curricular and extra-curricular activities at the school for home educated kids

FYI Someone told me today that their school said they cannot
participate in extra-curricular activities at the district. This is wrong.

All districts must allow the home educated child participate to in
extra-curricular activities at the school district where they live if
they choose.

(See definitions of these two types of activities below.

Only some districts allow the home educated child participate to in
curricular activities (instructional activities) See FAQs below


FAQ
Can my child participate in curricular (instructional) activities at the
school district where we live?

The school district where you reside has the discretion to make school
curricular courses available to home-educated students. Many school
districts have established a written policy on participation of
homeschooled students in curricular programs, such as science classes,
computer labs, and foreign language courses. Please contact your local
school district for this information. Please remember, however, that
school districts are not required to allow home-educated students to
participate in curricular courses.

Can my child participate in extra-curricular activities at the school
district where we live?

Yes. Act 67 of 2005 amended the home education law to allow a student
in a home education program per Sec. 13-1327.1 to participate in the
types of activities referenced in 24 P.S. § 5-511
in
the school district where the student lives. These activities may
include: clubs, musical ensembles, athletics and theatrical
productions, interscholastic athletics, varsity sports and intramural
sports, with certain qualifications. School districts have established
policies which identify what programs are Sec. 511 activities and are
therefore, available for home education students' participation.

my 2 cents......I have also found that those districts that said "yes" above are the "friendlier, more accommodating districts" in most all other areas as well.

medical records with the affadavit should not be needed!

Seems to me that we should be able to
send the schools a letter saying that our affidavit attests to that fact that
we are providing the proper medical care. Then state that the records
are on file at the doctor's office and that you don't want to have them
at the school since they are private records and that your students are
not coming onto their property and are not in their buildings. A simple
letter in our own words should suffice.
BUT
This is what the PDE says, accept as far as medical records: (1) a form
completed by the physician; (2) a letter from the physician saying the
services were completed and immunizations done; or (3) a letter by the
parent of religious objection to the services/immunizations.

I'd add a fourth.
a letter by the parents saying that the records are private and on file
at the doctor's office. I see no need to spend money at the doctor's
office for a piece of paper saying that the services were completed. You
just tell the school that they were completed and sign it. After all,
you are the supervisor of the program and signed the affidavit.

Most of us have used affidavits that attest to the fact that we are following the law, ie. have a high school diploma and the affidavit is evidence thereof, have no felonies and the affidavit is evidence thereof, etc.
BUT, for some reason, the affidavit is NOT enough for the medical care and that records need to be provided or the physician needs to provides a letter. It seems that if the parents address the issue that they are providing the care as directed, actual records would not be needed (unless the student is participating in a school district sport or other activity). So, a student that is solely home educated, the affidavit attests that the records/care is at the doctor's office without attaching the actual records, but now, the school districts are not reading that in the BEC. The districts are saying they need the actual records or physician's letter. This is more paperwork and cost for the parents and oversight on the part of the districts. This is a bit different than parents that object to the actual services; this is objecting to sharing this private information when their child is not involved in school activities.


I think that the following are reasonable options:

those that had children in the district previously, if they had medical
records on file from that time does not have to resubmit records, just
let them know they are on file, and which school they were in.

or a letter saying you object to specific medical care, ie
immunizations, dental exams, medical exams, etc.

or a letter indicating that we have objections to filing medical
information with the school is also acceptable.

even if the affidavit attests to the fact that the child/ren are
receiving appropriate medical care then schools are just asking for
documentation that would cover them if they were audited. That does
not sound inappropriate. Apparently a letter stating that we object to
providing the info is enough.

You should be handing in at the beginning of the year: Affidavit and
objectives ( and a letter saying your are handling the medical care as
in the code).

New PA Dept of Education Contact Person

There is a new PDE Contact Person since Sarah Pearce retired.
This is a "better" source of information than your local district. The local district is dealing with their own students and often don't have time to study the law.

Suzanne Tallman
Education Administration Specialist
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, Harrisburg PA 17126

Phone: 717.214.8212
Fax: 717.214.4389

Email:
Web:

Chapter 4 and 5 of the PA Code for the Act 169

Finally got a chance to look this up and then I thought does the law need changing?

So, is there a need to revise a law when the definitions of that law that refer to code?And to code that has been changed? The code has changed and has refereneces to what is changed, yet the law is depending on code.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/chap4toc.html


The ACt 169 has "old language" since chapter 5 has been repealed.
(2) At the secondary school level, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry; art; music; physical education; health; and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires. Such courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor of the home education program, economics; biology; chemistry; foreign languages; trigonometry; or other age-appropriate courses as contained in Chapter 5 (Curriculum Requirements) of the State Board of Education. '

DEPT OF ED
FAQ on Home ed
What are the Curriculum Requirements?
The home education law specifies the subjects that must be taught at elementary and secondary grade levels. See (24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(c - d)).

