I.  STANDARDS OF APPROVAL

The State of Rhode Island provides certain requirements for the home instruction of students. The Chariho Regional School Committee shall approve home instruction programs that meet the requirements of Rhode Island General Laws. The Committee shall approve requests for home instruction pursuant to the following standards and requirements:

1.  The period of home instruction received by the student is substantially equal to that required by law in the public schools.

2.  An attendance register (also referred to as a Statement of Attendance) must be kept, made available upon request to the Assistant Superintendent or designee, and returned to the Assistant Superintendent at the end of the home-schooling year.

3.  Reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, United States and Rhode Island History, the Principles of American Government, English, health, and physical education, shall be included in the home-schooling program and be taught in the English language substantially to the same extent as such subjects are required to be taught in the public schools; and that the teaching of the English language and of other subjects indicated herein shall be thorough and efficient.

4.  Parent/guardians shall submit to the Assistant Superintendent an annual evaluation of the home instruction program to measure student academic progress. The evaluation measurers may include a report card, written evaluations, dated work samples, or similar evaluative tools. Annual testing or standardized testing, while not required by R.I. General Laws for home school, may also be used as a type of evaluation. If a parent/guardian selects state testing as an evaluative measurer, the District shall arrange for the testing.

II.  APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS

Parents/Guardians of a student who is to receive home instruction shall adhere to the following process:

A.  The  parent shall submit a written request to provide a program of home instruction to the Assistant Superintendent. New residents within the Chariho Regional School District need to provide proof of residency.

B.  The written request should be received approximately one month prior to the start of the school year in order to process the request in a timely fashion.

C.  A meeting is offered and scheduled between the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the Assistant Superintendent and related staff to offer assistance in drafting a written instructional and assessment plan and to provide a policy overview. Those Parent(s)/Guardian(s) who decline to attend the meeting shall still be expected to submit a written instructional and assessment plan.

D.  A finalized written instructional and assessment plan, conforming to state law, shall be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent for review.

E.  The Assistant Superintendent shall make a recommendation, based upon the instructional and assessment plan submitted, to the Superintendent, who shall make a recommendation to the School Committee.

F.  Home instruction is not considered approved until the School Committee votes and approves the application based on the Superintendent’s recommendation.

G.  The Assistant Superintendent, or designee, will annually invite Parents/Guardians approved to administer home instruction to a meeting to review student academic progress and the instructional plan for the upcoming school year. Parents/Guardians shall also provide a Statement of Attendance and Statement of Compliance for the current year. Student academic progress may include a report card, written evaluations, participation in local and state assessments, dated work samples, or similar evaluative tools. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) may choose to communicate this information and deliver these documents to the Assistant Superintendent, or designee, without attending a meeting.

H.  Failure to provide the materials/information delineated in paragraph G above may result in the recommendation that approval for home instruction be rescinded.

A.  Period of attendance. The number of days of instruction to be provided must be substantially equal to that required under Rhode Island law.

B.  Instructional plan, in compliance with state law, including a mutually agreeable plan to assess student academic progress.

IV.  At the high school level, any student who wishes to return to Chariho High School to complete graduation requirements will:

A. be assessed to determine the most appropriate course level and placement.
B.  not be included in class rank for honors.
C.  provide a transcript of courses, or other evidence of course completion, said courses to be evaluated against graduation requirements in place at the time the student was in 9th grade. Failure to provide evidence will result in no related credits being issued toward graduation.

V   The Chariho Regional School District seeks to be supportive of those engaged in home instruction programs. Parent/Guardian requests for support from the district may include, but are not limited to, the following:

A.  Student participation in local and state assessments.
B.  Borrowing textbooks currently used in the district.
C.  Student enrollment in a course or career and technical program is dependent upon the availability of space.
D.  Student participation in intramural and co-curricular activities.
E.  Student use of Media Center resources.

Any home school student participating in any of the above programs or activities shall adhere to all Chariho Regional School District policies and any other policies or regulations that apply to those students participating in that particular program or activity.

VI.  The following requirements must be met for those students wishing to participate in Rhode Island Interscholastic League activities:

A.  The Principal of the Middle School or High School must be provided with a copy of a listing of all academic grades earned for each quarter, signed by a parent(s)/guardian(s) or other individual approved to provide the home instruction. Grades must be provided to the principal no later than the end of each quarter, beginning with the quarter prior to the start of practice for any sport and continuing for each quarter during which the student participates in the sport. A portfolio of student work in support of earned grades must be available for review.

B.  The Principal of the Middle School or High School must be provided with a copy of a log of dates and times of school attendance during each quarter, signed by a parent or other principal provider of home instruction. Attendance statistics must be provided to the principal no later than the end of the quarter, beginning with the quarter prior to the start of practice for any sport and continuing for each quarter during which the student participates in the sport.

C.  All Chariho Regional School District eligibility requirements, along with those of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, must be met.

D.  Adhere to all Chariho Regional School District Policies and Rhode Island Interscholastic League Policies.

Please note: Where applicable, transportation is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.