Series 6000P Home Schooling.docx (2)

FOR DISCUSSION
                                                                                       Series 6000
                                                                                          6172.3P

                                                                                     INSTRUCTION

                                   HOME SCHOOLING POLICY

The Colchester Board of Education (the “Board”) considers that the most appropriate
educational setting for the majority of students is within a formal school structure.

Rights and Responsibilities of Parents/Guardians:
Nonetheless, the Board acknowledges the right of parents and/or legal guardians to instruct
their children at home as an alternative to public schooling. The Board recognizes state law and
Connecticut State Board of Education policy and guidance relating to home instruction.
Accordingly, school-age children who are Colchester residents can be excused from the
statutory requirement to attend school if the child’s parent or guardian notifies the school
district that the child is receiving home instruction. Parents or guardians must file a Notice of
Intent form (Appendix A) annually with the Superintendent of Schools acknowledging that the
parent or guardian is taking full responsibility for the education of their child in accordance with
CT State Department of Education policy and guidelines. Upon receipt of such notification, the
Superintendent of Schools will send the parent an acknowledgment in writing of receipt of the
form.

Dual Enrollment Requests:
Due to practical difficulties and concerns regarding equitable treatment of students, the Board
does not operate a hybrid home instruction/formal school program. As such, the Colchester
Public Schools shall not provide any educational services, including special education or related
services, to a child who is not enrolled in the Colchester Public Schools except for those services
required by law. Participation in Colchester Public School activities and programs including but
not limited to, athletic teams, extracurricular clubs and programs, is restricted to students
enrolled in the Colchester Public Schools. These programs and activities are not open to
non-students.

Placement of Home School Students Enrolling in Colchester Public Schools:
The school principal, in consultation with the members of the school’s instructional team, will
make the decision about the students’ grade and/or course level placement based on the
student’s performance on district assessments and/or universal screening tools. The principal
will also review and consider any current standardized student assessment results provided by

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the parent/guardian. The final decision for grade and/or course level placement will be made
by the school principal.

Award of High School Credit for Home Instruction:
  1. Course credit: Normally, the Board will not grant Bacon Academy course credit for
      courses taken in home instruction. The Superintendent is authorized to grant
      exceptions to this general rule if ​all​ of the circumstances identified below are met. The
      burden of proof will be on the part of the parent/guardian.
             a. such exception is recommended by the Bacon Academy Principal, Director of
                 Guidance and the District’s Director of Teaching and Learning; and
             b. the primary focus of the curriculum of eligible credits corresponds directly to
                 the subject matter of the specified course requirements; and
             c. one of the following conditions is met:
                     i.     the student has successfully completed online coursework from
                            an accredited institution in accordance with applicable Board
                            policy, or
                     ii.    the student has successfully completed the coursework provided
                            through a home instruction program that is accredited by one of
                            the following regional accrediting agencies: New England
                            Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of
                            Colleges and Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and
                            Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools,
                            Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, or Western
                            Association of Schools and Colleges, or
                     iii.   the student has achieved a passing grade on a subject areas
                            proficiency examination identified and approved by the State of
                            Connecticut Commissioner of Education.
       Credits will only be awarded to students enrolled at Bacon Academy.

Award of Diploma:
The Board will not award high school diplomas to students who are not enrolled students
at Bacon Academy.

Legal Reference:              Connecticut General Statutes
                              10-184 Duties of Parents
                                10-184a Special Education programs not required for children in
home or
                                private schools
                              10-220 Duties of Boards of Education

ADOPTED:              January 11, 2000

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REVISION:         May 27, 2014
REVISION:         January 23, 2018 ​(Replaces Policy 6172.3)

CPS




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