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EASTON AREA
SCHOOL DISTRICT
No. 137
SECTION:
PROGRAMS
TITLE:
HOME EDUCATION
PROGRAMS
ADOPTED:
June 21, 2007
REVISED:
137. HOME EDUCATION PROGRAMS
1.
Authority
SC 1327, 1327.1
Title 22
Sec. 11.31a
The Board recognizes the right of parents/guardians to educate their children at
home as provided by law, and accepts home education as such an alternative.
2.
Definitions
SC 1327.1
Home Education Program - a program conducted in compliance with law by the
parent/guardian or person having legal custody of a child. A home education
program shall not be considered a nonpublic school under the provisions of law.
Supervisor - the parent/guardian or person having legal custody of a child who is
responsible for providing instruction, provided that such person has a high school
diploma or its equivalent.
Hearing Examiner - shall not be an officer, employee or agent of the Department of
Education or of the school district or intermediate unit of residence of the child in
the home education program.
Appropriate Education - a program consisting of instruction in the required
subjects for the time required by law and in which the student demonstrates
sustained progress in the overall program.
3.
Guidelines
Eligibility/Affidavits
SC 1327.1
A notarized affidavit of the parent/guardian or person having legal custody of the
child shall be filed prior to commencement of the home education program and
annually thereafter on August 1 with the Superintendent. The affidavit shall set
forth:
1.
Name of the supervisor of the home education program who will be responsible
for the provision of instruction.
2.
Name and age of each child who will participate in the home education
program.
137. HOME EDUCATION PROGRAMS - Pg. 2
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3.
Address and telephone number of the home education program site.
4.
That subjects required by law are offered in the English language, including an
outline of proposed education objectives by subject area.
Pol. 203, 209
5.
Evidence that the child has been immunized and has received the health and
medical services required for students of the child's age or grade level.
SC 111
The affidavit shall contain certification signed by the supervisor that the supervisor,
all adults in the home and persons having legal custody of a child in the home
education program have not been convicted of criminal offenses as enumerated in
the School Code.
Transfers
SC 1327.1
When a home education program is relocating to another school district, the
supervisor is responsible to follow the requirements of law.
Program
SC 1327.1
A student who is enrolled in a home education program shall be deemed to have met
the requirements if the program provides a minimum of one hundred eighty (180)
days of instruction, or nine hundred (900) hours of instruction per year at the
elementary level, or nine hundred ninety (990) hours per year at the secondary level.
At the elementary level, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include
spelling, reading and writing; arithmetic; science; geography; history of the United
States and Pennsylvania; civics; safety education, including regular and continuous
instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires; health and physiology; physical
education; music; and art.
At the secondary level, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include
language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to
include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania;
mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry; art; music;
physical education; health; and safety education, including regular and continuous
instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires.
Title 22
Chapter 4
Courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor, economics;
biology; chemistry; foreign languages; trigonometry; or other age appropriate
courses required by the State Board of Education.
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Requirements Of Supervisor
SC 1327.1
In order to demonstrate that appropriate education is occurring, the supervisor shall
provide and maintain on file for each student enrolled in the home education
program a portfolio of records and materials.
The portfolio shall consist of a log, made contemporaneously with the instruction,
that designates by title the reading materials used; samples of any writings;
worksheets, workbooks or creative materials used or developed by the student; and
in grades three, five and eight results of nationally normed standardized achievement
tests in reading, language arts and mathematics or results of statewide tests
administered in these grade levels.
The supervisor shall ensure that the nationally normed standardized tests or the
statewide tests are not administered by the child's parent/guardian.
Evaluation Requirements
SC 1327.1
A teacher or administrator who evaluates a portfolio at the elementary level or
secondary level shall meet the requirements established in law.
An annual written evaluation of the student's educational process as determined by a
licensed clinical or school psychologist, a teacher certified by the Commonwealth, or
a nonpublic school teacher or administrator is required. The evaluation shall also be
based on an interview of the child and a review of the portfolio and shall certify
whether or not an appropriate education is occurring. At the request of the
supervisor, persons with other qualifications may conduct the evaluation with the
prior consent of the Superintendent. In no event shall the evaluator be the supervisor
or his/her spouse.
Documentation required by this policy shall be provided to the district
Superintendent or designee at the conclusion of each school year. The
Superintendent shall determine whether the child is receiving appropriate education,
as defined in this policy and law, as a program consisting of instruction in the
required subjects for the time required and in which the student demonstrates
sustained progress in the overall program.
If the Superintendent or designee has a reasonable belief that, at any time during the
school year, appropriate education may not be occurring in the home education
program, s/he may require documentation pertaining to the portfolio to be submitted
to the district by certified mail with return receipt requested within fifteen (15) days,
and the evaluation to be submitted within thirty (30) days.
137. HOME EDUCATION PROGRAMS - Pg. 4
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If the Superintendent or designee determines, based on documentation, that
appropriate education is not occurring, s/he shall send a letter to the supervisor
stating that in his/her opinion appropriate education is not occurring in the home
education program and shall return all documentation, specifying what aspect(s) of
the documentation are inadequate.
The supervisor of the program shall have twenty (20) days from receipt of the
certified letter to submit additional documentation demonstrating that appropriate
education is taking place. If documentation is not submitted within that time, the
home education program shall be out of compliance; and the student shall be
promptly enrolled in the public or a nonpublic school.
Right Of Hearing
SC 1327.1
The Board shall provide for a proper hearing by a duly qualified and impartial
hearing examiner within thirty (30) days. The examiner shall render a decision
within fifteen (15) days of the hearing, except that s/he may require the
establishment of a remedial education plan mutually agreed to by the Superintendent
and supervisor of the home education program which shall continue the home
education program. The decision of the examiner may be appealed by either the
supervisor or the Superintendent to the Secretary of Education or Commonwealth
Court.
If the hearing examiner finds that the documentation does not indicate that
appropriate education is taking place in the home education program, the home
education program shall be out of compliance; and the student shall be promptly
enrolled in a public or nonpublic school.
Loan Of Instructional Materials
SC 1327.1
The district shall, at the request of the supervisor, lend to the home education
program copies of the school's planned courses, textbooks, and other curriculum
materials appropriate to the student's age and grade level.
Participation In School Activities
The Board shall provide for the participation of students enrolled in a home
education program in school activities. In order to qualify to participate in school
activities, the student and supervisor must be in compliance with the requirements
established by the district.
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Graduation Requirements
SC 1327.1
The following minimum courses in grades 9 through 12 are established as a
requirement for graduation in a home education program: four (4) years of English;
three (3) years of mathematics; three (3) years of science; three (3) years of social
studies; two (2) years of arts and humanities.
The school district is under no obligation to award a diploma or acknowledge
completion of a student's education in a home education program.
Students With A Disability
SC 1327
A home education program shall meet compulsory attendance requirements for a
student with a disability only when the program addresses the specific needs of the
student and is approved by a teacher with a valid education certificate from the
Commonwealth to teach special education, or a licensed clinical or certified school
psychologist. Written notice of such approval must be submitted with the required
affidavit.
The supervisor may request that the school district or intermediate unit of residence
provide services that address the specific needs of a student with a disability.
When the provision of services is agreed to by both the supervisor and the school
district or intermediate unit, all services shall be provided in the public schools or in
a private school licensed to provide such programs and services.
School Code
111, 1327, 1327.1
PA Code
Title 22
Chapter 4
Board Policy
203, 209