Hi Are home schoolers assessed? I know students that are on home
instruction, but not sure about home schoolers..please advise.
Thanks.
Teresa and Janet,
I received your questions regarding our current policy for home
schooled students
I am also including students on home instruction, just so you can see
the difference.
These two are often confused. The topics of Home Schooled and Home
Instruction
are two different things. Therefore, I would like to define the two
items and explain
how they each relate to assessment.
Regarding Home Instruction:
Home instruction comes from section 200 of the Regulations of the
Commissioner of Education.
In section 200.6 (i) regarding Home and Hospital Instruction, this is a
service that is recommended by
the Committee on Special Education (CSE), which can involve instruction
and/or related services
as determined by the CSE in consideration of the student's unique
needs. This must be provided
in a minimum of five hours per week at the elementary level, preferably
one hour daily or
a minimum of 10 hours per week at the secondary level, preferably two
hours daily.
This is for a student with a disability, who has an Individualized
Instruction Program (IEP). On that
IEP, the CSE designates how that student will be assessed and the
IEP states regular assessments or
the State's alternate assessment (NYSAA).
Regarding Home Schooling:
Home schooling comes from section 100 of the Regulations of the
Commissioner of Education.
In section 100.10, home instruction is where the parent(s) provide
instruction to their child.
The parent develops a plan and has it approved by the school district
of residence. That plan,
called an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP) has to state how
The student will be assessed.
The IHIP could state "Alternate Assessment". The annual testing
requirements in regulation for
Home Schooling are on the Department's web site at:
see Part 100.10(h)
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/part100/pages/10010.html
Regarding Home Schooling, there is no requirement that a student who is
being home schooled
pursuant to section 100.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of
Education participate in NYSAA.
If a parent makes a request, school officials are encouraged to make
arrangements for the student
receiving home schooling to participate in NYSAA. NYSAA could be used
as the alternate evaluation
method for annual assessment pursuant to section 100.10(h). Student
results are reported but are not
included in the School Report Card or NCLB accountability data.
You may have the school district contact me at the Department, if
they have further questions.
My contact information is provided below.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Cynthia J. Wilson
NYS Education Dept. -
Office of Special Education
One Commerce Plaza, Rm. 1624
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
cwilson@mail.nysed.gov
Tel. (518) 474-7566
Fax (518) 473-5387
