Changes to home school rules

The education reform law introduced new accountability measures for almost everyone connected to the K-12 system, except home-school families. The legislation created three options for home schooling, each with a different level of school and state oversight. A short description of each follows:

Competent Private Instruction

• Home-school parents who chose Competent Private Instruction obtain the services of a “licensed practitioner (who) provides competent instruction to a school-age child” for the home-schooling program. Parents using this option must file information with the local school district about the student, teacher and coursework for the home-school. Students can also dual-enroll in local school districts for access to extra classes and extracurricular activities.

Independent Private Instruction

• Home-school parents who chose an Independent Private Instruction program can enroll up to four unrelated students into their home-school. The program itself cannot charge tuition, but an IPI instructor can charge for his or her services. IPI curriculum must include instruction in math, reading, science, social studies and language. IPI parents must file paperwork with the local school district giving specifics about the school, its curriculum and the students enrolled there only if they receive a written request from the local school district superintendent to do so.

Private Instruction

• Home-school parents who chose a Private Instruction program do not have to file annual reports or assessments with the state. They also cannot dual-enroll in local school districts or participate in district activities, such as extracurricular sports. Some questions remain how and if compulsory attendance and truancy laws will apply to those involved in PI.