3550 - Home Education
3550 Home Education 3550
1. Eligibility:
The Board recognizes the right for parents to provide home education in accordance with RSA 193-A:3. As such, the Superintendent, School Board, school Principal, or other district official shall not propose, adopt, or enforce any policy or procedure governing home educated pupils that is inconsistent with or more restrictive than the provisions of this chapter and any rules adopted pursuant to RSA 193-A:3.
2. Enrollment Procedures:
Any parent commencing a home education program for a Milford child, for a child who withdraws from the Milford school district, or for a child who moves into the Milford school district shall notify the Superintendent/designee within 5 business days of commencing the program. The Superintendent/designee shall acknowledge receipt of notification within 14 days of such receipt.
Once a parent has provided written notification of intent to home educate a child to either the Department of Education, the Milford Superintendent/designee, or a non-public school Principal, the notification of intent status remains unless otherwise notified by the parent. Notification of intent to home educate does not need to be provided each school year to the participating agency.
3. Records and Evaluation:
I. The parent shall maintain a portfolio of records and materials relative to the home education program. The portfolio shall consist of a log which designates by title the reading materials used, and also samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the child. Such portfolio shall be preserved by the parent for 2 years from the date of the ending of the instruction.
II. The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the child’s demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with the child’s age and ability. The child shall be deemed to have successfully completed his annual evaluation upon meeting the requirements of any one of the following:
(a) A certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school who is selected by the parent shall evaluate the child’s educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the parent or child;
(b) The child shall take any national student achievement test, administered by a person who meets the qualifications established by the provider or publisher of the test. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such tests shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency;
(c) The child shall take a state student assessment test used by the resident district. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such state test shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency; or
(d) The child shall be evaluated using any other valid measurement tool mutually agreed upon by the parent and the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal.
III. The parent shall maintain a copy of the evaluation. The results of the evaluation:
(a) May be used to demonstrate the child’s academic proficiency in order to participate in public school programs, and co-curricular activities which are defined as school district-sponsored and directed athletics, fine arts, and academic activities. Home educated students shall be subject to the same participation policy and eligibility conditions as apply to public school students.
(b) Shall not be used as a basis for termination of a home education program.
(c) Provides a basis for a constructive relationship between the parent and the evaluator, both working together in the best interest of the child.
Evaluations do not need to be reported to the Superintendent/designee on an annual basis. While the evaluation must be done each year, it does not have to be shared with the Superintendent/designee but rather is to be kept by the parent as a record of progress.
4. Re-enrollment into the School District:
Parents deciding to re-enroll their children into the Milford school district following a period of home education will make arrangements with the appropriate building principal for an evaluation to determine appropriate placement in the school’s program. Placements will be consistent with the School Board policy governing student placements and are subject to the same appeal process.
5. Graduation/Diplomas:
No certificates or diplomas will be awarded by the Milford School Board to students who are exclusively home-educated. Home education students must participate in some part of the regular school academic program and complete all necessary graduation requirements, as determined by the high school Principal, in order to be eligible for a certificate or diploma. Such status will be noted in the graduation program.
6. Participation in school curricular and co-curricular activities:
Participation of home education students in programs and activities are subject to the following conditions.
1. Home education students must supply to the school proof of their home education enrollment.
2. All students are subject to the same age, performance, and pre-requisite standards for admission to courses and co-curricular activities.
3. Home education students seeking admission to courses requiring prerequisites will be asked to demonstrate academic achievement comparable to that required of fully enrolled students meeting prerequisite standards. The principal or his/her designee will discuss alternative ways to demonstrate achievement with the parents of home-educated pupils. Final determination of a student’s qualifications to enroll in a course requiring prerequisites will be made by the building principal.
4. Students may not enroll for single subjects that are taught as part of integrated courses – those courses that cover two or more subjects and are taught by a single individual or team – but may seek admission to the integrated course.
5. Participation in athletic and other extra-curricular programs and activities will be in compliance with the school’s eligibility requirements as well as with the guidelines adopted by the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association.
6. It may be neither practical nor feasible for home-educated pupils to participate in special programs that have unclear or flexible schedules. The parents of home-educated pupils must take the initiative to check with the school on the scheduling of events and possible changes that may occur.
7. The parents of home-educated pupils may be asked to provide supervision for some activities on the same basis as the parents of fully enrolled students.
7. District Liability Limited:
The Milford school district, School Board, and any employees of the Milford school district associated with a child who is or has been receiving home education are not liable in damages in a civil action for any injury, death or loss to person or property allegedly sustained by that child, the child’s parent, or any other person as a result of the child’s receipt of home education, including but not limited to, any liability allegedly based on the failure of the child to receive a free, appropriate or adequate education.
References: RSA 193-A Home Education
Adopted: 6/1975
Revised: 1/2008, 4/2013