Are there any DoD or local KMC homeschooling requirements?

Basically, no.  There are no required courses, hours/day, days/year, or standardized testing.  The Air Force does not even require that you declare your intention to homeschool.  The Army, as part of their relocation package, requires members to declare how they intend to educate their children (DODDS, Private, German school, or homeschool).  See the Army School Liaison Officer page for further information.  It is DoDEA policy neither to encourage nor discourage DoD sponsors from home schooling their minor dependents. The current policy <http://www.eu.dodea.edu/ed/HomeSchool.htm>  letter states "if a parent chooses to educate a child at home they must contact the School Liaison Officer at the nearest U.S. military installation to determine host nation laws regarding school registration and enrollment, and local home schooling requirements."  We've contacted the School liaison officer for the Ramstein/Landstuhl schools, Dr. John Bohannon, about this relatively new statement.  He said there is no requirement for homeschool parents to contact him.  The intention was to provide a common channel for those interested in homeschooling to receive information from a locally informed source, most importantly relevant host nation laws.

Can my child take a class on base?  Can they join the high school team?  How about special services?

DODDS allows homeschoolers to take classes (i.e. calculus, chemistry) and participate in auxiliary services (i.e. football team, speech therapy).  If you choose to participate in these classes or services, you will be required to register your child in the school, but you have full latitude in determining participation. Details can be found in Chapter 8 of this attachment <http://www.eu.dodea.edu/enrollment/docs/handbook_SY0708.pdf> .

Who should parents contact about attending part time or participating in auxiliary services?

Contact the local school that your child would attend.  Often, they will refer you to the Schools Liaisons Officer.  Here some School Liaison Officers that we know of for the 2008-2009 school year

Ramstein/Landstuhl - Dr. John Bohannon, 06371479374.
Vogelweh, Kaiserslautern, Sembach - Rene Palmer or Richard (Rusty) Law. 06315366771.
Army - Lynn Rice, 063134064123   website

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