Procedure 3114 - Home-based, Part-time, or Off-campus Students

Definition of Home-based Instruction 

A. The program must include planned instructional and related educational activities including the basic skill of: Occupational education, Science, Mathematics, Language, History, Health, Reading, Writing, Spelling, Social Studies, Development of an appreciation of art and music

B. The program must meet minimum hourly requirements for instruction: 

  • Grades 1, 2, 3: A total of 2700 over the 3-year period 
  • Grades 4, 5, 6: A total of 2970 hours over the 3-year period 
  • Grades 7, 8: A total of 1980 hours over the 2-year period 
  • Grades 9, 10, 11, 12: A total of 4320 hours over the 4-year period 

(In units sufficient for meeting state graduation requirements.)

C. The parents must be providing instruction for their own children only, and shall meet one the following conditions: 

1. The instruction is given by a parent who is supervised by a teacher with a valid Washington State teaching certificate. The supervision to consist of: 
a. Planning objectives with the parent. 
b. A minimum average of one contact hour per week by the certificated teacher for progress evaluation and supervision. 
or 2. The instruction is given by a parent who has either earned 45 college level credits (of the equivalent in semester hours) or has completed a course in home-based instruction at a post-secondary institution. 
or 3. The instruction is given by a parent who is deemed by the superintendent or designee to be qualified to give home-based instruction. 
 

Responsibilities of the Parents 

A. The parents will file annually a signed declaration of intent to provide his or her child home-based instruction. If a certificated teacher will be supervising the student, the teacher must also sign the declaration of intent form. 

B. The parents will ensure that test scores or annual academic progress assessments and immunization records, together with any other records that are kept which relate to the instructional and educational activities given, are forwarded to any public or private school to which the child transfers. 

C. The parents will ensure that a standardized achievement test, approved by the State Board of Education, is given annually to the child by a qualified person, or that an annual assessment of the student’s academic progress is written by a certificated person who is currently working as an educator. The standardized test given, or the annual academic progress assessment written, shall be made a part of the child’s permanent records. If, as a result of the annual test or assessment, it is determined that the child is not making reasonable progress consistent with his or her age or stage of development, the parent shall make a good faith effort to remedy any deficiency. 

D. The parents will provide textbooks, equipment, and other materials. 

Responsibilities of the District 

A. The district will provide ancillary services to students who would be otherwise eligible for full-time enrollment in the school district. Such services shall include, but no be limited to, the following: counseling, psychological services, remedial instruction, speech therapy, hearing therapy, health care services, tutorial services such as Home and Hospital Instruction, sports activities, Special Education, and the use of the school Library. The district will also give achievement testing if the student is at a grade level in which all students in the district are tested. 

1. The district shall not provide textbooks, equipment, and other materials. 
2. The district shall not provide certificated teachers to supervise home-based instructional programs. Parents may, at their own expense, hire a district teacher if the teacher is willing to perform the supervision. 
 

B. The district will permit students receiving home-based instruction to enroll on a part-time basis, provided they are otherwise eligible for full-time enrollment in the district. 

C. The district will determine placement of students transferring from home-based instruction to public schools. 

1. A standardized achievement test will be given by the district. The results of this test, along with the student’s progress reports, age, social and emotional maturity, and other appropriate information, will be considered when determining placement. 
2. All students entering the district for the first time must meet minimum entrance age requirements as described in the Richland School District policy 3111. 
 

D. The district will not accept course work from students currently living in the district, which is completed outside the jurisdiction of the school, for credit toward graduation, unless such course work has been approved in advance by the principal. (See policy 2410 – Graduation Requirements) 

E. The district will report cases of noncompliance to law enforcement officials.