Policy 611 - Home Schooling
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to recognize and provide guidelines in accordance with state law for parents who wish to have their children receive education in a home school that is an alternative to an accredited public or private school.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
The Compulsory Attendance Law (Minnesota Statutes section 120A.22) provides that the parent or guardian of a child is primarily responsible for assuring that the child acquires knowledge and skills that are essential for effective citizenship.
III. CONDITIONS FOR HOMESCHOOLING
The person in charge of a home school and the school district must provide instruction and meet the requirements specified in Minnesota Statutes section 120A.22.
IV. IMMUNIZATION
The parent or guardian of a home-schooled child shall submit statements as required by Minnesota Statutes section 121A.15, Subds. 1, 2, 3 4, and 4, 12, on the appropriate Minnesota Department of Education form, to the superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by October 1 of the first year of homeschooling in Minnesota and the grade 7 year. (Minnesota Statutes section 121A.15, Subd. 8)
V. TEXTBOOKS, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL, STANDARD TESTS
Upon formal request as required by law, the school district will provide textbooks (including a teacher’s edition, guide, or other materials that accompany a textbook when the edition, guide, or other materials are packaged physically or electronically with textbooks for student use), individualized instructional materials (including teacher materials that accompany pupil materials) and standardized tests and loan or provide them for use by a home-schooled child as provided under state law. The school district is not required to expend any amount for this purpose that exceeds the amount it receives pursuant to state law for this purpose. If curriculum has both physical and electronic components, the school district will, at the request of the student or the student’s parent or guardian, make the electronic component accessible to a resident student provided that the school district does not incur more than an incidental cost as a result of providing access electronically.
VI. PUPIL SUPPORT SERVICES
Upon formal request as required by law, the school district will provide pupil support services in the form of health services and counseling and guidance services to a home-schooled child as provided under state law. The school district is not required to expend an amount for any of these purposes that exceeds the amount it receives pursuant to state law for any of these purposes.
VII. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Resident pupils who receive instruction in a home school (where five or fewer students receive instruction) may fully participate in extracurricular activities of the school district on the same basis as other public school students.
VIII. SHARED TIME PROGRAMS
Enrollment in class offerings of the school district.
- A home-schooled child who is a resident of the school district may enroll in classes in the school district as a shared time pupil on the same basis as other nonpublic school students. The provisions of this policy shall not be determinative of whether the school district allows the enrollment of any pupils on a shared-time basis.
- The school district may limit enrollment of shared-time pupils in such classes based on the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school building. The school board and administration retain sole discretion and control over scheduling of all classes and assignment of shared time pupils to classes.
IX. OPTIONAL COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
- Activities
- Minnesota State High School League sponsored activities (where six or more students receive instruction in the home school or the home school students are not residents of the school district). A home school which is a member of the Minnesota State High School League may request that the school district enter into a cooperative sponsorship arrangement as provided in Minnesota State High School League bylaws. The approval of such an arrangement shall be at the discretion of the school board.
- The home school must become a member of the Minnesota State High School League in accordance with the rules of the Minnesota State High School League.
- The home school is solely responsible for any costs or fees associated with its application for and/or subsequent membership in the Minnesota State High School League.
- The home school is responsible for any and all costs associated with its participation in a cooperative sponsorship arrangement as well as any school district activity fees associated with the Minnesota State High School League activity.
- Non-Minnesota State High School League activities where six or more students receive instruction in the home school.
A home-schooled child may participate in non-Minnesota State High School League activities offered by the school district upon application and approval from the school board to participate in the activity and the payment of any activity fees associated with the activity. However home school students may not be charged higher activity fees than other public school students. An approval shall be granted at the discretion of the school board.
- Minnesota State High School League sponsored activities (where six or more students receive instruction in the home school or the home school students are not residents of the school district). A home school which is a member of the Minnesota State High School League may request that the school district enter into a cooperative sponsorship arrangement as provided in Minnesota State High School League bylaws. The approval of such an arrangement shall be at the discretion of the school board.
- Transportation Services
- The school district may provide nonpublic non-regular transportation services to a home-schooled child.
- The school board of the school district retains sole discretion and control and management of scheduling routes, establishment of the location of bus stops, manner and method of transportation, control and discipline of school children, and any other matter relating to the provision of transportation services.
Legal References:
- Minn. Stat. § 124D.03 (Enrollment Options Program)
- Minn. Stat. § 120A.22 (Compulsory Instruction)
- Minn. Stat. § 120A.24 (Reporting)
- Minn. Stat. § 120A.26 (Enforcement and Prosecution)
- Minn. Stat. § 123B.49 (Extracurricular Activities)
- Minn. Stat. § 121A.15 (Health Standards; Immunizations; School Children)
- Minn. Stat. § 123B.36 (Authorized Fees)
- Minn. Stat. § 123B.41 (Definitions)
- Minn. Stat. § 123B.42 (Textbooks, Individual Instruction or Cooperative Learning Material, Standard Tests)
- Minn. Stat. § 123B.44 (Provision of Pupil Support Services)
- Minn. Stat. § 123B.86 (Equal Treatment - Transportation)
- Minn. Stat. § 123B.92 (Transportation Aid Entitlement)
- Minn. Rules Ch. 3540 (Nonpublic Schools)
Cross References:
- Princeton Public Schools Policy 509 (Enrollment of Nonresident Students)
- Princeton Public Schools Policy 510 (School Activities)
Adopted: July 20, 1993
Revised: January 11, 2000
Revised: January 9, 2001
Revised: March 13, 2007
Revised: July 17, 2012
Revised: October 20, 2015
Reviewed: January 17, 2017
Revised: May 19, 2020
Reviewed: November 17, 2020
Revised: June 20, 2023