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MSAD #37 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 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 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 The Board
accepts no responsibility for the unit in the application, review, approval, or oversight of
home instruction programs 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 obtained approval for equivalent
instruction under rules established by the Commissioner of Education. Legal
Reference: 20-A MRSA§ 5001-A(3) Cross Reference: JEA – IHBGA
– Home Schooling—Participation in School Programs IHBGB
– Special Education Services for Students in Private Schools or Home
Schooling Adopted: Revised: November 17,
2004 |
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