HOME SCHOOLING
Parents/guardians who wish to have their children fulfill the compulsory school
attendance law through equivalent education by home schooling must comply with
the provisions of 20-A MRSA § 5001-A(3)(A)(4).
A. The student’s parent/guardian must provide a written
notice of intent to provide home instruction
simultaneously to the
Superintendent of the school unit in which the student resides and to the
Commissioner of the Department of
Education within ten calendar days of the beginning of home
instruction. The notice must contain
the following information:
1. The name, signature and address of
the student’s parent/guardian;
2. The name and age of the student;
3. The date the home instruction
program will begin;
4. A statement of assurance that
indicates the home instruction program will provide at least 175
days annually
of instruction and will provide instruction in: English and language arts, math,
science,
social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts,
and, in at
least one
grade from grade 6 to 12, Maine studies. At one grade level from grade 7 to 12,
the
student will
demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers; and
5. A statement of assurance that
indicates that the home instruction program will include an annual
assessment of
the student’s academic progress that includes at least one of the forms of
assessment
described in 20-A MRSA § 5001-A(3)(A)(4)(b) and paragraph B below.
B. On or before September 1 of each subsequent year of home
instruction, the student’s
parent/guardian must file a letter
with the Superintendent of the administrative unit in which the
student resides and to the
Commissioner stating the intention to continue providing home
instruction and enclose a copy of one
of the following forms of annual assessment of the student’s
academic progress:
1. A standardized achievement test
administered through the administrative unit in which the
student
resides or through other arrangements approved by the Commissioner. If the test
is
administered
through the administrative unit in which the student resides, that
administration must
be agreed to
by the Superintendent/designee of the administrative unit prior to submission of
the
written
notice of intent to provide home instruction;
2. A test developed by the
Superintendent/designee of the administrative unit in which the student
resides
appropriate to the student’s home instruction program, which must be agreed to
by the
Superintendent of the administrative unit prior to submission of the written
notice of intent to
provide home
instruction;
3. A review and acceptance of the
student’s progress by an identified individual who holds a
current Maine
teacher’s certificate;
4. A review and acceptance of the
student’s progress based on, but not limited to, a presentation
of an
educational portfolio of the student to a local area home schooling support
group whose
membership
for this purpose includes a currently certified Maine teacher or administrator;
or
5. A review and acceptance of the
student’s progress by a local advisory board selected by the
Superintendent of the administrative unit in which the student resides that
includes one
administrative unit employee and two home instruction tutors. A “home
instruction tutor” means
the
parent/guardian or other person who acts or will act as a primary teacher of the
student in
the home
instruction program. This provision must be agreed to by the Superintendent of
the
administrative unit in which the student resides prior to submission of the
written notice of intent
to provide
home instruction.
C. Dissemination of any information filed under 20-A MRSA §
5001-A(3)(A) (which applies to
alternatives to attendance at public
day school, including home schooling) is governed by the
provisions of 20-A MRSA § 6001
(dissemination of information); the federal Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20
USC § 1232g (2002); and the federal Education for All
Handicapped Children Act of 1975, 20
USC § 1401-1487 (2002), except that “directory
information” as defined by the
federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is
confidential and is not subject to
public disclosure unless the parent/guardian specifically permits
disclosure in writing or a judge
orders otherwise. Copies of any information filed under 20-A
MRSA § 5001-A(3)(A) must be
maintained by the student’s parent/guardian until the home
instruction program concludes. The
records must be made available to the Commissioner upon
request.
D. If the home instruction program is discontinued, students
of compulsory school age must be
enrolled in a public school or an
equivalent instruction alternative as provided for by law. The
receiving school shall determine the
placement of the student. At the secondary level, the principal
of the receiving school shall
determine the value of the prior educational experience toward
meeting the standards of Maine’s
system of Learning Results.
The Board accepts no responsibility for the unit in the application, review,
approval, or oversight of home instruction programs except as provided for by
law or this policy .
Participation by home-schooled students in the public school program shall only
be permitted as described elsewhere in Board policy.
The Superintendent shall maintain a roster of all students eligible to attend
school within the school unit who are receiving equivalent instruction, as
provided in Department of Education rules.
Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA§ 5001-A(3)
Ch. 125 § 12.02, Ch. 130 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rules)
Cross Reference: JEA – Compulsory Attendance Ages
IHBGA – Home Schooling—Participation in School Programs
IHBGB – Statement of Rights for Private School/ Home Schooling Students with
Disabilities
JGAB – Assignment of New Students to Classes and Grade Levels
DATE ADOPTED: July 1, 2003
REVISED: February 5, 2004