Policy 8.14

Home Education Program

1. Purpose. The School Board recognizes the rights of parents and guardians to educate their child(ren) at home in lieu of regular attendance in a public or private school. This policy is to ensure the home education program for students of the District are conducted in accordance with state laws and regulations.

2. Definitions.--

   1. "Home education program" is defined as the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent in order to satisfy the attendance requirements of Fla. Stat. 1002.41, 1003.01(13), and 1003.21(1), as now or hereafter amended. The District's home education program includes students age-appropriate for kindergarten through age 18.

   2. "Parent" means "either or both parents of a student, any guardian of a student, any person in a parental relationship to a student, or any person exercising supervisory authority over a student in place of the parent," as defined in Fla. Stat. 1000.21(5), as now or hereafter amended.

3. District Responsibilities.-- The District's Home Education Office is the Superintendent's designee to receive and review correspondence from parents who are directing home education programs, maintain files of home education students, apply the access and privacy provisions of Fla. Stat. 1002.22 to any student records or reports created, maintained, or used by the Home Education Office, and review and evaluate the results of annual educational evaluations of home education students in the District. The Home Education Office also complies with all applicable statutes, policies, and rules.

4. Responsibilities of Parents or Guardians. A parent or guardian who registers a child in the home education program shall meet the following requirements of Florida law.

   1. Notify the Superintendent, through the designated Home Education Office, of the parent's or guardian's intent to establish a home education program, as provided in paragraph 5 herein.

   2. Maintain a portfolio of records and materials, as provided by paragraph 6 herein.

   3. Provide for an annual evaluation of the child(ren) as provided in paragraph 7 herein.

   4. Provide written notice to the Home Education Office of the termination of a home education program consistent with the provisions of paragraph 11 herein.

   5. Be familiar with, and are responsible for complying with, Fla. Stat. 1002.41, "Home Education Programs."

5. Initiating a Home Education Program.-- A parent residing in Palm Beach County who chooses to direct a home education program for his/her school-age child shall:

   1. Provide a written Notice of Intent to the Home Education Office of the School District within thirty (30) days of establishing the home education program. Such notice must be signed and dated by the parent and shall include the full name, address, and birth date of each child who will be registered with the Home Education Office. The notice may be provided to the Home Education Office by U. S. mail, fax or hand delivery.

   2. Complete the withdrawal process for any child enrolled in a public or private school.

6. Portfolio Requirement.--

   1. Maintenance of Records and Materials. The parent or guardian directing a home education program shall maintain a portfolio of records and materials, consisting of:

      1. A log of educational activities, ensuring that the log is made contemporaneously with instruction, designating by title any reading materials used, and

      2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student.

   2. Preservation of Portfolio. The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent or guardian for two (2) years and shall be made available for inspection by the Home Education Office upon 15 days' written notice.

   3. Review of Portfolio of Student with Prior Pattern of Non-Attendance. Students with a prior pattern of public school nonattendance may be subject to regular monthly portfolio reviews in accordance with Fla. Stat. 1003.26(1)(f) until the home education review committee reaches consensus that the student's home education program is in compliance with Fla. Stat. 1002.41(1)(b).

   4. Failure to Provide Portfolio.

      1. If the parent or guardian fails to provide a portfolio to the committee, the Home Education Office, as the Superintendent's designee, shall terminate the home education program as required by Fla. Stat. 1003.26(1)(f)2, and the parent shall be required to enroll the child within three (3) days in an attendance option that satisfies regular school attendance in: a public school; a parochial, religious, denominational, or other private school; or private tutoring program that meets the requirements of Fla. Stat. 1002.43.

      2. Pursuant to Fla. Stat. 1003.26(1)(f)2, a parent whose home education program is terminated under this paragraph shall not be eligible to reenroll the child in a home education program for 180 calendar days.

7. Annual Evaluation.-- The parent or guardian of each student in the home education program must provide an annual evaluation demonstrating that the student's educational progress is commensurate with his/her ability.

   1. Submission of Evaluation. The annual evaluation must be submitted by each anniversary date of the student's registration with the Home Education Office and the evaluation shall consist of one of the following:

      1. An evaluation of the student's progress by a Florida certified teacher chosen by the parent based on a review of the portfolio and discussion with the student. Such teacher shall hold a valid Florida regular certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level.