However, Chapter 5 (Curriculum Requirements of the State Board of Education), mentioned in 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(c – d) as a resource to find other age-appropriate courses, has been repealed and replaced with Chapter 4 (22 Pa. Code Chapter 4).

Therefore, supervisors should consult 22 Pa. Code §§ 4.20 – 4.28 for information regarding age-appropriate courses.

No approval from the district needed.

Question: The school district seems to give parents a hard time about 'approval' letters.....Is this within the law? I was under the understanding that all a parent needed was a receipt to verify they handed in the paperwork and that an approval letter was not necessary?

Right, no approval is required.

This is what the law and the Dept of Ed says:
This is point five on the http://www.pde.state.pa.us/home_education/site/default.asp page and then on the left, click on Starting a Home school program. I marked it in bold.

It follows that if an approval letter is not needed to begin the program, why would any other approval letters be needed, and the law again clearly states that if the superintendent believes homeschooling is not appropriate, then he takes action, they send a certified letter. the law is clear on that too. So if the ed is appropriate, there is NO action required as it is not stated in the law what the super is to do --as he has to do nothing.

5) Take the affidavit, education objectives, and medical records or doctor’s
notes to the Superintendent’s office in the school district where you live.
Superintendent’s office addresses are on the PDE
website,here: http://www.edna.ed.state.pa.us/
If you wish to mail the affidavit, send it certified with return receipt requested. Approval from the school district is not necessary to begin your home education program if the affidavit and proper attachments have been submitted to the Superintendent’s office.

This is right from the law, nothing about approval, AND only if belief that appropriate ed is not occurring can they ask for info and only via certified mail.

There is nothing saying they approve anything any time. Ask where in the law it says that the superintendent approves. This is what the law says:
In addition, if the superintendent has a reasonable belief that, at any time during the school year, appropriate education may not be occurring in the home education program, he may, by certified mail, return receipt requested, require documentation pertaining to the portfolio of records and materials required by subsection (e)(1) to be submitted to the district within fifteen (15) days; and documentation pertaining to subsection (e)(2) to be submitted to the district within thirty (30) days.

the notarized affidavit and required paperwork (objectives)

Beginning your homeschool journey.

The notarized affidavit and required paperwork (objectives)is how you begin home schooling in PA.

This is what the law says:

(1) A notarized affidavit of the parent or guardian or other person
having legal custody of the child or children, filed prior to the commencement
of the home education program and annually thereafter on August 1 with the
superintendent of the school district of residence and which sets forth:

The Dept of Ed says that the school does NOT have to approve you to home educate:

Approval from the school district is not necessary to begin your home education program if the affidavit and proper attachments have been submitted to the Superintendent’s office.

You take the affidavit along with your education objectives, and doctor’s
notes or your letter explaining your medical records to the Superintendent’s office ofthe school district where you reside.

more on the objectives coming up

Testing is required in Third, Fifth and Eighth grades

It is most important to know the law yourself. Please read the law and read the law again. Refer to a written copy of Act 169 to determine if you have complied and if the school district is asking for more than is required.

So, what about the tests? More later on the PSSAs in PA and the new information on the Dept of Ed web site.


Today's question: Will the tests be able to be used to determine appropriate education?


I doubt one test score during one year could make a difference but I do think this has NOT been tested in court, though I see how it could happen in the way the law is written.

Section (e) says:In order to demonstrate that appropriate education is occurring, the supervisor of the home education program shall provide (1) and (2) which are

(1) A portfolio of records and materials.

(2) An annual written evaluation


In the paragraph (1) testing is part of that portfolio during testing years.

I don't think that really means the test should be used as teh only judge of progress, but they are part of the "package" of what determines it.

I still teach it doesn't matter since it cannot be on that ALONE, and like we say, the law does not address it. The public schools have kids all across the boards with low and high scores, same as the home school community so the child can make progress with lower scores. The law does NOT say you need to have a certain score. In fact, it says nothing about these tests or scores, other than you fulfill them!

when about attending K and then homeschooling?

If someone sends a child to kindergarten, do they have to report if they begin homeschooling in 1st grade? or do they wait until after age 8?

They wait until age 8 since Kindergarten is not compulsory in PA. Keep reading.

This statement is also in the YHSA Guide to the Law on the YHSA Web site at www.yhsa.org

see page 10 of the guide, which is page 12 in the online PDF file.

