Centre Communidée has found a lawyer who offers legal services as an alternative to the HSLDA.  For more information, see:  Legal Support for Families of Homelearners.

The Quebec Education Act:

Section 14 - Every child resident in Québec shall attend school from the first day of the school calendar in the school year following that in which he attains 6 years of age until the last day of the school calendar in the school year in which he attains 16 years of age or at the end of which he obtains a diploma awarded by the Minister, whichever occurs first.

(Sonya's notes: Kindergarten is not compulsory. If a child turns 6 between July 1 and September 30, they may start grade 1 that year or wait until the following year.)

Section 15.4 - Exemptions: a student who receives home schooling and benefits from an educational experience which, according to an evaluation made by or for the school board, are equivalent to what is provided at school.

(Sonya's notes: an equivalent educational experience does not mean that the child must follow the Quebec curriculum. I think the spirit of the law is that, should the child end up in public school, they would be generally be able to follow the material at their grade-level.)

The Ministry's policy on homeschooling - published in June 2010.  Et en français.

Other interpretations of the Quebec Education Act from HSLDA:

i. There is no requirement that parents give notice to a school board or the government of their intention to home school their children if they are not contacted by the school board.

ii. The family does not have to seek prior approval for home schooling.

iii. Home visits or assessments by school boards as a condition for home schooling is not required by law.

iv. "Evaluation" does not mean a test administered by a government school.

v. The right of a principal to report a family to Youth Protection is for situations involving truancy or absenteeism and not for legitimate cases of home schooling.

Homeschooling and Language Laws:

You have the right to homeschool in the language of your choice. You should register with the local school board of that language. Some school boards, like the English Montreal SB, won't let you register as a homeschooler without the legal papers (the certificate of eligibility). AQED says, if they won't let you register, just say thank you very much and go home to your kids!

If the kid ever returns to public school, the language laws will again apply.

Links:

Homeschooling in Quebec - Ruby posted a great deal of useful information about starting out as a homeschooler in Quebec on her blog, including the legalities, the decision to homeschool, the educational program in Quebec, homeschooling resources in Quebec, preparing your curriculum, and withdrawing your child from public school.

The English Montreal School Board's policy on homeschooling.