West Fargo Public Schools Home Education Handbook. Guidelines And Procedures

Transcription

1 West Fargo Public Schools Home Education Handbook Guidelines And Procedures Revised 10/2014 1

2 Foreword Home education is one of several means by which parents can fulfill their responsibility for educating their children. The North Dakota legislature has enacted laws to ensure that the state s responsibilities and legitimate interests in this endeavor are also guaranteed and protected. With the combined rights and interests of the state and of parents, the state has delegated certain responsibilities to local school districts to work with home educators to assure that all North Dakota students are receiving a quality education. West Fargo Public School District has prepared this booklet to assist home educators by providing information, explaining procedures, and answering common questions. This booklet is published and updated on the West Fargo Public School District website at fargo.k12.nd.us Dr. Allen Burgad Mrs. Beth Slette Assistant Superintendent Secondary Assistant Superintendent Elementary West Fargo Public School District 6 West Fargo Public School District West Main Avenue 207 West Main Avenue West Fargo, ND West Fargo, ND aburgad@west fargo.k12.nd.us SLETTE@west fargo.k12.nd.us Dr. Thomas Gravel Home School Coordinator West Fargo Community High School rd Street East West Fargo, ND tgravel@west fargo.k12.nd.us 2

3 Table of Contents Foreword... 2 What is home education?... 4 Who can teach a home schooled child?... 4 What are the home school parents responsibilities? Can home school students receive a high school diploma? Can Home School students particpate in extra curricular activities... 7 How do home school educators get curriculum materials?... 7 How do home school educators find standardized tests?... 8 Appendices... 9 Curriculum Resources Books on Home Education The Short and Sweet of Home Schooling for West Fargo Public Schools To Home Educate or Home School your child you need to: 1. Complete the Statement of Intent to Home Educate a. Must be filed every year and are due September Provide the parent s proof of qualification: a. A copy of GED, HS diploma, or Advance Degree or transcript 3. Provide a copy of your child s birth certificate 4. Provide a record of immunizations (or letter of objection) 5. Arrange for Standardized Testing in Grades: 4, 6. 8, or 10 a. Parents with a bachelor s degree may opt out of this requirement b. Test results are due by June 15 3

4 What is home education? Home Education is an educational program for a child based in the child s home and supervised by the child s parent or parents. Participation in this program legally fulfills the compulsory instruction requirements of state law. Who can teach a home schooled child? A parent is qualified to supervise a program of home instruction if the parent: Has a high school diploma, GED or greater. Proof of qualification is required. Home educators may attend classes, staff development programs, and training sessions provided to WFPS teaching staff. A homeschooled child must be taught by one of the child s parents. State Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem s opinion of February 1, 2007, states, In conclusion, it is my opinion that only a parent, qualified under N.D.C.C and , may provide home based instruction to that parent s child. With respect to home based instruction, North Dakota law does not permit a parent to supervise the education of that parent s child by any other individual. What are the home school parents responsibilities? 1. FILE STATEMENT OF INTENT TO HOME EDUCATE. Each school year BY SEPTEMBER 10, the parent must send a completed Intent to Home Educate form to the Community High School office of the West Fargo Public School District rd Street East, West Fargo, ND. During the school year, this form must be sent in at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the home school program or within 14 days of establishing residency in the district with the intention of home schooling a school aged child. The statement of intent form is included in the Appendix of this booklet and it may be downloaded from 2. FILE REQUIRED RECORDS. The first year the student is home educated the parent must also send in copies of The student s immunization records The student s birth certificate or other proof of identity Verification, such as a high school diploma or college transcript, of the parent s highest level of education NOTE if the home school student attended previously WFPS, only verification of parent s education is necessary, as we would have the other documents on file. 3. HOURS AND DAYS OF INSTRUCTION. The child must receive at least four hours of instruction each day for a minimum of 175 days each year. 4

