Enrollment in Home School

Parents or legal guardians desiring to provide a home school for their children shall give written notice to the Superintendent of their intent to homeschool. The notice shall be given:

1. At the beginning of each school year, but no later than August 15;
2. Five (5) school days prior to withdrawing the child (provided the student is not currently under disciplinary action for violation of any written school policy, including, but not limited to, excessive absences) and at the beginning of each school year thereafter; or
3. Within thirty (30) calendar days of the parent or legal guardian establishing residency within the district during the school year.

Written notice of the parent or legal guardian’s intent to home school shall be delivered to the Superintendent through any of the following methods:

• Electronically, including without limitation by:
• Use of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) online system;
• Email; or
• Facsimile;
• By mail; or
• In person.

The notice shall include:

1. The name, sex, date of birth, grade level, and the name and address of the school last attended, if any;
2. The mailing address and telephone number of the home school;
3. The name of the parent or legal guardian providing the home school;
4. Indicate if the home-schooled student intends to participate in extracurricular activities during the school year;
5. A statement of whether the home-schooled student plans to seek a high school equivalency diploma during the current school year;
6. A statement that the parent or legal guardian agrees that the parent or legal guardian is responsible for the education of their children during the time the parents or legal guardians choose to homeschool; and
7. A signature of the parent or legal guardian.

To aid the District in providing a free and appropriate public education to students in need of special education services, the parents or legal guardians home-schooling their children shall provide information that might indicate the need for special education services.

A student who has been temporarily issued items, resources, supplies, materials, or other property belonging to the District is eligible for enrollment in a home school during the school year after:

• The items, resources, supplies, materials, or other property belonging to the District have been returned to the District;
• The items, resources, supplies, materials, or other property belonging to the District have been paid for; or
• The semester has ended.

The superintendent or the board of directors may waive the required five (5) school day waiting period for a student’s enrollment in home school during a semester if the superintendent or the board of directors is satisfied with the return of temporarily issued items, resources, supplies, materials, or other District property.

Enrollment or Re-Enrollment in Public School

A home-schooled student who wishes to enroll or re-enroll in a District school shall submit:

• A transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school;
• Score of at least the thirtieth percentile on a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment taken in the past year; and
• A portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation:
• Curricula used in the home school;
• Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and
• Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress.

If a home-schooled student is unable to provide a nationally recognized norm-referenced score, the District may either assess the student using a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment or waive the requirement for a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment score.

A home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in the District will be placed at a grade level and academic course level equivalent to or higher than the home-schooled student's grade level and academic course level in the home school:

1. As indicated by the documentation submitted by the home-schooled student;
2. By mutual agreement between the public school and the home-schooled student's parent or legal guardian; or
3. If the home-schooled student fails to provide the documentation required by this policy, with the exception of the nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment score, the District may have sole authority to determine the home-schooled student's grade placement and course credits. The District will determine the home-schooled student’s grade placement and course credits in the same manner the District uses when determining grade placement and course credits for students enrolling or re-enrolling in the District who attended another public or private school.

The District shall afford a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school the same rights and privileges enjoyed by the District’s other students. The District shall not deny a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in the District any of the following on the basis of the student having attended a home school:

1. Award of course credits earned in the home school;
2. Placement in the proper grade level and promotion to the next grade level;
3. Participation in any academic or extracurricular activity;
4. Membership in school-sponsored clubs, associations, or organizations;
5. A diploma or graduation, so long as the student has enrolled or re-enrolled in the District to attend classes for at least the nine (9) months immediately prior to graduation; or
6. Scholarships.