*Please remember: the above steps only need to be followed if your child is already 8 years old, or will turn 8 years old during the first two weeks of the new school year, or has been registered for 1st grade or above in a public or private school.

No, if you had a child in K and then withdrawal, no reporting until age 8.
This is because K is not compulsory in PA. This is explained on the PA Dept of Ed site.

You do not have to report. You can even file an affidavit to homeschool
and withdraw it since it is not needed for a child that only attended K. see below. I bolded the important term in grade 1 or above (which implies not K.)

go here and click on FAQs.
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/home_education/site/default.asp
Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need to file an affidavit?

You must file an affidavit for each child you will be homeschooling when he or she is between the ages of 8 to 17. (24 P. S. 13-1326 - compulsory school age) You must file an affidavit when you begin the home education program and annually thereafter by August 1.

If your child turns eight before or during the first two weeks of the annual school term, or within the first two weeks of the second semester, if the school district in which you reside promotes students semi-annually, the affidavit needs to be filed by the child's birth date.


If the child turns 8 during the school term, the affidavit should be filed prior to the beginning of the next school year.
(24 P.S. 13-1304 - admission of beginners).


If the child has attended any school in grade 1 or above, you must file an affidavit whenever you begin homeschooling, regardless of the child's age. (24 P.S. 24 13-1326)

what subjects are required by law

This is right from the law. You cover this list during the grades 1-6 either each year or at least once during those six years. I seems logical to do the basics like math and language every year, but history can be as required US History or PA History but not every year. Cover those and add other history such as world history, ancient history, etc. Or if you want to take several years to do US History that is good too. YOU are the supervisor of the home ed program.

(1) At the elementary school level, the following courses shall be
taught:
English, to include spelling, reading, and writing;
arithmetic;
science;
geography;
history of the United States and Pennsylvania;
civics;
safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers
and prevention of fires;
health and physiology;
physical education;
music;
and art.

(2) At the secondary school level, the following courses shall be taught:
English, to include language, literature, speech and composition;
science;
geography;
social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania;
mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry;
art;
music;
physical education;
health and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the
dangers and prevention of fires.

Such courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor of the home education program,
economics;
biology;
chemistry;
foreign languages;
trigonometry;
or other
age-appropriate courses as contained in Chapter 5 (Curriculum Requirements) of the State Board of Education.


this is the exact wording in the law.

every subject, every year?

What classes for what years? Do you have to do every subject, every year?

The law lists the classes for elementary (1-6 grades) and for secondary (7-12) but those need to be done during that time.

Let's take Civics.

If you did civics already, you are done. You do NOT have to do civics every year.

The only thing required every year is fire safety. If you did civics in grades 7-12, the secondary years, you only need to do it once during those years. (and once during 1-6 the elem years)

If you want to do more, you can, but you do not have to. If you have a desire for a political career, more might be better, but certainly not required, especially if going into a "non civics" type field.

Here is a place to look for interesting courses for subjects to cover various areas in civics.

http://www.eagleforumu.org/eagleforumu/

My freidn also says, "The law does not require all courses cited in Section 1327.1 be done annually, only once per elementary years (or once per secondary). There are at least 2 letters from PDE folks (Pearce and Echols-Clark) stating such."


This is a copy of a letter to a mom last year in June 08 from the PA Dept of Ed.

"Dear Ms xxxx,
I am responding to your phone call and e-mail regarding subjects which arerequired by law to be taught in a home education program.

The law, 24 P.S. Sec. 13-1327.1(c)(1) as you have correctly quoted, does not require that every subject must be taught every year, but that all listed subjects must be taught during the elementary level of schooling. Therefore, your suggestion that you may, in your homeschool, concentrate on English and History one year and Math and Science the next, may be acceptable in the eyes of the law. This may be an unusual program, especially in the elementary years, but it is acceptable according to the law.

Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Sarah J. Pearce

Advisor
School Services Unit
Office of Elementary/Secondary Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-783-9287 (voicemail available)
Fax: 717-783-6802
TTY: 717-783-8445


So, even though there is a long list, you are the supervisior and cover that list as you see fit.

The law Act 169 of 1988

Home schooling in PA has a very specific law on what you need to do....which amounts to jumping through 14 or so hoops but you can do it easily if you read and study the law. That is your first homework assignment as a home school parent. Know what you will stand up for in order to keep your freedom and flexibility. AND, in spite of all you need to do, there are so many gray areas in all that text of the law, you do have lots of freedom. You are the supervisor of the program, so how you go about complying to the law has many, many applications to suit your family.

There are lots of web sites where you can read the LAW.
HSLDA and PHEA.net are good starters!

Caution: do not read what someone says it says.....read it for your self.
I will later post a break down of the law that makes it easy to understand.