Understanding how to homeschool in Costa Rica primarily depends on your citizenship status, as the legal framework differs significantly.
Legality for Costa Rican Citizens
According to available information, homeschooling is not legal for Costa Rican citizens. The national education system requires enrollment in accredited schools.
Options for Non-Citizens or Expats
While homeschooling is not permitted under Costa Rican law for its citizens, expatriate families or those needing to meet educational requirements from their home country may seek alternative solutions. These typically involve enrolling in programs based outside of Costa Rica that offer accreditation or "shelter school" services.
Accreditation and Shelter School Enrollment
For non-citizens residing in Costa Rica, or those needing to comply with laws in countries like certain US states that require specific homeschooling structures, options mentioned include:
- Accreditation: You can choose to enroll in a homeschooling program that offers accreditation. This is often presented as an optional service.
- Shelter School Enrollment: Some programs provide enrollment services specifically designed to meet requirements in other jurisdictions, sometimes referred to as "shelter school enrollment." This can be necessary for fulfilling homeschooling laws in your home country.
These external programs allow families residing in Costa Rica to follow a curriculum and receive recognition or documentation (like transcripts) that aligns with educational standards elsewhere, even though homeschooling as defined by Costa Rican law is not available to citizens. Information about specific programs used for accreditation or shelter school enrollment would need to be obtained from providers offering these services.
Essentially, for Costa Rican citizens, direct homeschooling is not a legal option. For non-citizens, facilitating homeschooling often involves leveraging accredited programs based outside the country to meet international or home-country educational requirements.
