See, for some people, homeschooling is not only an educational option but also a political statement. Any government regulation, no matter how minimial, is too intrusive for these types.
Personally, given the government's compelling interest to see that children who do not receive the freely provided public education are being educated at home and not being abused, it seems to me to be 100% reasonable to mandate annual standardized testing, an annual individual home instruction plan outlining the curriculum you intend to use, and quarterly progress reports. These kinds of documentation are the sort that teachers have to keep for their kids. The documentation isn't too onerous, but only weeds out the riff-raff who only claim to homeschool their children.
"it seems to me to be 100% reasonable to mandate annual standardized testing, an annual individual home instruction plan outlining the curriculum you intend to use, and quarterly progress reports."
Simple solution to a problem, right? Obvious, and 100% reasonable, right?
What happens when the school doesn't like the curriculum chosen? Suppose it's religion-based and the school board says they can't use that one. Should that be accceptable? Think carefully before you answer, because parochial and private religious schools don't have to submit to that kind of oversight.
The only part of your solution that makes any sense is requiring the standardized tests. That's what alot of states require, and that does seem reasonable.
Since when did that become the government's job? Who gave them the authority to do that?
Why is this a compelling government interest? The government doesn't seem to bother with trying to make sure ALL kids are educated in the public schools. Sure, they have compulsory education laws that mandate that kids have to have a certain amount of 'seat time', but beyond that, public schools get away with graduating illerates every day. I daresy, again as a percentage, there are quite a few more illiterate kids coming put of public schools than there are coming out of homeschools every day.
Folks like to bring up the example of a high schooler who doesn't follow any sort of educational plan, but just does his own thing all day. What they don't see is that the kid could be learning a skill that could provide him with an steady income. Who knows? He could be learning valuable computer skills, or could be learning appliance repair or carpentry. Just because a kid isn't studying history, math or english, doesn't mean he isn't being educated. Most kids study those subjects as a preparation for college. Even some kids who were loosy goosey about their studies until halfway through school might decide they want to go to college after all. They can complete a full four years worth of academic work in a span of two years, if they're motivated.
I see you've never dealt with a school system as a homeschool parent when the system has the power to force such metrics. In your point of view, the parent must prove to the school that "all is well". Just how does a failed and failing school system warrant such authority?
Perhaps the school should justify to each parent how they are achieving their stated and real aims with the kids. You know - the stated aim of educating (by on large, done poorly) and the real aim of indoctrination (by on large, done exceedingly well).