication: Parents must communicate to the reference school (the one closest to their residence) their intention to conduct parental education. Note that it is a communication, not a request. It is a possibility established by law, so you do not have to ask for permission, just send a communication via PEC (Certified Email) of your choice (usually by January of the academic year).
Study: During the entire homeschooling period, it is not necessary to demonstrate study hours or the program carried out, although it is advisable to keep a diary of all the activities in case of an exam.
Exam: The reference school must examine the child’s level of study at the end of each year and approve the transition to the next grade.
In this phase, a world of possibilities opens up. We personally, due to difficult relationships with the reference school, decided to have the eligibility exam conducted at the private parental school Novalis. Here is the link to check it out. (No ads)
This school deals daily with homeschooling families, putting children at ease with less academic and more relaxed methods.
The exam consists of multiple parts: submission of the logbook, submission of written tests, and an oral interview, which in specific cases can be conducted online.
Taking the eligibility exam is not a mandatory practice; it would be enough to take the exam at the end of each educational cycle (5th grade, 8th grade, 12th grade). However, if you choose to take the exam every year, the child will have the opportunity to re-enter the traditional school class at any time, should they change their mind.
Flexibility as an Advantage
One of the reasons many families choose to homeschool during travels is the flexibility it offers. Parents can adapt the educational program according to the needs and opportunities that arise during the trip. This allows children to learn organically, fully taking advantage of the travel experience and giving parents the ability to organize every move without date constraints. If you think about it, it can also be very cost-effective because you are not obligated to travel only during holidays.
In conclusion, homeschooling is a valid and rewarding educational choice for many families. However, it is essential to understand the necessary documentation.
On the road, planning ahead is crucial for success. Homeschooling offers the flexibility needed to adapt children’s education to unique travel experiences, allowing them to explore the world in an engaging and formative way.
Traveling with children can be an unforgettable experience, and homeschooling an extraordinary way to maximize the educational value of such adventures.
With careful planning and understanding of local laws, it is possible to offer your children a quality education while exploring the world.
