9270 - PROCEDURE FOR EDUCATING A CHILD AT HOME

West Clermont Local School District

Administrative Guidelines

9270 - PROCEDURE FOR EDUCATING A CHILD AT HOME

The District has established the following requirements and limitations to home education.

Notification of Intent to Educate Child At Home

A parent electing to home educate a child shall provide the Clermont County Educational Service Center (CCESC) with the following information:

	A.	school year for which notification is made

	B.	name of parent, address, and telephone number

	C.	name, address, and telephone number of person(s) who will be teaching the child the subjects required by the State Department of Education, if other than the parent

	D.	full name and birthdate of child to be educated at home

	E.	assurance that the home education program will include the subjects required by the State Department of Education, except that home education shall not be required to include any concept, topic, or practice that is in conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of parent

	F.	a brief outline of the intended curriculum for the current year

	G.	a list of textbooks, correspondence course, commercial curricular, or other basic teaching materials that the parent intends to use for home education

	H.	assurance that the child will be provided with a minimum of 900 hours of home education each school year


I.	assurance that the home teacher has one of the following qualifications:

	1.	a high school diploma

	2.	the certificate of high school equivalence

	3.	standardized test scores that demonstrate high school equivalence, or

	4.	other equivalent credential found appropriate by the Superintendent, or

	5.	lacking the above-listed qualifications, the home teacher must work under the direction of a person holding a baccalaureate degree from a recognized college until the child's or children's test results demonstrate reasonable proficiency or until the home teacher obtains a high school diploma or the certificate of high school equivalence

J.	the parent(s) shall affirm the information supplied with his/her signature prior to providing it to the CCESC.

The CCESC shall file in his/her office a copy of the notification of intent to provide home education and the information supplied by the parents, a copy of the excuse (if granted), papers showing the home education instructor's qualifications, and all other documents relating to the notification and actions thereon.

Review of Notification

The CCESC will review the information submitted by the parent and determine if it is in accordance with State law within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of the information.

If the information provided by the parent is sufficient, the CCESC shall notify the parent in writing that the child will be excused from school attendance for the school year for home education.

If the information submitted by the parent is incomplete, the CCESC shall specifically state in writing the manner in which the information is incomplete and allow the parent an additional fourteen (14) days to supply additional information in writing or to schedule a conference with the CCESC, at which conference the additional information can be supplied.

If the information supplied by the parent in conjunction with a notification of intent to home educate a child is inadequate or if the CCESC has substantial evidence that minimum educational requirements will not be met under the proposed home education course of study, the CCESC shall, within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of the information, inform the parents in writing of his/her intent to deny the excuse. The notification of intent to deny the excuse shall inform the parents that they have a right to a due process hearing before the CCESC to challenge the denial of the excuse.

At the due process hearing, the CCESC shall create a record of the proceedings, including oral testimony of witnesses and any documentary evidence referred to during the hearing. The CCESC may grant or deny an excuse from attendance based on evidence presented during the hearing.

If the CCESC denies the excuse from school attendance, the Superintendent shall notify the parents in writing that:

	A.	they have the right to appeal the denial within ten (10) calendar days to the juvenile judge of the county pursuant to R.C. 3331.08; and

	B.	that they may be in violation of R.C. 3321.03 (duty to see that child receives instruction) and R.C. 3321.04 (duty to see that child attends school unless excused from attendance) if they refuse to enroll their child in school.

Failure of Parent to Provide Home Education

Upon substantial evidence of cessation of home education, the CCESC shall notify the parents in writing that s/he intends to revoke the excuse from attendance and that the parents have a right to a due process hearing regarding the revocation of the excuse. The due process hearing shall be conducted in the same manner as described above for a due process hearing regarding the denial of an excuse from school attendance for purposes of home education.

If the excuse is withdrawn after the hearing, the CCESC shall notify the parents in writing that they must enroll their child in school and that they have the right to appeal the revocation of the excuse within ten (10) calendar days to the juvenile judge of the county pursuant to R.C. 3331.08.

Assessment

If a parent elects to home educate a child for another school year, upon providing subsequent written notification, the parent must provide the CCESC with an annual academic assessment report, including information related to the assessment used and the performance results of his/her child that confirm that the student has mastered the content of the course. This assessment report should include:

	A.	a written narrative indicating that a portfolio of work done by the child has been reviewed and that the child's academic progress for the year is in accordance with the child's abilities;

	B.	examples of tests and test scores;

	C.	resources and books used in the course;

	D.	standardized test scores demonstrating the student's ability;

	E.	course of study completed;

	F.	the number of hours devoted to each course of study.

Remediation

If the assessment report indicates that the child is not showing reasonable proficiency, the CCESC shall notify the parents in writing that the parents must submit an appropriate remediation plan to the CCESC within thirty (30) days after receipt of the written notification requiring remediation.

During remediation, the parents must submit quarterly reports to the Superintendent that include:

	A.	a written narrative evaluating the child's progress, including an explanation if the child has made less than satisfactory progress in any subject; and

	B.	an explanation if less than the intended curriculum planned for the quarter was covered.

Remediation may be eliminated by the CCESC any time it is determined that the child is demonstrating reasonable proficiency. The CCESC must give written notification to the parents that remediation no longer is needed.

If the child does not demonstrate reasonable progress during remediation, the CCESC may revoke the excuse from school attendance, after allowing for a due process hearing, and must notify the parents in writing that they have the right to appeal the Superintendent's decision to revoke the excuse within ten (10) calendar days to the juvenile judge of the county pursuant to R.C. 3331.08. The due process hearing shall be conducted in the same manner as described above for a due process hearing regarding the denial of an excuse from school attendance for purposes of home education.

The home-schooled student will be permitted to take achievement/ability tests normally given at each grade by the District. This is to be done cost-free but must be done during the regular testing cycle. It is the parent's responsibility to make the appropriate arrangements with the school principal. The District will not pay for any standardized testing of students not enrolled in the School District. The student may take tests such as the PSAT, PLAN, etc. normally given at the high school at the same cost charged District students.

Re-Enrollment in School

If a parent wishes to have his/her child return to a District school, s/he must follow normal enrollment guidelines. The conditions described in AG 5463 - Student Transfer from a Nonaccredited School will apply.

In grades 9-12, if the student wishes to enroll, the parent must provide an academic assessment report for each class taken at home. In addition, the school will need the grades from the last public or private school attended. Athletic eligibility will be determined by OHSAA guidelines and District athletic policy.

Students are encouraged to enroll at the beginning of a semester.

All home-based, private education courses will be given a grade of P/F (Pass/Fail) and transcripts will denote "home-education, private education" with "P/F grades" and "credits" assigned.

The student's grade-point average will be established only after s/he has completed two (2) consecutive semesters of attendance at the high school. To be eligible for awards such as Valedictorian or Salutatorian, Distinguished Scholar, Ohio Academic Scholarship, National Honor Society, etc., the student must be enrolled for four (4) consecutive semesters prior to the second semester of the senior year.

If the student wishes to graduate, s/he must meet the requirements as specified in Board Policy 5460 and graduation guidelines.