MILLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2.21
HOME EDUCATION POLICY
The Millis Public Schools recognizes and respects the right of parents/guardians
to home school their child(ren). The mission of the Millis Public Schools is to
provide, and to assist parents, in the provision of the best education possible for
all the children in this district. Understanding the approach to home education is
different than public education, the Millis Public Schools is committed to forming a
healthy relationship with each parent/guardian in the best interest of the
child(ren). This Home Education Policy is designed for thoroughness with a minimum of
administrative control. This will allow each home education family the freedom to
create and implement an individualized program, and still allow the Millis Public
School system to fulfill the obligation required by state law.
APPLICATION
We request that the parents(s)/guardian(s) of the child(ren) concerned indicate
their intention to instruct the child(ren) in a home education program at least two
months prior to the intended date of inception of such program. The parents should do
this by contacting the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee in writing,
providing all the information requested in this policy. The Superintendent or his/her
designee has the authority to shorten the two month time period.
REQUIREMENTS
PLEASE NOTE: Approval of a home education plan will be given only from the
proposed date of inception to the end of the current school year. A new application
must be made for each subsequent year. Individualized plans must be submitted for
each child in the family. No joint plans will be given consideration.
1. The proposed home education
plan must include a statement as to the academic background and
life experiences of the parent educator(s) which may aid the
Superintendent or his/her designee or the School
Committee in determining the
educator's(s')
competency to conduct the home education program. Parents need not
be certified teachers nor have college or advanced degrees.
2. The proposed plan must indicate
a written statement of intent to provide at least 180 days of instruction.
3. The home education proposal
must include a complete list of materiaIs and/or
resources to be used. The titles, publishers, and dates of publication is sufficient
for texts and workbooks. Brief
descriptions of other materials may be necessary.
4. The proposed plan must include an
outline of concepts and skills to be learned in each subject area for the period
covered by the plan (this includes reading, written and oral
language, spelling, mathematics, science, social science, the arts (music,
art), American history, citizenship
duties, health and physical education, industrial
arts and
homemaking skills, and vocational and educational guidance as
appropriate to the age and individual needs of the
child). This provision may be
met by supplying the
Millis Public Schools with list of textbook chapter titles or
curriculum scope and sequence plans. However,
the parent(s)/guardian(s) is/are not required to use
textbooks to instruct the child(ren).
Parents may
choose from a variety of methods, including conventional and
non- conventional approaches.
5. The educational plan must
include one method of periodic reporting. In order to verify that
education is taking place, the parent(s) will provide the Superintendent or
his/her designee a reasonable evaluation that best corresponds to the type of
educational program being followed. The parent(s) will choose one
of the following methods of evaluation:
A. Student work portfolio reviewed periodically by school superintendent
or his/her designee
B. periodic consultation with the principal of the appropriate school
(where the child(ren) would be assigned if attending public schools) with
student work portfolio
C. an independent report made by someone acceptable to both the Millis
Public Schools and the parent(s), containing student's progress in each
subject area
D. quarterly written progress reports made by the parent(s) and mailed to
the appropriate building principal
E. annual standardized test results as administered by a neutral third party
F. dated work samples mailed to the appropriate principal on a quarterly
basis
G. any other method agreed to by both school officials and the parent(s)
6. The parent(s)/guardian(s) may
be represented in the application and home education reporting by a representative of
a local religious organization who shall serve as a
liaison between the parents and the Millis Public Schools.
A. A "local religious organization" shall be defined to include a church,
synagogue, mosque,
etc. or private religious school.
B. The liaison may be clergy or his/her designee, the school
principal/headmaster, private religious school teacher, or other recognized
leader within the "organization".
C. The home educating family will submit all information required in this
policy in a form acceptable to both the liaison and the parent(s)
/guardian(s) to the liaison in time for the liaison to inform the
Superintendent or his/her designee two months in advance of inception of
the home education plan that this option is being utilized.
D. The liaison will provide in writing the following information to the
Superintendent or
his/her designee:
1. the name(s) of the home educating
parents(s)/guardian(s)
and the name(s)
and birth date(s) of the child(ren)
2. the name of the religious
organization and the liaison's
position within
the organization; he/she may also include
information as to his/her qualifications (academic and life
experiences) which will aid him/her in acting as a liaison
3. written intent to act as a liaison
for the family, which has
been endorsed by
signature by the family
4. A summary of the home education
plan shall be provided to
the Superintendent
or his/her designee
E. At the conclusion of the home education plan, the liaison will contact
the Superintendent and his/her designee notifying him/her that education
has taken place and explain the method of evaluation used to make that
determination, and summarizing the student's educational progress.
ROLE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
It is the
intention of the Millis School Committee that school staff shall act as a resource to
persons involved in home education. School personnel shall share materials with
parent(s)/guardian(s) whenever possible if requested by the parents. However, the
development of the proposed home education plan is the sole responsibility of the
parent(s)/guardian(s). They agree to accept all responsibility, including financial
responsibility, for the child's(ren's) education. The Millis Public Schools will
allow home schooled child(ren) to participate in extra-curricular activities such as
drama, band, sports teams, etc. We request that the parents(s)/guardian(s) of the
child(rcn) concerned indicate their intention to participate in any extra-curricular
activity through the Superintendent.
The Millis Public Schools has no obligation and will not grant a diploma to a
student(s) who is home schooled.
Within
twenty-five (25) days of receipt of a proposed home education plan the Superintendent
or his/her designee will review the plan and will recommend it for approval or
disapproval.
If the
Superintendent has rejected the proposal, the School Committee will provide
parents(s)/guardian(s) an opportunity to explain their proposed plan and present
witnesses on their behalf. If, after such a hearing, the School Committee deems a
proposal unacceptable, the School Committee will detail reasons for the decision. The
parent(s)/guardian(s) will then be given the opportunity to revise the proposal.
However, the parent(s)/guardian(s) may commence the education of their children at
home during this process. The parent(s)/guardian(s) will receive notification of the
plan's presentation to the School Committee (not less than two (2) days in advance)
and will be informed as to whether the recommendation will be made to approve the
plan.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are entitled to all due process rights in regard to this
policy. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) also have a right to a hearing before the School
Committee in regard to any aspect of this policy or in regard to a decision made by
the Superintendent of his/her designee. A request for a hearing must be made through
the Superintendent's office at least five (5) business days prior to the previously
scheduled School Committee meeting at which the parent(s)/guardian(s) wish to have a
hearing. Notice of such hearing, along with all relevant materials, will be provided
to all School Committee members by the Superintendent's office at least two (2)
business days prior to the hearing. At the hearing, parents may be represented by
counselor an advocate, call witnesses, and present evidence.
REF.: M.G.L. CHAP. 76, SECTIONS 1, 2, AND 4
Care and
Protection of Charles, 504 N.E. 2d 592, 600 (Mass. 1987)
First Reading by the Millis School Committee: October 3,2006
Second Reading by the Millis School Committee: October 17,2006
Approved by Millis School Committee: October 17, 2006