Policy Manual

E-100.6-AR: Programming for Students - Home Education Program

References:

• E-100
• Education Act, S 20
• Home Education Regulation 89/2019
  
  

1. Definitions
   1. Home education program means that portion of an education program delivered by a parent/guardian to a student in accordance with the Alberta Regulation 89/2019.
   2. Supervised home education program means a type of home education program that is under the supervision of an associate board or associate private school.

Establishment of Home Education Programs

1. Parents who wish to provide a home education program for their child shall notify the deputy superintendent - program and planning and complete the Home Education Notification Form (Appendix A).
2. St. Albert Public Schools, as an associate board, will upon receipt of a Home Education Notification Form 
   1. will complete its portion of the form, and
   2. will notify the parent in within 15 school days after receiving the notice, of its decision with respect to supervising or continuing to supervise the home education program.

Home Education Programs

1. A parent who intends to provide a home education program must develop the program. 
2. A home education program must enable a student to achieve applicable outcomes. 
3. Each year a parent who intends to provide a home education program must select activities to be focused on in the year that will enable the student to achieve the applicable outcomes. 
4. A home education program may follow the Alberta Programs of Study.
5. Where a supervised home education program does not follow the Alberta Programs of Study 
   1. the parent providing the program must certify that the activities selected by the parent for the year that will enable the student to achieve the applicable outcomes, and
   2. the parent must provide to St. Albert Public Schools, a description of the program that includes:
      1. a list of the activities selected by the parent under subsection (3) and an explanation as to how those activities will enable the student to achieve the applicable outcomes;  
      2. the instructional methods and resources to be used; 
      3. the means of conducting evaluations of the student’s progress, and  
      4. the name of the person instructing the home education program, if not the parent.
   3. St. Albert Public Schools as the supervisor of the program must accept the program, including the selection of activities.

Evaluation of Student Progress 

Parent Responsibilities

1. Parents who provide a home education program to a student
   1. must conduct an evaluation of the progress of the student at regular intervals and maintain a record of methods and dates of those evaluations;
   2. maintain a portfolio of student work (dated work samples) and a general record of student activities;  
   3. maintain a record of the methods and times of assessment used by the parent and the levels of performance by the student in those assessments;
   4. must be available for a regular review of the student’s achievement at a time and place mutually agreed upon by both parties; and 
   5. must ensure that the student is available so St. Albert Public Schools may conduct an evaluation of the progress of the student achievement at a time and place mutually agreed upon by both parties.  

St. Albert Public Schools’ Responsibilities 

1. St. Albert Public Schools, as an associate board supervising a home education program 
   1. must ensure that a student is given the opportunity to write at the time designated by the Minister and under the supervision of St. Albert Public Schools, the applicable provincial assessments (e.g. Provincial achievement tests);
   2. must arrange for St. Albert Public Schools’ teachers employed to conduct at least two evaluations of the progress of the student in each school year;
   3. must record in the student’s record the results of the provincial assessments (Section 10.1) and of the evaluations (Section 10.2);
   4. must advise the student’s parent as to the progress of the student;
   5. must make recommendations to the student’s parent on any matter that may assist the student in attaining a higher level of achievement, where necessary;
   6. facilitate student learning by offering assistance and advice to parents providing supervised home education programs;
   7. assign teachers to home education who are supportive of parents who are providing supervised home education programs and of students in the programs;
   8. advise parents providing supervised home education programs of the services and resources of the associate board or associate private school that are available for use by the parents and students; and
   9. provide for and maintain student records and advise parents providing supervised home education programs that they may view those records and advise of any student record entries.

Funding for supervised home education programs 

1. St. Albert Public Schools, as an associate board, supervising a home education program will offer not less than 50% of the supervised home education program funding to the parents who are providing home education programs to students.
2. Only students enrolled in a home education program by September 30 are eligible for home education reimbursements.
3. If a parent who is providing a supervised home education program chooses to use distance learning materials, St. Albert Public Schools is entitled to use the portion attributed to the parent under Section 7 to pay for those materials.
4. A parent who receives funding must
   1. use the funding only to defray the costs incurred by the parent for programs of study, instructional materials or other resources related to the home education program, and;
   2. provide St. Albert Public Schools with receipts showing how the funding was spent
5. Reimbursements will only be processed following the submission of receipts for approved materials. 
6. A parent who receives funding under Section 7 must not use the funding
   1. as a form of personal remuneration; or 
   2. to pay for travel costs or other expenses usually required to be paid by a parent of a student who is enrolled in a school operated by a board or in a private school.
7. A parent may decline all or part of any funding offered by St. Albert Public Schools as outlined in Section 7.
8. Materials purchased that can be reused for other students must be returned to the division if no longer needed by the student and requested by the division.
9. The remainder of home education funding shall be allocated for staffing, professional development, supplies and services to administer the program as well a reasonable percentage to cover division office administrative and instructional support.

Termination of supervised home education program

1. During the school year, St. Albert Public Schools, as the supervising associate board, may terminate the home education program by notice to the parent if
   1. St. Albert Public Schools determines that the student is not making reasonable progress in the activities selected by the parent or in achieving the applicable outcomes;
   2. the parent providing the supervised home education program has not met the requirements outlined in this regulation;
   3. a notice is made in writing outlining the reasons for the termination.
2. A termination of a home education program must
   1. be made in consultation with the parent; and
   2. give due consideration to:
      1. the age, grade level and abilities of the student, and  
      2. the evaluations of the progress of the student conducted by St. Albert Public Schools and the parent.
3. A parent/guardian may terminate a home education program by providing written notice to the supervisor, student services and by enrolling the student in a school operated by a board or a private school.
4. When a student whose home education program was terminated is a resident student of the division, the superintendent (or designate) shall determine the   appropriate placement of the student for grade or subject level purposes and may request a formal assessment of the student to do so.