Vermont

Vermont Dept of Education Homeschooling

Guidelines for Home Study in VermontClicking this link will open a PDF document. Adobe Reader is required. To download a FREE version of Adobe Reader, click on the yellow Get Acrobat Reader icon toward the bottom of page.

Information About Vermont's New Home Study LawClicking this link will open a PDF document. Adobe Reader is required. To download a FREE version of Adobe Reader, click on the yellow Get Acrobat Reader icon toward the bottom of page.

 

 

Section l, l6 V.S.A. ll (21) is added to read:

(21) "Homestudy Program" means an educational program offered through homestudy which provides

a minimum course of study and which is offered to not more than

(a) children residing in that home, and

(b) children not residing in that home who either are two or fewer in number or who are from

one family.

 

Section l66b HOMESTUDY PROGRAM

 

(A) Enrollment Notice -

A homestudy program shall send a written enrollment notice to the Commissioner whenever it

intends to enroll a child. Enrollments at homestudy programs shall expire on July l. If a homestudy program

intends to re-enroll a child for the following school year, a new notice under this section is required and may

be submitted at any time after March l. The Commissioner shall accept and review enrollment notices upon

receiving them. A notice under this subsection shall include the following:

l) the name and age of the child

2) the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the parents or guardians of the child

3) for each child enrolled during the preceding year, any assessment of progress required under

sub-section (d)

4) for each child not previously enrolled in a Vermont public school or Vermont homestudy program,

independent professional evidence on whether the child is handicapped. A comprehensive evaluation to

establish eligibilities for special education is not required, but may be ordered by a hearing officer after a

hearing under this section

5) for each child being enrolled for the current year, a detailed outline or narrative which describes the

content to be provided in each subject area of the minimum course of study, including any special

services or adaptations to be made to accommodate any handicapping condition in accordance with

applicable state and federal law. Methods and materials to be used may be included but are not

required.

6) the school district in which the homestudy program is located

7) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and signatures of the persons who will provide the

instruction

8) the signature of all custodial parents or guardians.

 

(B) Notice to homestudy programs

Within 14 business days of receiving an enrollment notice, the commissioner or designee shall send

the homestudy program a written acknowledgment of receipt. The acknowledgment shall include a

determination:

 

1) either that the enrollment notice is complete and no further information is needed, or specifically

identifying information required under subsection (a) which is missing. If information is missing, the

homestudy program shall provide the additional information in writing within 14 days; and

2) either that the child may be enrolled immediately or that the child may be enrolled 45 days after the

enrollment notice was received. At any time before the child may be enrolled, the Commissioner may

order that a hearing be held. After notice of such a hearing is received, the child shall not be enrolled

until after an order has been issued by the hearing officer to that effect.

 

(C) Enrollment reports

Each homestudy program shall notify the Commissioner within seven days of the day that any

student ceases to be enrolled in the program. Within ten days of receiving any enrollment report, the

Commissioner shall notify the appropriate superintendent of schools.

 

(D) Progress assessment

Each homestudy program shall assess annually the progress of each of its students. Progress

shall be assessed in each area of the minimum course of study by one or more of the following:

1) a certified Vermont teacher

2) a teacher from an approved Vermont private school

3) a teacher advisory service report from a publisher of a commercial curriculum together with a

portfolio of the student's work

4) a report prepared by the parents or the student's instructor together with a portfolio of the

student's work

5) the complete results of a standardized achievement test administered by a qualified person

6) the complete results of a standardized achievement test administered by an approved

Vermont school, at the option of the school or school district.

 

(E) Hearings before enrollment

If the Commissioner has information that creates a significant doubt about whether a homestudy

program can or will provide a minimum course of study for a student who has not yet enrolled, the

Commissioner may call a hearing. At the hearing, the homestudy program shall establish that it has

complied with this section and will provide the student with a minimum course of study.

 

(F) Hearings after enrollment

If the Commissioner has information that reasonably could be expected to justify an order of

termination under this section, he or she may call a hearing. At the hearing, the Commissioner shall

establish one or more of the following:

1) the homestudy program has substantially failed to comply with the requirements of this section

2) the homestudy program has substantially failed to provide a student with the minimum course of

study

3) the homestudy program will not provide a student with the minimum course of study

 

(G) Notice and procedure

Notice of any hearing shall include a brief summary of the material facts and shall be sent to each

parent/guardian and each instructor of the student or students involved known to the Commissioner. The

hearing shall occur within 30 days of the day that notice is given or sent. If a notice concerns a child not yet

enrolled in a homestudy program, enrollment shall not occur until an order has been issued after the hearing.

The hearing shall be conducted by an impartial hearing officer appointed by the Commissioner from a list

approved by the State Board. At the request of the child's parent or guardian, the hearing officer shall

conduct the hearing at a location in the vicinity of the homestudy program.

 

(H) Order following hearing

After hearing evidence, the hearing officer shall enter an order within ten working days. If the child

is not enrolled, the order shall provide that the child be enrolled or that enrollment be disallowed. If the child

is enrolled, the order shall provide that enrollment be continued or that the enrollment be terminated. An

order shall take effect immediately. Unless the hearing officer provides for a shorter period, an order

disallowing or terminating enrollment shall extend until the end of the following school year, as defined in

this title. If the order is to disallow or terminate the enrollment, a copy shall be given to the appropriate

superintendent of schools, who shall take appropriate action to ensure that the child is enrolled in a school

as required by this title. Following a hearing, the Commissioner may petition the hearing officer to reopen

the case only if there has been a material change in circumstances.