5 4. SUPERVISE COURSE REQUIRED BY STATUTE (NDCC ) AND INSTRUCTION, Elementary grades (1 8) o English language arts, including reading, composition, creative writing, English grammar, and spelling o Mathematics o Social studies, including, the United States Constitution, United States history, geography, government, and North Dakota studies in the fourth and eighth grades, with an emphasis on the geography, history, and agriculture of this state o Science, including agriculture o Physical education o Health, including physiology, hygiene, disease control, and the nature and effects of alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics Secondary grades (9 12) o Four credits* of English language arts o Two credits of mathematics o Two credits of science o Four credits of social studies, including one credit of world history, one credit of United States history; one credit of world geography; and one half credit of United States government o One half credit of health o One and one half credits of physical education o Eight credits of elective courses *Each high school credit must consist of at least 120 hours of instruction per school year. Credits for the following courses must consist of at least 150 hours of instruction per school year: natural sciences, agriculture, business and office technology, marketing, diversified occupations, trade and industrial education, technology education, and health careers. 5. MAINTAIN STUDENT RECORDS. Maintain an annual record of: courses taken by the child the child's academic course grades or record of progress standardized achievement test results documentation of child s work through multiple samples throughout course If the child transfers back to a public school district, the parent will need to furnish these records to the school district superintendent or other administrator. 6. STANDARDIZED TESTING. While in grades four, six, eight, and ten, each child receiving home education shall take: (1) A standardized achievement test used by the school district in which the child resides; or (2) A nationally normed standardized achievement test if requested by the child's parent. b. The child shall take the test in the child's learning environment or, if requested by the child's parent, in a public school. An individual licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board shall administer the test. 5

6 If a qualified individual who is selected by the parent administers the test, the cost of administering the test is the responsibility of the child's parent. The W.F.P.S. Home School Coordinator can provide information on sources of standardized achievement tests, if the parent requests this. Sources of standardized tests and curriculum materials can be found on the Web, also. Many parents use the California Achievement Tests (CAT) or Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). Contact the West Fargo Public Schools Home School Coordinator ( or [email protected] ) if you want the school district to provide a teacher to administer the test. The parent is responsible for the cost of the test, and test scores must be forwarded to the Home School Coordinator or Assistant Superintendent if you choose to not test during the NDSA testing window in the fall. The requirement of NDCC subsection 1 does not apply if the parent notifies the school district in which the child resides that the parent has a philosophical, moral, or religious objection to the use of standardized achievement tests and the parent: Is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board; Holds a baccalaureate degree; or has met or exceeded the cutoff score of a national teacher examination given in this state or in any other state if this state does not offer such an examination. The parent shall file the notification and necessary documentation required by this subsection with the school district at the same time that the parent file the statement of intent to supervise home education required by section If the child's basic composite score on a standardized achievement test is less than the 30th percentile nationally, a multidisciplinary assessment team will assess the child for a potential learning problem. Can home school students receive a high school diploma? Yes, if they meet the requirements. West Fargo Public Schools grants diplomas only to those students who have completed all North Dakota and WFPS requirements for a high school diploma. Transfer of Home Education Course Credit to West Fargo Public Schools To receive credit for courses completed through home education, the student s parent or legal guardian must provide West Fargo Public Schools with the following: 1. An outline of the course material covered in each subject, 2. A list of the course objectives, 3. A written description on how the course objectives were met, and 4. A transcript of the student s performance in grades. If any of the four items of required documentation is unavailable, West Fargo Public Schools may evaluate whether other reasonable proof is acceptable for the student to meet applicable requirements for high school graduation. All home school transfer credits will be identified on the student s transcript as home school. 6

7 To be eligible to graduate from West Fargo Public Schools, home school students must be enrolled in, and successfully complete their senior year at Sheyenne, Community, or West Fargo High School. Students would be required to earn six credits their senior year including four credits in the senior level classes in the four core classes (math, science, social studies, and English/language arts). Any home school student and parent seeking a West Fargo Public School diploma must schedule a meeting with the high school principal the spring or summer PRIOR to the student s senior year. Can home school students participate in school activities? Yes. But they are required to follow the same eligibility requirements established by the school, the district, and the North Dakota High School Activities Association. Information is located at: fargo.k12.nd.us/schools/wfhigh/activities/general/cocurricularpolicywf.pdf Academic eligibility for a student in grades 9 12 shall be determined at the end of each quarter and at the mid point of each quarter. Student eligibility at the end of each semester shall be determined by his/her semester grade (a student must have earned 2.5 credits to be eligible at the end of each semester). The period of ineligibility will be from list to list (which in most cases is a time span of about 5 weeks). Following the spring semester, a student will be ineligible until the 1st mid quarter list is published in the fall of the next school year. Summer school grades cannot be used for eligibility purposes. For home school students, a parent must provide the athletic or activity director a written report indicating their academic progress using the same academic eligibility dates as the school. How do home school educators get curriculum materials? Parents are responsible for purchasing all materials. School district textbooks may be borrowed by home school parents if the school has extra copies available. There are many companies and organizations that sell or provide curriculum materials for home schools. You can find these on the Web by using the term Home School in a Google search. You may also contact the North Dakota Home School Association at NDHSA, th St NE, Bottineau, ND Telephone: [email protected] Website: ndhsa.org Office Hours: Monday Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. 7

