Home Education Notification —Points to Remember by Sue Duncan

1. Complete and sign Home Education Notification FORM or LETTER.

2. Remember to attach a brief (short in duration or length) outline of your intended curriculum (#6) and a list of the resources, materials that you intend to use (#7). Attach a separate curriculum outline and resource list for each child.

3. It is recommended that you do not supply your telephone number, which is optional. Should your school districtwish to contact you, they can do so in writing. In fact, if they do call you, you may simply request that they communicate with you in writing; this will provide you with a written record of their contact/s as well as allow you time to consider what they are asking for, seek guidance from a homeschool support group or advocate, and respond appropriately. Often school districts request information to which they are not entitled. If you are unsure,contact a homeschooling group or advocate – not the school district – and obtain reliable information.

4. It is recommended that you DO NOT USE FORMS SUPPLIED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. They may contain additions, deletions or changes which significantly alter the requirements of the homeschooling regulations. Minimal compliance is what you strive for; that is, supplying nothing more nor less than is required under the home educ. Code.

5. It is suggested that only ONE parent sign the form or letter of intent. It is not necessary that each parent do so; in fact, it is desirable that only one parent take on this obligation though it is understood that in a two-parent family both parents would be responsible for the child/ren. The signature of both parents may bias school districts against single- parent home educators. Further, the regulations only call for the signature of one parent.

6. Send your notification of intention to home educate via CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED or hand-deliver it to the supt’s office only of your school district of residence. You are required by the home education regulations to communicate with your supt, not his designee – no matter what the district may state. If you hand- deliver, please obtain both the signature of the person receiving the info and the current date. The DATE of receipt in the supt’s office is important since he is required by law to respond to your notification IN WRITING (not by phone, attendance officer, or other means) within 14 calendar days of receipt. Further, this will protect you in case of loss in the postal system or in the superintendent’s office.

7. Keep COPIES of all your notification information and all communications with your school district. These are legal documents.

8. It is NOT necessary nor is it recommended that you appear for any conferences, sit-downs, allow any home visits, etc. You are not required to notify your school principal if you decide to homeschool, nor is it recommended that you have any communications, conversations or discussions with public officials about your decision. Under NO circumstances are your required to justify the exercise of your right to provide for the education of your child/ren. The right to homeschool is protected by U.S. and Ohio constitutional law and specifically safeguarded by the home education regulations.

9. Under Ohio regulations, you cannot be denied the right to homeschool the first year as long as you fully comply with the notification procedure.

10. The superintendent is required by the regulations to respond IN WRITING within 14 calendar (not business) days of receipt of your notification, stating that your documents are in order and therefore you are “in compliance” with the home education regulations; a notice of compliance should be your “excuse from compulsory attendance.” The supt. must notify you in writing of the specific respect in which the information required is missing. Missing information is that which is clearly stated as being required in the regulations. Examples: child’s date of birth not included, or curriculum outline is not attached. You are given 14 days in which to supply this information, either in writing or by arranging a conference with the supt. Unsupplied, required information places you in “non-compliance” and without an excuse from compulsory attendance. The supt. may not request additional information. Should this happen, please contact a homeschool group or advocate, NOT the supt’s office, to assist you. Examples of additional information include grade level, list of textbooks (this is an option, but not required), photocopies of tables of content, parental educational background beyond high school, copies of diplomas, letters from psychologists, etc

11. If you have any questions, please do NOT contact your school district. They are not homeschoolers and are not conversant with the current regulations. There are several homeschooling groups in the area with people of many years’ experience and expertise in answering questions, dealing appropriately and successfully with the school districts and in understanding the home education regulations and homeschooling in our community.

April 27, 2008 | Filed Under Home education, Ohio, Ohio Notification, Sue Duncan's HS Alerts