ohio home education regulations

CHESCA Notification Web Version

Ohio Home Education Regulations

“They aren’t all that tough!”


Definitions

“Home Education” means education primarily directed and provided by the parent or guardian of a child…of compulsory school age and is not enrolled in a nonpublic school.

“Parent” means a parent, guardian or other person having charge or care of a child.

“Superintendent” means the superintendent of schools of the city, county, or exempted village school district in which the parent resides.

OAC 3301-34-01


Statement of Purpose

To prescribe conditions governing the issuance of excuses from school attendance,

To provide for the consistent application thereof throughout the state by superintendents

To safeguard the primary right of parents to provide the education for their children.

OAC 3301-34-02


Notification vs. Application

“A parent who elects to provide home education shall supply the following information to the superintendent:”

OAC 3301-34-03


HOME EDUCATION NOTIFICATION FORM(Form Optional)

OAC 3301-34-02 Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of the rules in this chapter is to prescribe conditions governing the issuance ofexcuses from school attendance under section 3321.04 of the Revised Code, to provide for theconsistent application thereof throughout the state by superintendents, and to safeguard theprimary right of parents to provide the education for their child(ren). Home education must be inaccordance with law.

OAC 3301-34-03 Notification

(A) A parent who elects to provide home education shall supply the following information tothe superintendent:

(1) School year for which notification is made: _____________

(2) Name of parent, address, and telephone number (telephone number is optional):

______________________ __________________________ __________________Name Address Phone (optional)

(3) Name, address and telephone number (telephone number is optional) of person(s) whowill be teaching the child subjects set forth in paragraph (A) (5) of this rule, if other thanthe parent:

______________________ __________________________ __________________


(4) Full name and birthdate of child(ren) to be educated at home:

______________________________________ _______________________

______________________________________ _______________________

______________________________________ _______________________Full Name(s) D.O.B.

Notification

School Year “2002-2003” This does not mean

you must strictly adhere to the school’s calendar.











______________________ __________________________ __________________



______________________________________ _______________________

______________________________________ _______________________

______________________________________ _______________________Full Name(s) D.O.B.

Notification

Name and Address of Parent

Telephone number is optional.

Only one parent’s name is required.


Notification

Name and Address of Other Teacher(s).

Telephone number is optional.

For most, this will be blank.










______________________ __________________________ __________________



______________________________________ _______________________

______________________________________ _______________________

______________________________________ _______________________Full Name(s) D.O.B.


Notification

Full Names and Birthdates of Students

You do not need to include: grade level, shot records, social security number, etc.










______________________ __________________________ __________________



______________________________________ _______________________

______________________________________ _______________________

______________________________________ _______________________Full Name(s) D.O.B.


____ (5) Assurance that home education will include the following, except that home education shall not be required to include any concept, topic, or practice that is in conflict with sincerely held beliefs of the parent:

(a) Language, reading, spelling, and writing;(b) Geography, history of the United States and Ohio, and national, state, and local

government;(c) Mathematics;(d) Science;(e) Health;(f) Physical Education;(g) Fine Arts, including music; and(h) First aid, safety, and fire prevention.

____ (6) Brief outline of the intended curriculum for the current year (attached).Such outline is for informational purposes only.

____ (7) List of textbooks, correspondence courses, commercial curricula, or other basic teaching materials that the parent intends to use for home education (attached).Such outline is for informational purposes only.

____ (8) Assurance that the child will be provided a minimum of nine hundred hours of home education each school year.

____ (9) Assurance that the home education teacher has one of the following qualifications:

(a) A high school diploma; or(b) The certificate of high school equivalence; or(c) Standardized test scores that demonstrate high school equivalence; or(d) Other equivalent credential found appropriate by the superintendent; or(e) Lacking the above, the home teacher must work under the direction of a person

holding a baccalaureate degree from a recognized college until the child’s or children’s test results demonstrate reasonable proficiency or until the home teacher obtains a high school diploma or the certificate of high school equivalence.

(10) The parent(s) shall affirm the above information supplied with his or her signature prior to providing it to the superintendent.

________________________________________ ______________________________Signature of Affirmation by Parent Date

Notification

Subject Areas Not an exhaustive

list. You do not have to

provide equal amounts of instruction.

You do not have to indicate your religious beliefs.













Notification

Curriculum Outline

For informational purposes only.

Not lesson plans, just a brief outline.

You are not required to adhere strictly to this outline.













Notification

List of Texts and Other Resources

For informational purposes only.

Text name and publisher, not chapter headings or page numbers.

Include memberships, etc.













Notification

Nine Hundred Hours

Does not have to be 180 five hour days.

Does not have to be documented.

Does not have to be directly supervised time.













Notification

Assurance of Qualification

You do not have to indicate which one you have.

You do not need to send copies of diploma, transcripts, etc.













Notification

Signature


Where Do I Send This?

“Exempted Village” school districtExempted Village Schools Superintendent

“City” (or “Community”) school districtCity Schools Superintendent

“Local” school districtCounty / ESC Superintendent


How Do I Send This?

Certified Mail In Person (get a signed receipt!)

Regular Mail FAX E-mail


I Forgot Something!

Don’t worry! The Superintendent

must inform you in writing within 14 days of the exact information you have left out.

You have 14 days to supply the info.

OAC 3301-34-03 (C)


What Will I Get?

A letter stating that your child is excused from attendance.

Signed by the Superintendent.

Within 14 calendar days.


Academic Assessment

Must be reported with a subsequent notification.

Three options are available, at the discretion of the parents.


Academic Assessment Options Standardized Testing Portfolio Review A mutually agreeable alternative


Standardized Testing

Must be a nationally-normed test

Administered by a teacher, someone authorized to administer the test, or someone else mutually agreed upon

Composite score at or above the twenty-fifth percentile


Standardized Testing

No cost to parent Time and location

determined by the school district

School receives all results

Results may not demonstrate proficiency

Parent must pay Time and location

determined by the parent

School receives only the submitted composite score

Parent may opt not to submit score

Administered at School Administered Privately


Ohio Proficiency Tests

Do *NOT* qualify as a nationally-normed standardized test

May be mutually agreed as an alternative academic assessment


Portfolio Review Consists only of a signed

statement that samples of the student’s work have been reviewed, and that the work is in keeping with the student’s abilities

The reviewer must be a certified teacher, or someone mutually agreed upon

Any fees are the responsibility of the parent


Re-entering Public School

May not be denied simply because the student has been home educated

Grade placement is at the discretion of the superintendent; considering academic assessment, requiring nationally-normed tests, and/or interviews with child and/or parents


Questions and Answers

If you have additional questions, please email or call a Nurture Group Leader or CHESCA Council member

Purchase Diana Fessler’s book, Home Education – Answers For Ohio Parents

ohio home education regulations

Documents

definitionshome education

applicationa parent

notificationaa parent

school attendance

nonpublic school

superintendent of schools

following information

childof compulsory school