Home Schooling in Israel

Hebrew: בית ספר - לומדים מהבית

There is a growing trend in Israel to home-school children.

Yes, home schooling is legal in Israel

- In order to home-school your child, you need permission from the Ministry of Education.

How do I get permission to home-school?

- You write a letter to your local Ministry of Education representative requesting permission. The Ministry's guidelines say that you are supposed to explain your educational philosophy, your curriculum, how you will teach, and how you will evaluate the success of the education. However, the guidelines seem to allow for much less formal approaches, and many families have had success with a range of application formats. In the past, some have received permission with a terse letter stating their intention to home-school, although the new guidelines might not allow for that. You should include your child's name and ID number, as well as your own.

Conditions

- Home-schoolers in Israel who have received permission have been required to maintain some contact with their local education authorities.

Bagrut

- Many regular high school students in Israel prepare for their matriculation exams by taking extra lesson and private teachers to teach them what they need to know to pass the tests. These same facilities are available to home-schoolers as well. There are also many students who do not take the Bagrut in the context of high school, but rather through an independent study framework. The fact is that a young person who wants to take the Bagrut may do so, and may do well, without having attended high school.