Homeschooling in the DR
We homeschooled in the DR for four months. There basically are no Dominican laws to worry about.
As Ken said, there are schools that use a homeschool curriculum, School of Tomorrow. One is at Colegio Nueva Vida up to grade 8, I believe. High Schoolers can be taught at the school run by Dr Bob. I cannot remember the name of the school, but as you go from Sosua to Cabarete, it is the first right past the coastal station.
There are several home schools that will give your child a diploma from an accredited school. School of Tomorrow, A Beka, and Alpha Omega are three of them. They are all three Christian curriculm, with A Beka being the strongest academic curriculum.
Homeschooling is not hard, and you will really form a strong bond with your child. Many expats homeschool their children. There are also Correspondence schools (non-Christian) in which you can enroll your child. You just need to be sure that they are accredited. Colleges in the US accept homeschooled students, and they also accept diplomas from accredited schools, including homeschools.
In my opinion, ISS offers about what an average public school in the US would offer for your child. My children did not attend the school, but I talked to many parents and children who used the school. Several parents actually thought the Learning Center in Sosua is a better school. That is in town somewhere. I didn't check it out, but have heard great things about it.
One issue that I did not consider before our move was the influence of children of other foreign cultures on my kids. I don't know how to word this without slamming other cultures. I guess that I can say that people from other countries have varying degrees of expectations for their children. The English schools in the DR are like a mini United Nations. Great Culturally, but the behavior of many of the kids leaves a little to be desired.
We are in year four of homeschooling. I would be happy to answer any specific questions if you would like to email me.
Mainer