Machine-extracted text of a publicly
posted document, provided for reference and search. The original document at
the link above is authoritative.
6000.1T
INSTRUCTION
HOME SCHOOLING POLICY
The Colchester Board of Education (the “Board”) considers that the most appropriate
educational setting for the majority of students is within a formal school structure.
Rights and Responsibilities of Parents/Guardians
Nonetheless, the Board acknowledges the right of parents and/or legal guardians to instruct
their children at home as an alternative to public schooling. The Board recognizes state law and
Connecticut State Board of Education policy and guidance relating to home instruction.
Accordingly, school-age children who are Colchester residents can be excused from the
statutory requirement to attend school if the child’s parent or guardian notifies the school
district that the child is receiving home instruction. Parents or guardians must file a Notice of
Intent form (Appendix A) annually with the Superintendent of Schools acknowledging that the
parent or guardian is taking full responsibility for the education of their child in accordance with
CT State Department of Education policy and guidelines. Upon receipt of such notification, the
Superintendent of Schools will send the parent an acknowledgment in writing of receipt of the
form.
Dual Enrollment Requests
Due to practical difficulties and concerns regarding equitable treatment of students, the Board
does not operate a hybrid home instruction/formal school program. As such, the Colchester
Public Schools shall not provide any educational services, including special education or related
services, to a child who is not enrolled in the Colchester Public Schools except for those services
required by law. Participation in Colchester Public School activities and programs including but
not limited to, athletic teams, extracurricular clubs and programs, is restricted to students
enrolled in the Colchester Public Schools. These programs and activities are not open to
non-students.
Placement of Home School Students Enrolling in Colchester Public Schools
The school principal, in consultation with the members of the school’s instructional team, will
make the decision about the students’ grade and/or course level placement based on the
student’s performance on district assessments and/or universal screening tools. The principal
will also review and consider any current standardized student assessment results provided by
the parent/guardian. The final decision for grade and/or course level placement will be made
by the school principal.
HOME SCHOOLING POLICY Page 1 of 4
Award of High School Credit for Home Instruction
1. Course credit: Normally, the Board will not grant Bacon Academy course credit for
courses taken in home instruction. The Superintendent is authorized to grant
exceptions to this general rule if all of the circumstances identified below are met. The
burden of proof will be on the part of the parent/guardian.
a. such exception is recommended by the Bacon Academy Principal, Director of
Guidance and the District’s Director of Teaching and Learning; and
b. the primary focus of the curriculum of eligible credits corresponds directly to
the subject matter of the specified course requirements; and
c. one of the following conditions is met:
i. the student has successfully completed online coursework from
an accredited institution in accordance with applicable Board
policy, or
ii. the student has successfully completed the coursework provided
through a home instruction program that is accredited by one of
the following regional accrediting agencies: New England
Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and
Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools,
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, or Western
Association of Schools and Colleges, or
iii. the student has achieved a passing grade on a subject areas
proficiency examination identified and approved by the State of
Connecticut Commissioner of Education.
Credits will only be awarded to students enrolled at Bacon Academy.
Award of Diploma
The Board will not award high school diplomas to students who are not enrolled students
at Bacon Academy.
Temporary Pandemic Accommodations
The Board recognizes the disruption of the normal operation of school and the delivery of
instruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board also recognizes that the disruption
may have influenced some families to determine it is in their student’s best educational interest
to be homeschooled rather than attend Colchester Public Schools, albeit even if for a
temporary period of time. To support all school-aged children who reside in Colchester the
Board will make available the following educational resources between the approval of this
policy and June 30, 2021 to an individual student in grades K-12. A family shall make a written
request for access to the resources, and agrees to abide by all District terms of use of resources.
HOME SCHOOLING POLICY Page 2 of 4
Access to, and associated data and profiles of, digital resources will end on June 30, 2021 if a
student does not re-enroll in Colchester Public Schools.
● DreamBox (grades K-2)
● Freckle Math (grade 3-5)
● Lexia (grades K-2)
● StemScopes (grades K-12)
No other resources, including devices, will be made available to home school students.
The Board reserves the right to suspend all access at any time prior to June 30, 2021.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-184 Duties of Parents
10-184a Special Education programs not required for children in
home or private schools
10-220 Duties of Boards of Education
TEMPORARY POLICY ADOPTED: January 12, 2021
COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut
HOME SCHOOLING POLICY Page 3 of 4
APPENDIX A
Colchester Public Schools
Notice of Intent
Instruction of Student at Home for School Year 2020-2021
Name of Student: ________________________________ Date of Birth: _________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name(s) ______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Home Telephone # _____________________Cell # ___________________
Current School: ___________________________________________Current Grade: ______
I acknowledge and accept full responsibility for the appropriate grade level education of my
child in accordance with the requirements of Connecticut State Law.
___________________________________________ _____________________________
Parent(s) signature Date
Please be reminded that in accordance with state law, this notification must be made on an
annual basis should you decide to continue the home school program in future school years.
I acknowledge receipt of this Notice of Intent to Home School your child for the 2020-2021
school year.
_______________________________________ _____________________________
Superintendent of Schools Date
HOME SCHOOLING POLICY Page 4 of 4