Administrative Procedure

AP-815 — Home Education

Section Eight: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

Effective Date: August 29, 2017 Last Reviewed: February 28, 2022

Background

Grasslands School division recognizes that, as a publicly elected school board, it has the responsibility to serve all students whose parents reside within the board's boundaries, including those students whose parents choose a home education program. If the parents choose Grasslands as the authority with whom they wish to associate, Grasslands will agree to do so providing that the home education program chosen and/or designed by the parents is one that will enable a student to participate fully in the Alberta economy and community.

If requested by neighbouring school divisions, Grasslands would consider acting as the school authority with whom non-resident parents associate if proximity and resources would allow appropriate supervision and support.

Expectations

Parental Responsibilities

Each Alberta child who is six years of age but younger than 16 on September 1 must attend school. Before proceeding with a home education program, a parent must notify an associate school board or associate private school. Parents choosing home education have the primary responsibility for planning, managing, providing, evaluating, and supervising their children's courses of study.

School Authority (Grasslands) Responsibilities

For resident parents with whom Grasslands has entered into a home education agreement, the division will offer assistance and will participate in evaluation of the program and assessment of student progress. Together with the parents, Grasslands School Division will ensure that the child meets the parents' educational goals in accordance with the Home Education Regulation.

Definitions

1. A blended program in Grasslands is an education program that consists of two distinct parts:

   • Part 1: a school-provided program where a Grasslands teacher is responsible for providing the planning, resource selection, instructional delivery, assessment and evaluation of student progress in selected courses that follow the Alberta programs of study.
   • Part 2: a home education program that meets the requirements of the Home Education Regulation.

   In order to be funded as a blended program, in grades 1 to 9, the courses must amount to at least 50% of the student's program. In grades 10 to 12, the courses must amount to at least 20% of the student's program.

   • Funding provided must be used only for programs of study, instructional materials or other resources related to the home education program.

2. Home education or homeschooling, occurs when the parent(s) retain(s) responsibility for educating the child in all courses.

Procedures

1. For each school year that a parent/guardian residing in Grasslands intends to provide a home education program, the Grasslands School Division "Intent to Home Education" form (Appendix A) must be completed.

2. Non-resident parents from a neighbouring school division that has requested that Grasslands act as the school authority with whom the parents associate, must complete the Grasslands School Division "Request to Home Education" form (Appendix B).

3. Parents who reside within Grasslands boundaries and wish to associate with Grasslands will be encouraged to co-create, with division personnel, a blended program. This option allows the school authority to work closely with parents in order to ensure that there is good communication and a clearly understood agreement regarding the student's access to resources for curricular programs and ability to participate in extra-curricular programs. The written agreement will clearly identify the percentage of the program that is school provided.

4. Grasslands will act as the school authority with whom parents associate for home education if the resident parents have chosen to use Alberta curriculum, or a parent-designed or parent-purchased program that the superintendent or designate has determined satisfies the following learning outcomes:

   (a) A basic education must provide students with a solid core program including language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

   (b) Students are expected to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will prepare them for life after high school. A basic education will allow students to

1. read for information, understanding and enjoyment,
2. write and speak clearly, accurately and appropriately for the context,
3. use mathematics to solve problems in business, science and daily life situations,
4. understand the physical world, ecology and the diversity of life,
5. understand the scientific method, the nature of science and technology and their application to daily life,
6. know the history and geography of Canada and have a general understanding of world history and geography,
7. understand Canada's political, social and economic systems within a global context.
8. respect the cultural diversity, the religious diversity and the common values of Canada,
9. demonstrate desirable personal characteristics such as respect, responsibility, fairness, honesty, caring, loyalty and commitment to democratic ideals,
10. recognize the importance of personal well-being and appreciate how family and others contribute to that well-being,
11. know the basic requirements of an active, healthful lifestyle,
12. understand and appreciate literature, the arts and the creative process,
13. research an issue thoroughly and evaluate the credibility and reliability of information sources,
14. demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in problem solving and decision making,
15. demonstrate competence in using information technologies,
16. know how to work independently and as part of a team,
17. manage time and other resources needed to complete a task,
18. demonstrate initiative, leadership, flexibility and persistence,
19. evaluate their own endeavours and continually strive to improve, and
20. have the desire and realize the need for life-long learning.

5. Requests from non-resident parents from neighbouring divisions that have requested that Grasslands act as the associate school authority, will be subject to the same expectations as outlined in 4. above.
6. When Grasslands has agreed to act as the school authority with whom parents associate to offer home education, a written agreement will specify the program to be followed, the assessment plan (including Alberta provincial examinations or Grasslands common assessment instruments at the appropriate grade level), the supervisory role of Grasslands personnel, and the funding as per Alberta Education regulations.
7. Home education students involved in a blended program will be assigned to a division school. That assignment will specify access to resources and eligibility to participate in extra-curricular programs. The school principal shall make the necessary facilitation arrangements.
8. Monitoring and assessment of students in the home education portion of blended programs shall be provided by the assigned school as required to ensure that student progress is satisfactory but shall, at a minimum, involve at least two visits to the home to meet with the parent(s) and student to examine student work in the portfolio for the home-delivered courses and discuss the program. The school-provided portion shall be delivered as any other courses within the division are delivered.
9. For those home education students whose parents have signed agreements with Grasslands for wholly-home delivered programs, the supervision and monitoring will be done either by a teacher from a nearby school or a teacher assigned from central office as per the agreement. 8. above will apply for all courses.
10. Termination
    1. A parent may terminate a home education program by
       1. providing notice of the termination in writing to Grasslands and,
       2. enrolling the student in a school operated by a board or private school.
    2. Termination by Grasslands

The superintendent may terminate a home education program if:

1. The superintendent determines that the student is not making reasonable progress in the activities selected by the parent or in achieving the ultimate goal identified in the program plan created by the parent.
2. The parent providing the home education program has not met the requirements of the Home Education Regulation.
3. If the superintendent terminates a home education program, the notice must be in writing, must contain reasons for the termination, and must inform the parent of the parent's right in Education Act to ask the Minister to review the decision to terminate the home education program.
4. A termination under subsection due to the student not making reasonable progress must be made in consultation with the parent, and must give due consideration to the age, grade level and abilities of the student, and the evaluations of the progress of the student.

