Registered)Nonpublic)Schools) (Not)Seeking)State)Approval))

Transcription

1 Registered)Nonpublic)Schools) (Not)Seeking)State)Approval)) ) JohnWhite StateSuperintendentofEducation August2014

2 z LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Mr. Charles E. Roemer President 6th BESE District Mr. James D. Garvey, Jr. Vice President 1st BESE District Ms. Holly Boffy Secretary/Treasurer 7th BESE District Ms. Kira Orange Jones 2nd BESE District Ms. Lottie P. Beebe 3rd BESE District Mr. Walter Lee 4th BESE District Mr. Jay Guillot 5th BESE District Ms. Carolyn Hill 8th BESE District Dr. Judith Miranti Ms. Connie Bradford Ms. Jane Smith For further information, contact: Registered Nonpublic Schools Office of Portfolio P.O. Box Baton Rouge, LA The mission of the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is to ensure equal access to education and to promote equal excellence throughout the state. The LDOE is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities and is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and facilities are accessible to all members of the public. The LDOE does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or genetic information. Inquiries concerning the LDOE s compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws may be directed to the Attorney, LDOE, Office of the General Counsel, P.O. Box 94064, Baton Rouge, LA ; or customerservice@la.gov. Information about the federal civil rights laws that apply to the LDOE and other educational institutions is available on the website for the Office of Civil Rights, USDOE, at

3 Each) year,) over) 18,000+) Louisiana) families) independently) educate) their) children) through) either:) a)) a) Registered) Nonpublic) School) (Not) Seeking) State) Approval);) or,) b)) a) Board) of) Elementary) and) Secondary) Education) (BESE)I Approved)Home)Study)program.) Theseguidelinesprovidevaluableinformationtofamiliesandschoolswishingtoregisteranonpublicschool(notseeking stateapproval).thelouisianadepartmentofeducation(lde)providesasimilarhandbookforfamiliesinterestedin educatingtheirchildrenthroughabeseaapprovedhomestudyprogram. IffamilieshaveanyquestionsaboutimplementingaRegisteredNonpublicSchool(NotSeekingStateApproval),families maycontactthelde stollfreenumberat AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA General)Overview: RegisterednonpublicschoolsnotseekingstateapprovalmustreportstudentenrollmentstotheLouisianaDepartment ofeducation(lde)eachyearinordertocomplywithlouisiana scompulsoryattendancelaw.studentswhoparticipate inregisterednonpublicschoolsareconsidered:a)inattendanceatadayschool;andb)compliantwithstatecompulsory attendancelaws. PleasenotethatstudentsenrolledinaRegisteredNonpublicSchool(NotSeekingStateApproval): a) arenotconsideredenrolledinabeseaapprovedhomestudyprogramorbeseaapprovednonpublicschool; b) arenoteligiblefortuitionopportunityprogramforstudents(tops)scholarships;and, c) are not required to take state testing. However, testing is available upon request through the local school systemforonlythe4 th and8 th gradeleap.contacttheschoolsysteminjanuaryforapplicabletestingdatesand fees. Applications and guidelines for enrolling under a BESEAApproved Home Study Program may be found at: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA) How)to)Register)a)Nonpublic)School)(Not)Seeking)State)Approval):) Schools or families wishing to become a Registered Nonpublic School must annually register their school. You must notifytheldeannuallybythethirtiethdayaftertheschoolsessionbegins. Information provided to the LDE when registering your nonpublic school (not seeking state approval) includes: the schoolyear,nameofyourschool,contactinformation,andnumberofstudentsenrolled. Familiesandschoolshavetwooptionsonhowtosubmittheirregistration: 1) Anew,simple,userAfriendlyonlineregistrationsystem;or, 2) SubmittinganofficialsignedlettertotheLDE. Submittinganonpublicschool(notseekingstateapproval)registrationviatheonlinesystemhasthefollowingbenefits: Onlineformallowsfamilies/schoolstoeasilyregistertheirnonpublicschool(notseekingstateapproval;and, Families/SchoolsreceiveanautomaticconfirmationeAmailwiththeirofficialregistrationletterassoonasthey registertheirnonpublicschool. Tolearnmoreaboutthenewonlinesystem,pleasereadtheFrequentlyAskedQuestionsavailableontheLDE shome StudyWebsite: registeredanonpublicaschools.pdf?sfvrsn=2 1

