LAUREL SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Home Schooling                                                                                                         Policy #6173.1

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The Laurel Springs Board of Education recognizes that there are circumstances when parents may wish to home school their children.  It is the responsibility of the Laurel Springs Board of Education to ensure that children between six and sixteen years of age are receiving an education in accordance with the Compulsory Education Law through “equivalent instruction” under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25.

The following are procedures and guidelines for home schooling:

1.         Parents/guardians should submit a letter of intent that includes: the name, age and grade level of the child to be home schooled.

2.         Parents should submit a description of the curriculum (academic subjects to be taught, goals/objectives, books/materials to be used) which will be used to meet the equivalent standards.  This will be reviewed by the Superintendent or designee and the curriculum will be accepted or rejected as constituting “equivalent instructions.”

3.         The Board of Education will be advised by the Superintendent or designee that the curriculum is accepted or rejected and, in the event of rejection, whether any action by the school district is recommended.

The following services will not be available to students receiving home schooling:

1.         Participation in athletics, co-curricular activities, intramurals

2.         Field trips

3.         Special events such as, but not limited to, field day, special assemblies, dances, class trip.

4.         Textbooks and other classroom materials

5.         Health services

6.         Special education services

7.         Guidance services

8.         All other programs available only to fully enrolled students in Stratford School District.

The Superintendent is responsible to consider requests by parent or guardian for evaluation of all potentially disabled children and to determine whether or not to conduct an evaluation.

The following are steps that will be utilized for a student returning from home schooling:

1.         The Laurel Springs School District will evaluate any student who returns to the public schools from home schooling.

2.         The evaluation will include: appropriate standardized test(s), grade level tests and review from a team consisting of the Principal or designee, at least one grade level teacher, guidance counselor or designee.

3.         All determinations of appropriate grade placement by this team will be final.

4.         Any student returning from home schooling will be responsible for passing the designated testing instrument of the State of New Jersey, such as the ESPA and GEPA.

5.         Implement a special education program described in the Individualized Educational Program (IEP) if re-enrolled in the public school.

First Reading: February 2008

Adopted:

Legal References:     N.J.S.A. 18A:38-27 & New Jersey’s Compulsory Education

                                        18A:38-31

                                    N.J.A.C. 6:28-3.4-3.6             Special Education

                                    Individuals with Disabilities Act 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.200