Summary of Guidelines

Summary of Guidelines for Superintendents

School Officials MAY Consider

• Subjects taught

No specific curriculum is required.

See Ten Points: point 4

• Competency of parents

Parents do not need special qualifications to homeschool.

See Ten Points: point 5

• Length of school year and hours of instruction

There is no regulation requiring a certain number of hours for any subject.

See Ten Points: point 6

• Access to textbooks and other instructional aids, bearing in mind that many curricular materials may be found "apart from the four corners of a text or workbook." Brunelle at 518

Since this access is only to determine the type of subjects to be taught and the grade level of the instruction, many school officials do not expect to view actual textbooks. Rather, they view the list of titles submitted in the ed plan. There is no requirement to use textbooks.

See Ten Points: point 7

• Means of evaluation

The form and frequency of evaluation will be agreed upon by the parents and the school officials.

See Ten Points: point 8

The School Officials MAY NOT

• "require home visits as a condition to the approval of [parents'] home education plans"

Brunelle decision at 519

See Ten Points: point 9

• "dictate the manner in which subjects will be taught"

Charles Decision at 339

See Ten Points: point 7

• "apply institutional standards to this non-institutionalized setting"

Brunelle decision at 517

See Ten Points: point 10

Subjects Not Directly Considered in Court Rulings

• Homeschooling begun without prior approval

There is no educationally sound reason for keeping the child in school while processing the home education plan, nor for declaring truant a child who is being educated at home.

See FAQ#1

• Diploma

Homeschoolers are not issued diplomas by their school districts.

See FAQ#2

• Athletics/extracurriculars/school classes

Many homeschoolers participate in school activities.

See FAQ#3

• MCAS

Homeschoolers do not take the MCAS.

See FAQ#4

• Special ed

Homeschooling works for special needs students.

See FAQ#5

• Meetings

None required. Brunelle makes it clear that any conditions for approval of education proposals must be "essential" for evaluating the education of the child.

See FAQ#6

• Periodic Assessment

School officials and parents decide on a mutually satisfactory reporting schedule, usually not more than once a year.

See FAQ#7

• Kinds of Assessment

The Court indicated that ONE method, not multiple methods, of assessment may be required.

See FAQ#7

• Schedules

None required.

See FAQ#8

Back to Schools & Superintendents