8 How do home school educators find nationally normed standardized tests? Here are some sources of standardized tests frequently used by home school parents: Iowa Test of Basic Skills Riverside Publishing Company PO Box 1970 Iowa City, Iowa Stanford Achievement Tests The Psychological Corporation 757 3rd Avenue New York, NY California Achievement Test (CAL) Piedmont Education Services, 1629 Turfwood Drive Pfafftown, NC Miscellaneous testing materials Bob Jones University Greenville, SC

9 Appendices 9

10 Curriculum Resources Parents must determine the curriculum. Parents are responsible for purchasing all materials. A Beka School Services: A Ministry of Pensacola Christian College Providing Excellence in Home School Education Station TH, PO Box, 1800, Pensacola FL Accelerated Christian Ed. (ACE) Alpha Phonics: A Complete System for Beginning Readers of All Ages Christian Home Educators Curriculum Manual: Christian Light Association (CLE): The Elijah Company The Home School Books and Supplies Home School Manual: Home Run Enterprises Aristocrat Avenue Box P, Garden Grove, CA A Bible Based Curriculum for Grades 1 12 PO Box 1212 N, Harrisonburg, VA Eldridge Loop, Crossville, TN south West Avenue, Arlington, WA Gazelle Publications, 1906 Niles Buchanan Road Niles, MI Homeschooling Warehouse Great Christian Books South Bridge Street, PO Box 8000 Elkton, MD Math U See: A Manipulative Based K 12 Curriculum MATH Plain Path Publishers School of Tomorrow Curriculum Shekinah Curriculum Cellar PO Box 830, Columbus, ND PO Box 2154, Costa Mesa, CA Meyer Place, Costa Mesa, CA The Sycamore Tree The Teaching Home: A Christian Magazine for Home Educators Timberdoodle Company: A Z Home s Cool E 1510 Spencer Lake Road Shelton, WA Resources subject to change and are not tracked by WFPS. 10

11 Books on Home Education homeschool.com/bookstore/top10/ Top Ten Homeschooling Books So You're Thinking About Homeschooling: Fifteen Families Show How You Can Do It by Lisa Whelchel Confused and intimidated by the complexities of homeschooling, many sincere parents never get past the "thinking about it" stage. Now Lisa Whelchel - herself a homeschooling mother of three - introduces fifteen real families and shows how they overcome the challenges of their unique homeschooling situations. This nuts-and-bolts approach deals with common questions of time management, teaching weaknesses, and outside responsibilities, as well as children's age variations, social and sports involvement, learning disabilities, and boredom. Seeing a wide variety of successfully homeschooling families in action will give parents the confidence to make their own dream of home-based education a reality. The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: 500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12 by Linda Dobson As a homeschooling parent, you're always looking for new and creative ways to teach your child the basics. Look no longer! Inside this innovative helper, you'll find kid-tested and parent-approved techniques for learning math, science, writing, history, manners, and more that you can easily adapt to your family's homeschooling needs. And even if you don't homeschool, you'll find this book a great teaching tool outside the classroom. You'll discover fun and educational activities for kids ages 3 to 12. This comprehensive collection of tried-and-true and generally inexpensive ideas provides the best-of-the-best homeschooling activities that can be done anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. Homeschool.com' s Homeschooling for Success by Rebecca Kochenderfer and Elizabeth Kanna Homeschool.com's book, published by Time Warner and written by the founders of Homeschool.com, Rebecca Kochenderfer and Elizabeth Kanna is now available! This cutting edge book includes personal stories from Homeschool.com's virtual community, helpful resources and empowering wisdom to help parents create a superior education for their children. The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education by Grace Llewellyn "The Teenage Liberation Handbook" is undoubtedly dog-eared and sitting on a close bookshelf of every veteran homeschooling family. Grace Llewellyn presents good reasons for teens to "drop into life," by leaving school and reclaiming their natural ability to learn. The book is filled with great advice and personal stories like how to design a real-life education, how to find volunteer positions, and how to get into college without going to high school. The Handbook was written with teens in mind. Yet, its message is true for all ages of homeschoolers; self-taught and self-directed children are our future leaders and entrepreneurs. 11