11. Funding – The amount of funding provided to the parent will be as per Home Education Regulation and will be dependent on the services necessary for the supervision of the individual student.
12. Summary of Responsibilities – see Appendix B

Appendix A – Home Education Notification/Renotification Form

GRASSLANDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HOME EDUCATION NOTIFICATION/RENOTIFICATION FORM

The personal information collected on this form is collected pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and the Home Education Regulation, and pursuant to the provisions of the Personal Information Protection Act for the purposes of:

1. notifying Grasslands Public Schools that a parent wishes to educate a student in a home education program,
2. verifying that a student is eligible for a home education program,
3. and for providing further particulars on the home education program in which the student will be participating so that Grasslands can supervise the program to ensure compliance with the Education Act. This information will be treated in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection Act.

PART A: STUDENT INFORMATION

School Division in Which Student Resides (if different than Grasslands School Division): ________________________

(Grasslands will consider the application ONLY with the agreement of the resident division)

Legal Surname ______________________ Legal Given Name(s) ______________________

Birthdate (mm/dd/yyyy) ________________ Registration Date (mm/dd/yy) ________________

Alternate Surname ______________________ Alternate Given Name(s) ______________________

Parent/Guardian Name(s)

(first name) ____________ (last name) ____________ Home Phone (____)____-_____ Cell Phone (____)____-_____

Email address: __________________________________________________

Relationship to student: ○ mother ○ father ○ guardian

(first name) ____________ (last name) ____________ Home Phone (____)____-_____ Cell Phone (____)____-_____

Email address: __________________________________________________

Relationship to student: ○ mother ○ father ○ guardian

Address: __________________________________________________

Student Address (if different from parent/guardian): ____________________________

Student phone number (if different from parent/guardian: (____)____-_____ Home Phone (____)____-_____ Cell Phone

Alberta Education ID (to be provided by school): ____________________________

Address of Home Education Program (if different from residence): ____________________________

Citizenship of Student (check one)

○ Canadian Citizen

○ Temporary Resident

○ Lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residency (student)

○ Child of a Canadian Citizen

○ Child of an individual lawfully admitted to Canada for pernanent or temporary residency

○ Refugee Code: ______________________

○ Stepchild of a Canadian or Temporary Foreign Worker

Type of Visa, Citizenship document and expiration date: ____________________________

Estimated Grade Level of Student: ____________

Education program and name of school or associate board for the previous school year: ________________

Is assistance required in preparing the home education program? (Circle one) YES NO

If you wish to declare Aboriginal Status please specify (Check):

○ Status Indian/First Nations ○ Non-Status Indian/First Nations ○ Metis ○ Inuit

Alberta Education is collecting this personal information pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act as the information relates directly to and is necessary to meet its mandate and responsibilities to measure system effectiveness over time and develop policies, programs and services to improve Aboriginal learner success. Alberta school boards are also collecting this information pursuant to the same section in conjunction with the Student Record Regulation and for the same purposes.

PART B DECLERATION BY PARENT

I/We, ______________________________________, the parent(s) of ____________________________ the student, declare to the best of my/our knowledge that the home education program and the activities selected for the home education program will enable the student:

1. to achieve the outcomes contained in the Alberta Programs of Study.
2. to achieve the outcomes contained in the Schedule included in the Home Education Regulation.

In addition, I/We understand and agree that the instruction and evaluation of my/our child's progress is my/our responsibility and that Grasslands Public Schools will supervise my/our child's progress in accordance with the Home Education Regulation.

I/We understand and agree that the development, administration and management of the home education program is our responsibility.

If we have chosen a curriculum other than Alberta curriculum and the superintendent has approved it, we understand that:

1. Students may not apply to a high school principal for high school credits.

2. Students may not receive an Alberta High School Diploma.

3. A final course mark in a diploma course requires both a school awarded mark and a diploma examination mark.

_____________________________ ________________________ Supervising Parent/Guardian Date (mm/dd/yyyy)

PART C GRASSLANDS NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE

This agreement is

○ accepted

○ is not accepted

by Grasslands Public Schools.

_____________________________ ________________________ Signature of Superintendent Date (mm/dd/yyyy)

PART D REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOME EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR COMPONENTS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDY

If portions of the student program will enable the student to achieve the outcomes contained in the Schedule included in the Home Education Regulation, please attach according to this Form the required written description of the Home Education Program for a student who is following the Schedule of Learning Outcomes for Students Receiving Home Education Programs That Do Not Follow the Alberta Programs of Study:

1. Describe in the home education program plan, the instructional method to be used, the activities planned for the program and how the instructional method and the activities will enable the student to achieve the learning outcomes contained in the Schedule.

2. Identify the resource materials, if different from provincially authorized materials, to be used for instruction

3. Describe the methods and nature of the evaluat and how the evaluation addresses the learning outcomes.

4. Describe the Grasslands school facilities and services that the parent wishes to use.

Appendix B – Alberta Home Education Programs – Rights and Responsibilities

Alberta Home Education Programs Rights and Responsibilities

In this chart, associate refers to the associate school board or the associate private school.

The Student - Responsible for meeting learning goals.

From: Home Education Handbook – Alberta Education, 2010.