4 The$following$table$provides$step$by$step$instructions$on$how$to$submit$an$application$via$online$or$mail.$ Application) Option)1:) Use)the)New)Online) System) Option)2:) Submit)via)mail) Application)Instructions:) 1) GototheRegisteredNonpublicSchoolsectionoftheLDE swebsite: schoolsa(notaseekingastateaapproval) 2) Clickonthelinkthatsays: Clickheretoregisteryournonpublicschoolonline 3) Completetheonlineform.Thisonlineformasksforthesameinformationthatschools previouslyneededtosubmitinasignedletter. 4) ProvideyoureAmailaddress(whileoptional,thisallowstheLDEtoeasilycommunicate withyou seestep6) 5) Click Submit 6) IfyouprovidedyoureAmailaddress,youwillreceiveanautomaticeAmailthatcontains yourofficialregistrationletter.ifyoudidnotprovideyoureamailaddress,theldewill review all of the information you provided and mail you an official registration letter withinthenext1a3weeks. 1) Submitasigned,officialletterwiththeschool sname,schoolyear,contactinformation, andtotalnumberofstudentsenrolledto: RegisteredNonpublicSchools OfficeofPortfolio LouisianaDepartmentofEducation P.O.Box94064 BatonRouge,LA70804 Besuretokeepacopyofthesignedletterforyourrecords. 2) The LDE will document your school s registration and mail you an official registration letterwithin1a3weeks. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Please find further information on Compulsory Attendance Laws, Required Documentation for Obtaining a Driver s LicenseorLearner spermit,andimmunizationlawsinthetablebelow: Topic) Compulsory) Attendance)Law) Topic)Description:) Everyparent,guardianorotherpersonhavingcustodyorcontrolofachildbetweentheages of seven and eighteen has the primary responsibility of ensuring that the child regularly attends school. Louisiana law provides for parent, state, and school district responsibilities regardingcompulsoryattendancelaws: R.S. 17:221. A.1A4. School attendance, compulsory ages, and duty of parents: R.S.17:230.Powersanddutiesofvisitingteachers,orsupervisorsofchildwelfareand attendance: R.S. 17:232.C. and D. Attendance records, principals' and teachers' duty to furnish; penalty for violation; pupil absence upon own authority prohibited; notice 2

5 Required) Documentation)for) Obtaining)a)Driver s) License)or)Learner s) Permit) Immunization)Law) PursuanttoLAR.S.32:431.1,Louisianastudentsenrolledinaregisterednonpublicschoolmust certify that they meet required school attendance for the purposes of obtaining a driver s licenseoralearner spermit. Tocertifytherequiredattendance,pleasekeepacopyoftheofficialregistrationlettersent uponthesuccessfulregistrationofanonpublicschool.iftheregisterednonpublicschoolwas registeredonline,thentheregistrationletterwillbesenttotheeamailaddressprovided. Families of students enrolled in a registered nonpublic school should provide a copy of this registration letter and confirmation of enrollment in the registered nonpublic school as documentation of required school attendance to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the purposeofobtainingadriver slicenseorlearner spermit. For more information regarding driver s license or learner s permit requirements, please contactyourlocaldepartmentofmotorvehiclesoffice. HouseBill178ofthe2008RegularSessionoftheLouisianaLegislaturenowrequiresevidence of current immunization against meningococcal disease as a condition for students eleven yearsoldenteringanygrade. Students who are eleven years old must be immunized against meningococcal disease. Exemptions include: parent/guardian waivers for religious or personal reasons, or a written statement from a physician stating contraindicated medical reasons, including shortage of supplyofvaccine. Chiefschooladministratorsareresponsibleforcheckingandensuringenforcementofthislaw. 3