12 Dumbing Us Down:The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto By a former New York state "Teacher of the Year," Gatto's book should be read by every parent in America before they blindly send their children to school. The author asserts that the true goal of childhood learning should be to discover the special gift each child has, and that passion and enthusiasm will lead to other learning pursuits. His assessment of conventional schooling and what type of citizen it produces is a wake-up call for anyone concerned about the future of this country. CarSchooling by Diane Flynn Keith What if you suddenly had extra time to help your child learn, AND your family had more fun at the same time! You do if you get CarSchooling. Written by Diane Keith, a well-known homeschooling advocate, columnist and homeschooling parent. CarSchooling has over 350 entertaining games and activities that can turn wasted car time into learning time. Packed full of engaging activities and recommended resources in an easy-to-use format, this book will never collect dust on your bookshelf! With CarSchooling, your six-year old will improve her reading skills, your 10-year old will improve her math skills, your teen will remember how much fun it is to play a game with mom and dad, and your family will giggle all the way home. More than just improved academics, your family will create incredible memories that will last much longer than your car trip. Get this book before you begin your holiday travel adventure. The Unschooling Handbook: How to Use the Whole World as Your Child's Classroom by Mary Griffith Mary Griffith and thousands of other unschooling parents believe that learning is as natural to children as breathing. If allowed to pursue their own interests, children will cover all the subjects taught in school. And, more importantly, they will continue to love to learn and explore their world. Filled with advice from other unschooling families (parents and kids), "The Unschooling Handbook" should be on hand for the inevitable days when you wonder if your kids are really learning. All homeschooling families, whether they use a curriculum or not, will find inspiring reasons to let their children have some freedom in how they learn. The Homeschooling Book of Answers: The 88 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices Edited by Linda Dobson Linda Dobson enlisted the help of the most respected voices in the homeschooling community. Every question that new and veteran homeschoolers could ever have is answered is this book. In the Introduction, after detailing how she collected this information from around the country, Linda Dobson writes: "You now hold the results in your hand: 500 collective years--half a millennium--of thoughts, observations, philosophies, tips, and personal stories that can lead you to the personalempowerment of homeschooling." What is genuinely interesting about this book is that while you look for answers about homeschooling, you will find that homeschooling is a way of life and that each family's journey is different. 12

13 Deschooling our Lives Edited by Matt Hern The review of this book by Pat Farenga, president of John Holt Associates and publisher of Growing Without Schooling Magazine says it all: "Deschooling Our Lives is a terrific overview of all the things people are doing instead of sending their children to conventional schools. Most importantly, it is a collection of electrifying essays which challenge our assumptions about education. Read this book to see how you can live and learn with your children without committing them to a twelve-year sentence of schooling." The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook: A Creative and Stress-Free Approach to Homeschooling by Raymond & Dorothy Moore The Moores, who are considered to be the "Grandparents" of the homeschooling movement, use personal experience and extensive research to show readers how to educate their children at home with low stress, low cost and great success. Part II: Homeschool Stress: Prevention and Remedy, is covered better here than in any other homeschooling book on the market. The Moores have helped thousands of parents successfully homeschool their children and their book is a must-read for all homeschooling families. Books specific to North Dakota: Record Keeping and Achievement Testing for Grades 1 8 by Camilla Leedahl Strategies for High School: An Introduction to Course Planning, Record Keeping and college Considerations by Camilla Leedahl Another good source for information regarding home schooling is The North Dakota Home School Association. Their website is located at: 13