      2. Any nationally-normed student achievement test that is administered by a Florida certified teacher.

      3. A state student assessment test administered by a Florida certified teacher, at a location (e.g., zoned public school) and under testing conditions approved by the test publisher. The School District shall provide the test materials, monitored site and test results.

      4. An evaluation by a psychologist holding a valid active license pursuant to Fla. Stat. 490.003(7) or (8).

      5. An evaluation with another other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon the by the Home Education Office and the parent or guardian. One acceptable method to the School District is providing an official transcript from an accredited correspondence/distance learning institution.

   2. Failure to Submit Evaluation. The failure of a parent or guardian to submit an annual evaluation for each student in a home education program places the student's home education program in non-compliance. The Home Education Office, after notice to the parent or guardian, may terminate the home education program. The parent shall enroll the student in his or her zoned school or an attendance option that satisfies Fla. Stat. 1002.43.

   3. Student with Probationary Status. The Home Education Office, as the Superintendent's designee, shall review the results of the annual evaluation and notify the parents of home education students regarding their probationary status if the students' progress is not at a level commensurate with their abilities. The Home Education Office shall review and re-evaluate probationary students' evaluations at the end of one year to determine if remediation has been achieved. Removal of probationary status and continuation of a home education program are contingent upon the student demonstrating educational progress commensurate with his/her ability at the end of the probationary period.

8. Eligibility for Public Participation.-- Registered home education students are eligible to participate in certain public education programs as follows:

   1. Participate in extracurricular activities (e.g., sports) at the secondary level following policies and rules of Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) . Activities may also be available at the zoned elementary school. Interscholastic extracurricular activities at a public school assigned by the District, provided the conditions of Fla. Stat. 1006.15(3)(c) are met.

   2. The Bright Futures Scholarship Program in accordance with Fla. Stat. 1009.53-1009.539.

   3. Dual enrollment programs, including admission to community colleges and admission to state universities in accordance with State laws and School Board policies.

   4. Testing and evaluation services at diagnostic and resource centers in accordance with Fla. Stat. 1006.03.

   5. Access instruction, if eligible, at their zoned school if the class is related to an extracurricular activity the student participates in and/or relates to the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) for Exceptional Student Education (ESE). In order to begin this process, the parent/guardian should contact the zoned public school.

   6. Virtual instruction (e.g., Florida Virtual School) as allowed by Florida law, such as Fla. Stat. 1002.37.

9. Instructional Materials.-- The parent of a home education student shall be responsible for obtaining and paying for instructional materials; the District does not provide books, curricula, or materials for home education students. However, book series no longer in use in the District may be available from a local school, for lending or free disposition to the public.

10. Support Groups; Neutrality.-- Solely for the convenience of parents directing home education programs, the Home Education Office is authorized to provide a list of home education support groups, which may be able to provide assistance with curriculum, instruction, annual evaluations, and other educational matters of interest to those directing a home education program. However, provision of such list shall not imply any direct or indirect endorsement or sponsorship of any group on the list, and the District shall not be responsible for any act or omission of any such independent support group.

11. Termination of the Home Education Program By Parent or Guardian.-- If the student's home education program is discontinued, a written notice of termination shall be filed by the parent or guardian with the Home Education Office, as the designee of the Superintendent, within 30 days after such termination, as required by Stat. 1002.41(1)(a).

12. Enrollment in Public School.-- If a home education student enrolls full-time in a public school within the District, grade placement and transferable credits shall be determined by the school administrator(s)in accordance with School Board policies and the Student Progression Plan. The student's home education curriculum, portfolio, and evaluations may be reviewed at the school prior to placement or credit decisions.

13. Diploma.-- The District is not authorized to provide a regular high school diploma to home education students. However, such students may take the General Education Development (GED) test at an adult education center and be awarded a GED diploma by the State of Florida if the student achieves a passing score. Alternatively, the student may be eligible to receive a diploma from an accredited correspondence or distance learning program if the student has completed the high school course of study required by such institution. Parents may access a list of regionally accredited institutions, without any implication of the endorsement by the District, from the Home Education Office.

14. Scholarships.-- Registered home education students may apply for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and others in accordance with Florida Statutes. The Home Education office will provide information as required by the scholarship's guidelines.