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Procedures for Parents

General Expectations

For Parents Selecting Option 4b - Correspondence courses under the supervision of a nonpublic entity.

1. Read and comply with the regulations regarding home instruction (COMAR 13A.10.01).
2. Complete and return the Assurance of Consent form (yellow) to the office indicated at least 15 days prior to beginning home instruction.
3. Notify the office annually if you intend to continue home instruction with no change in status.
4. Provide written notification to the office of any changes in status (see below).

For Parents Selecting Option 4a - Home instruction under the supervision of The Howard County Public School System.

1. Read and comply with the regulations regarding home instruction (COMAR 13A.10.01).
2. Complete and return the Assurance of Consent form (yellow) to the office indicated at least 15 days prior to beginning home instruction.
3. Notify the office annually if you intend to continue home instruction with no change in status.
4. Provide written notification to the office of any changes in status (see below).
5. Attend review meetings (see below).
6. Complete an Educational Program form for each child being home instructed.
7. Maintain a portfolio for each child being home instructed (a handout entitled Preparing the Portfolio is enclosed in the mailed packet).

Review Meetings for Families Selecting Option 4A

We instituted a new review procedure in 1999-2000. We will have one group of knowledgeable and enthusiastic educators hired specifically to conduct portfolio reviews. All reviews will be held at the same site and during the same week each semester. All reviews will be scheduled through Maura Hudson.

We will need your help to make this process work. We are giving everyone a great deal of advance notice so that they can schedule appointments and reserve this very important time. While we recognize that we may have to accommodate a few families for whom our selected time frame represents a hardship, it is very important for this process to work that everyone honor appointments unless there is a true emergency which requires rescheduling.

In addition to the student(s) portfolios, please bring the Portfolio Review Form (enclosed in the mailed packet). A separate form will be completed for each semester review. The new form provides a checklist of items that might be included as documentation for each area, intended as a useful reminder tool for both parents and reviewers. It is not necessary to have every type of documentation for each content area in order to have a successful. If you have any questions or concerns about the new form, please contact the office.

Written Notification

Written notification to the office is required under the following circumstances:

• Additional children in the family are to be home instructed.
• A student withdraws from home instruction to enroll in a public or nonpublic school, either for the completion of the current school year or the beginning of the next school year.
• A student completes the year of high school graduation or reaches age 16 and withdraws from home instruction.
• The parent/guardian wishes to change from option 4a to 4b or from 4b to 4a on the Assurance of Consent form. This requires the completion of a new form.
• The parent/guardian wishes to change umbrella groups. This requires the completion of a new form.
• The family wishes to change its decision regarding participation in standardized testing.
• The family no longer resides in Howard County.

Please call or write the office if there is any change in address within Howard County to ensure communication and also to maintain accurate records at the assigned Howard County school.