CONTACT
britenj@d11.org
(719) 520-2216
Audubon Elem.
2400 E. Van Buren
Colo. Spgs. CO 80909
The Basics:
Basic
Homeschool facts
What must be submitted to the school district and to what office?
1. A Notice of Intent to Homeschool (NOI) must be submitted to a school district in the state of Colorado. However, if a student is "habitually truant" (has four unexcused absences in one month or ten unexcused absences in one year) at any time during the last six months that the child attended school before proposed enrollment in a homeschool program, that child may not be enrolled in the homeschool program unless the child's parents first submit a written description of the curricula to be used in the program along with written notification of establishment of the program. A homeschooling family may submit their NOI to any school district in the state of Colorado. Notifying the local school district of where families submit their notice is not required. The NOI may be filed at any time of the year but must be renewed on a yearly basis.
2.
Results
of testing or evaluation by a qualified person beginning in grade 3
and every other year thereafter is required. State
statute is very specific in that if a test is administered that it must be a
nationally standardized test.
CSAP does not fulfill the requirement of the statute.
State laws allow homeschoolers to participate in CSAP if they so choose.
Test or evaluation results may also be submitted to a private,
independent or parochial school provided the district where the family has filed
their NOI is notified of such location.
In District 11 NOI, curricula, and test/evaluation letters should be submitted
to the Homeschool Liaison’s office at 2400 E. Van Buren St., Colorado Springs
CO 80909
3. A written description of
curricula must be submitted for any student that has been habitually
truant at any time during the last six months prior to enrollment in a
homeschool program. A convenient,
optional form is available. Please
be aware of the criteria for submission of curricula.
Click here for
curriculum form
Who can teach?
Parent(s)/guardian, or adult relatives of the student/s.
No teacher certification is required to homeschool in the state of Colorado.
How many contact days or teaching
days a year?
172 days for an average of 4 hours a day.
What must be taught:
Communication skills of reading, writing, and speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and regular courses of instruction in the Constitution of the United States after grade 7.
Records must be kept by parents:
Parents are responsible for keeping their student’s records. Minimal records are to include attendance, immunization records, and test and evaluation results. Such records shall be produced to the school district that received the notification upon fourteen days' written notice if the superintendent of said school district has probable cause to believe that said program is not in compliance with the guidelines established by the Colorado Department of Education.
Reenrolling in public school
Homeschooled students who reenroll “…in the public
school system may be tested by the school district in which the child has
enrolled for the purpose of placing the child in the proper grade and shall then
be placed at the grade level deemed most appropriate by said school district,
with the consent of the child's parent or legal guardian. The school district
shall accept the transcripts for credit from the non-public home-based
educational program for any such child; except that the school district may
reject such transcripts if the school district administers testing to such child
and the testing does not verify the accuracy of such transcripts.”
Interscholastic sports and extracurricular activities:
Homeschoolers can participate in such activities on an equal basis, but are subject to the same rules and regulations as public school students. CHSAA has very specific rules for homeschoolers who wish to participate in varsity sports. Fees can be collected from a homeschooling family for such activities.
Where do families
find curricula?
School District 11 will
not provide curricula to parents. Parents
must bear the burden of locating and purchasing books, lesson plans, and other
educational materials for their
students. The homeschool liaison
can provide resources and information parents can use to locate materials.
Who does the
bi-yearly testing?
The parent or guardian in control of the home based
educational program has the responsibility to locate a private testing service
and arrange to have their student tested if they choose this option.
D11 no longer provides these services.
The homeschool liaison’s office can provide assistance in locating
testing but will not advocate one test over another.
When can I withdraw my child from public school?
After filing your NOI you
have 14 days to begin your homeschool program. You may withdraw your
student from school the same day you file your NOI unless your child is
habitually truant in which case you must provide written evidence of curricula
to be used. It is useful to use
the 14 days period talking with your student about expectations, planning, and
spending time with your child. A decompression period if you
will.
The Law and Homeschooling
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states in the United States, but state laws that apply to homeschooling vary widely from state to state. Please consult the internet for laws in other states.
Summary of Colorado Homeschool law
Courtesy of the Colorado Springs Homeschool Support Group
Useful documents:
Notice of Intent to Homeschool
Curriculum Form (for Truant, Expelled or Suspended students only)