(I) As used in this section, "minimum course of study" is defined in Section 906. The educational

content provided shall be adapted in each area of study throughout the school year to the age and ability of

each child and adapted to any handicapping condition of the child. Nothing in this section requires that a

homestudy program follow the program or methods used by the public schools.

(J) After the filing of the enrollment notice or at a hearing, if the homestudy program is unable to comply

with specific requirements due to deep religious conviction shared by an organized group, the commissioner

may waive such requirements if he or she determines that the educational purposes of this section are being

or will be substantially met. - Amended 1969, Adj. Sess.,

No. 298.

 

 

COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE

Section 1121 - Attendance by children of school age required.

A person having the control of a child between the ages of six and sixteen shall cause the child to attend an

approved public school, an approved recognized independent school or a homestudy program for the full

number of days for which that school is held, unless the child:

1) is mentally or physically unable to attend; or

2) has completed the tenth grade; or

3) is excused by the superintendent or a majority of

the school directors as provided in this chapter.

4) is enrolled in and attending a post-secondary schools, as defined in subdivision

176(b)(1) of this title, which is approved or accredited in Vermont or another state.

 

COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION

Section 131. Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter:

"Comprehensive health education" means a systematic and extensive elementary and secondary educational

program designed to provide a variety of learning experiences based upon knowledge of the human

organism as it functions within its environment. The term includes, but is not limited to, a study of:

1. Body structure and function, including the physical, psychosocial and psychological basis of human

development, sexuality and reproduction;

2. Community health to include environmental health, pollution, public health and world health;

3. Safety including first aid, disaster prevention and accident prevention;

4. Diseases such as HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other communicable

diseases, and the prevention of disease;

5. Family health and mental health, including instruction which promotes the development of

responsible personal behavior involving decision making about sexual activity including abstinence;

skills which strengthen existing family ties involving communication, cooperation, and interaction

between parents and students; and instruction to aid in the establishment of strong family life in the

future, thereby contributing to the enrichment of the community;

6. Personal health habits including dental health;

7. Consumer health including health careers, health costs and utilizing health services;

8. Human growth and development, including understanding the physical, emotional and social

elements of individual development and interpersonal relationships including instruction in parenting

methods and styles. This shall include information regarding the possible outcomes of premature

sexual activity, contraceptives, adolescent pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, and abortion;

9. Drugs including education about alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and prescribed drugs; and

10. Nutrition. -- Amended 1987, Adj. Sess., No.270.

 

NO. 119 AN ACT RELATING TO USE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL

FACILITIES BY HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

Sec. 1. POLICY REPORT

(a) It is the policy of the State of Vermont to encourage and facilitate the integration of homestudy

students into the public schools by enabling their enrollment in academic courses, participation in cocurricular

and extracurricular activities, and use of public school facilities.

(b) In furtherance of that policy, the state board of education shall after a collaborative study process

involving representatives of homestudy students, the Vermont Principal’s Association, the Vermont

Superintendent’s Association, the Vermont School Board’s Association, the Vermont National

Education Association, the Vermont Independent Schools Association, representatives of the public and

the chairs of the Senate and House Education Committees or their designees, report to the House and

Senate Committees on Education by December 1, 1998 on the following:

(1) The advisability of developing statewide policies regarding homestudy students enrollment in

public school courses, participation in public school co-curricular and extracurricular activities

and the use of public school facilities.

(2) Laws, policies, and resources in other states regarding enrollment in participation in and use of

public school courses, activities and facilities.

(3) The cost of continuing to include homestudy students in the count of average daily membership

for enrollment in public school courses and of also including participation in public school cocurricular

and extracurricular activities.

(4) Identification of any significant distinctions between integration of homestudy students into K-8

and 9-12 public education activities.

(5) Appropriate procedures and timelines for school districts to consider regarding a homestudy

student’s notification to the public school of intent to enroll in courses, participate in activities

or use facilities.

(6) How the policies of the Vermont Principals’ Association could encourage homestudy student

participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities.

(7) The issues associated with admitting homestudy students to courses, activities and facilities on

the same basis as enrolled students and recommendations on how to address the issues.

(8) Recommendations on how the state board of education can ensure that school boards adopt and

implement policies which integrate students into their courses, activities and facilities.

 

(c) On or before March 15, 1999, the state board of education, after collaboration with the groups and

people listed in subsection(b) of this section, shall adopt rules establishing parameters and minimum

standards for school board policies to be adopted under 16 V.S.A. §563(24). The purpose of the

policies shall be to ensure that homestudy students are able to enroll in courses of study, participate in

extracurricular and co-curricular activities and use school facilities.

Sec. 2 16 V.S.A. §563(24) is added to read:

(24) Shall adopt a policy which in accordance with rules adopted by the state board of education,

will integrate homestudy students into its schools through enrollment in courses, participation

in co-curricular and extracurricular activities and use of facilities.

 

Sec. 3 EFFECTIVE DATE

This act shall take effect on passage, however, school board are required to adopt policies under

Sec. 2 of this act by July 1, 1999.

Approved: April 27, 1998