Effective Date: March 22, 2000
Responsibility: Superintendent of Program and Schools (Elementary)
Appendix 1: Responsibility for Home Schooling Form
Appendix 2: The Basic Educational Rights of Every Child
Appendix 3: Sample Letter to Parents from Attendance Counsellor Recognizing Intent to Home School
Appendix 4: Sample Letter to Parents from Attendance Counsellor Indicating Report of the Neglect of the Child’s Educational Rights
Appendix 5: Home Schooling Registry
Appendix 6: Suggested Framework for Letter to Parents Explaining Purpose, Time and Location of Meeting
1.0 HOME SCHOOLING
Is a program provided by the parent(s) of a child. Home schooling is legal according to the Education Act 21(2) (a)…A child is excused from attendance at school if the child is receiving satisfactory instruction at home or elsewhere.
1.1 When a parent informs a principal that he/she will be providing a home schooling program or the principal learns that information through other means, the principal will ask the parent/guardian to complete the Responsibility for Home Schooling and forward to the Superintendent of Program and Schools indicating:
1.1.1 Name, and date of birth of each child
1.1.2 Address (including lot and concession numbers, if necessary)
1.1.3 Home telephone number
1.1.4 Name of school where the child is attending or would be attending
1.1.5 Indication of intent of the parent to assume sole legal responsibility for the education of each child they intend to home school.
1.1.6 Signature of parent(s)
The Principal will give a copy of “The Basic Educational Rights of Every Child” (Appendix 2) and “Responsibility for Home Schooling Form”
(Appendix 1) to the parent or guardian.
1.2 Concurrent with 1.1, the principal will inform the attendance counsellor.
1.3 When the superintendent receives the completed form (Appendix 1) from the parent, it will be reviewed and forwarded to the attendance counsellor for action.
1.4 If a letter from the parent has not been received within 15 days, the attendance counsellor will contact the school to determine if the student is attending school.
1.5 If the student is not attending school and a letter has not been received from the parent, the attendance counsellor will follow up as a regular attendance referral.
1.5.1 If the attendance counsellor ascertains that the parent has determined to provide home schooling, the counsellor will:
- provide the parent with copies of, “The Basic Educational Rights of Every Child” (Appendix 2) and “Responsibility for Home Schooling Form” (Appendix 1)
- request the parent to provide the information required in the “Responsibility for Home Schooling Form”
1.6 Upon receipt of the information as described in 1.3, the Attendance Counsellor shall write a letter to the parent acknowledging that a program is being provided. (Appendix 3). A copy of the letter will be sent to the principal and the Superintendent of Program and Schools. The student’s name will be entered in the “Home Schooling Registry” (Appendix 5). This registry will be completed and housed regionally.
1.7 As soon as the principal receives the copy of the letter from the attendance counsellor, the student’s name will be removed from the school register.
1.8 If a principal receives a report that a home schooling parent is not guaranteeing their child’s minimally acceptable educational rights, as identified in the paper “The Basic Educational Rights of Every Child”, he/she immediately inform the attendance counsellor.
1.9 Upon being informed that any home schooling child’s rights are being deprived, the attendance counsellor shall investigate. If there is reasonable concern, the attendance counsellor shall contact the parent to review the commitment made when signing the letter committing to the Basic Educational Rights of Every Child. (Appendix 4) He/she may inform the parents of their legal responsibility to provide an education for the child.
1.10 After the parent has had one month’s time to demonstrate their commitment to the responsibilities of Home Schooling and/or seek advice from another home schooling parent, the superintendent shall, make all necessary arrangements for an assessment of the child which may be based on:
- use of a standardized test,
- evaluation of the growth of the child in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic,
- examination of the written work of the child, and/or discussions with the child and/or parent.
1.11 After the assessment has been completed, the superintendent or his/her designate shall inform the parent in writing of the status of the assessment. (Appendix 6)
1.12 Where assessment determines that “satisfactory instruction” does not exist, or where the parent refuses to co-operate, the superintendent shall instruct the Board’s attendance counsellor to forward the name of the parent to the Provincial School Attendance Counsellor with copies of all documentation.
1.13 Principals are not expected to provide resources or accommodation in a school building to any student being home schooled.
1.14 Upon re-entry of a home schooling child into a school, the principal shall determine the grade level or credit accumulation of the student in accordance with the program documentation provided by the parent, or failing documentation, on the basis of any formal assessment required by the principal.
