In lieu of regular school attendance in the School District of the City of St. Charles, a child may
be excused from compulsory school attendance if the child is provided with home schooling as
authorized by Missouri law. Any alleged violation of the compulsory education law shall be
referred to the prosecuting attorney of the county where the child legally resides.
Credit for home-taught course work may be accepted based on proof of student's progress,
evaluation of course syllabi, and proof of hours of instruction as compared to the Carnegie unit
and current school district standards. This evaluation process may take several weeks to complete.
The following administrative guidelines have been developed to assist in implementing policy
IGBI, Home Schooling:
I. General Requirements
As evidence that a child is receiving regular instruction at the home school, § 167.031,
RSMo., states that parents of a child shall maintain the following records:
A. A plan book, diary or other written record indicating subjects taught and activities
engaged in; and
B. A portfolio of samples of the child's academic work; and
C. A record of evaluations of the child's academic progress; and
D. Other written or credible evidence equivalent to the above.
In addition, according to law, parents shall offer at least 1,000 hours of instruction each
year, at least 600 hours of which will be in reading, language arts, mathematics, social
studies and science or academic courses that are related to the previously mentioned subject
areas and commensurate with the pupil's age and ability. At least 400 of the 600 hours
shall occur at the regular home school location.
II. High School Placement
If a student wishes to petition for credit for past work, the student must present his or her
portfolio, log, plan book and evaluations to the department coordinator of the respective
subject area for review and assessment. The guidance counselor will assist the student
with this process. If these materials do not satisfy the above criteria for completeness, the
coordinator (or designee) may administer oral and written examinations to determine if the
student has achieved a level of competency equal to that of students attending a similar
course of studies in the high school. This may be accomplished through a standardized test
or tests written by the subject area teacher that would normally be given at the end of a
grading period.
The department coordinator would make a recommendation to the building principal for
his or her determination of whether or not credit (and if so, the nature of the credit) should
be granted. The principal may confer with the appropriate assistant superintendent for
input. The building principal makes the final determination of whether credit will be
granted. This decision may be appealed to the superintendent with a final hearing before
the Board.
III. Elementary and Middle School Placement
If a student wishes to petition for credit for past work, the student must present his or her
portfolio, log, plan book and evaluations to the department or grade coordinator of the
respective subject matter for review and assessment. The guidance counselor will assist
the student with this process. If the student does not satisfy the portfolio/plan
book/evaluation record requirements: The student will be temporarily placed at an age
appropriate grade level for a period not to exceed 20 school days. The teacher(s) will test
and observe the child's academic, social and emotional compatibility skills at that grade
level and will make a written recommendation to the principal regarding permanent grade
placement.
The principal may confer with the appropriate assistant superintendent for input. The
building principal makes the determination of whether credit will be granted. This
decision may be appealed to the superintendent with a final hearing before the Board.
The School District of the City of St. Charles may offer voluntary annual achievement testing upon
request to assist home school parents/guardians in assessing home school students' progress.
These tests will be administered on the school site at a time designated by the building principal.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this
section for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures
and/or forms for related information.
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Adopted: 10/14/1993
Legal Refs: §§ 167.031, .042, 210.167, RSMo.
St. Charles School District, St. Charles, Missouri
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