7710

The State of Rhode Island provides requirements for the home instruction of students. The South Kingstown School Committee will approve home instruction that meets the requirements of Rhode Island law (Section 16-19-1, 16-19-2, 16-22-2; and 16-22-4 attached). In addition, the School Committee requires some type of evaluation component that will accommodate the preferences of parents for certain mechanisms for measurement which may take the form of a report card, written evaluations, dated work samples, or other means of evaluation. Annual testing or standardized testing is not required by Rhode Island General Law, but may be used as a type of evaluation component solely by choice of the parents.

1. The parent(s)or guardian(s) will submit written notification to the Superintendent of their intent to instruct their child or children at home on a yearly basis. This letter sha1lbe termed the "Letter of Intent" and shall confirm that all subjects required under Rhode Island General Laws will be taught. The Letter of Intent will reflect that the parent(s) or guardian(s) shall comply with applicable Rhode Island laws governing home schooling.

16-19-2 requires that "reading, writing, geography, arithmetic; history of the United States, history of Rhode Island, and principles of American government be taught in the English language substantially to the same extent as these subjects are required to be taught in the public Schools, and that the teaching be thorough and efficient." Sections 16-22-2 and 16-224, respectively, require instruction in State and federal government and health and physical education "substantially equivalent" to that required in the public Schools. School committees do not have legal authority to approve home instruction that do not meet these standards.

2. The parent(s) or guardian(s) may begin home instruction immediately after submittal of the Letter of Intent to home school to the Superintendent (or his/her designee).

3. The Superintendent (or his/her designee) will submit the Letter of Intent to the South Kingstown School Committee for approval. Within 30 days from the date the Letter of Intent is submitted to the Superintendent, the parent(s) or guardian(s) will receive a letter of acceptance or denial for their home instruction. If the School Committee denies parents the right to home School, the parents may appeal to the State Department of Education and have a right to a hearing (16-19-2).

4. The parent(s) or guardian(s) may request an informational meeting with the Superintendent (or his/her designee) to review the requirements of home instruction.

5. Attendance of students engaged in home instruction must be substantially equal to that required of students in the South Kingstown Public Schools (16-19-2). The parent(s) or guardian(s) shall maintain an attendance register, which shall be provided to the School Committee Upon request. The School Department will provide a standard attendance register logbook for the keeping of this information.

7. Upon written notification to the Superintendent's office, the district will provide Support to homeschoolers, including (but not limited to) the following: