Guidelines for Home Instruction

In a previous post (see Functioning on Faith), I mentioned the Guidelines for Home Instruction. They were adopted on November 7, 1990 and are considered the suggested procedure for determining whether a home-educated child is receiving instruction equivalent to that provided in their local public school. These guidelines are valid only in the state of Connecticut and, as such, should not be followed by homeschoolers in any other state. To learn more about the homeschooling requirements in other states, visit the Home School Legal Defense Association at www.hslda.org.
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A. Parents must file with the superintendent of schools in the town in which they reside a State Department of Education developed notice of intent form which provides basic information about the program to be provided to their child.

B. Filing must occur within ten days of the start of the home instruction program.

C. The school district will receive the notice of intent, check it for completeness and keep it as part of the district's permanent records. A complete form will be one which provides basic program information including name of teacher, subjects to be taught and days of instruction, and the teacher's method of assessment.

D. A parent, by filing the notice of intent, acknowledges full responsibility for the education of their child in accordance with the requirements of state law. Receipt of a notice of intent in no way constitutes approval by a school district of the content or effectiveness of a program of home instruction.

E. If a parent fails to file a notice of intent or files an incomplete form, then a certified letter shall be sent to the parent requesting compliance within ten days.

F. An annual portfolio review will be held with the parents and school officials to determine if instruction in the required courses has been given.

G. Any continued refusal by the parent to comply with the reasonable request of the school district for completion and filing of the notice of intent, or to participate in an annual portfolio review, may cause the child to be considered truant.

H. A school district should not accept nor require a notice of intent for any child younger than seven years or older than sixteen years.

I. The school district shall record the number of students instructed at home on the appropriate form issued by the State Department of Education.