IHBG - Home Schooling

When a parent or guardian of a student below the age of 16 wants to establish a home-based educational program for his/her child, the following procedures shall be followed in accordance with the law:

• Prior to removing the child from public school:

1. The parent/guardian must submit written notification of establishment of the home-based program to the appropriate administrator 14 days before the program is established, and resubmit notification on an annual basis as long as the child or children are being educated in a home-based environment.
2. The parent/guardian must certify in writing, on a form provided by the district, the name, age place of residence, and number of hours of attendance of each child in the program.

• The Superintendent shall give the notice to produce records required by law if there is probable cause to believe the program is not in compliance with the law.  Factors to be considered by the Superintendent or School Committee in deciding whether or not to approve a home education proposal may be:

1. The proposed curriculum and the number of hours of instruction in each of the proposed subjects.
2. The capacity of the parents to teach the children,
3. The textbooks, workbooks and other instructional aids to be used by the children and the lesson plans and teaching manuals to be used by the parents.
4. Periodic standardized testing of the children to ensure educational progress and the attainment of minimum standards.

The district reserves the right to allow enrolled students to have precedence or priority over the home-schooled student with regard to placement on sports teams and activities that have limited enrollment.  With approval of the Superintendent or designee in consultation with the Principal, a home-schooled student may participate in sports teams and activities that have limited enrollment provided that he or she does not displace an enrolled student.

• Signed Franklin Public School handbook release form must be on file with the home school plan, acknowledging compliance with all Franklin Public Schools’ rules and policies including MIAA guidelines
• A home-schooled student who is determined to be eligible for High School athletics shall submit quarterly progress reports for review by the High School Principal on or before the dates established by the high school for report card distribution.  Progress reports shall be submitted in a format that indicates clearly whether the home-schooled student has passed or failed each course identified under the approved home-school plan
• The home-schooled student is subject to all Franklin High School eligibility standards as outlined in the student handbook and MIAA guidelines