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In accordance with Section 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia, any parent may elect to provide home instruction for his or her school-age child in lieu of school attendance. Changes in Section 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia will go into effect on 07/01/08, as noted at   http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+HB767ER and http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+HB1183ER

DEFINITION OF PARENT
For this purpose the Code of Virginia defines parent as a biological parent, adoptive parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child.

QUALIFICATION BY PARENT OR GUARDIAN (One of four required)

1. The parent or guardian holds a high school diploma.
2. The parent or guardian is a teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education.
3. The parent or guardian has enrolled the child in a correspondence course approved by the Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction.
4. The parent or guardian provides a program of study or curriculum that, in the judgment of the Division Superintendent, includes the standards of learning objectives adopted by the Virginia Board of Education for language arts or mathematics, or the parent provides evidence that he or she is able to provide an adequate education for the child.

ANNUAL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT

Documents (All):
1. A completed form: NOTIFICATION BY PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF INTENT TO PROVIDE HOME INSTRUCTION
2. Evidence of meeting one of the four qualifications described above.
3. Curriculum description to be followed during the school year.
4. Upon request by the Division Superintendent evidence of immunizations, medical contraindication certified by a licensed physician, or affidavit attesting that the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with religious tenets or practices.

Time:
1. By August 15 prior to the school year in which the child will receive home instruction.
2. A parent or guardian who moves into Fairfax County or who begins home instruction after the school year has begun, shall provide notification as soon as practicable and comply with all notification requirements within thirty days.

Location:
Home Instruction
Fairfax County School Administration Center
8115 Gatehouse Road, Suite 4700
Falls Church, VA 22042
Phone: 571-423-4460
Fax: 571-423-4447

Acknowledgement:
The information submitted is reviewed and a letter is sent to the parent or guardian indicating whether or not the notification documents comply with Section 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia. A copy of the acknowledgement letter is sent to the principal of the base school.

ANNUAL EVALUATION REQUIREMENT

Documents (Either):
1. Evidence that the child has attained a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement tests.
2. An evaluation or assessment that the Division Superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress.

Time:
By August 1 following the school year in which the child has received home instruction.

Location:
Home Instruction
Fairfax County School Administration Center
8115 Gatehouse Road, Suite 4700
Falls Church, VA 22042
Phone: 571-423-4460
Fax: 571-423-4447

Acknowledgement:
The information submitted is reviewed and a letter is sent to the parent indicating whether or not the evaluation complies with Section 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Probation/Denial:
If the parent or guardian does not provide satisfactory evidence of progress, the home instruction program for that child may be placed on probation for one year. The parent or guardian shall file evidence of ability to provide an adequate education and a remediation plan for the probationary year that indicates how the parent or guardian will address educational deficiency. If the remediation plan and evidence of ability are not accepted, or the required evidence of progress is not provided by August 1 following the probationary year, home instruction shall cease and the parent or guardian shall make other arrangements for the education of the child that comply with Section 22.1-254.

PART-TIME ENROLLMENT
High school-age students whose parents or guardians have complied with the Code of Virginia’s requirements to provide home instruction may enroll in courses through the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Adult and Community Education and/or through the FCPS Online Campus on a tuition-paying basis.

On a non-tuition paying basis, high school-age students whose parents or guardians have complied with the Code of Virginia’s requirements to provide home instruction may apply to enroll in up to two core courses (English, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language) per year, in the high school serving the student’s attendance area, on a space-available basis. Student transfer applications to another high school will not be considered unless a course is not offered at the school serving the student’s attendance area or unless there is no space available in the course in the school serving the student’s attendance area.

A completed and signed partial enrollment application and a completed and signed parent or guardian agreement form must be submitted between April 15 and June 1 for the following academic year to:

Coordinator of Student Registration
Fairfax County School Administration Center
8115 Gatehouse Road, Suite 4700
Falls Church, VA 22042
Phone: 571-423-4460
Fax: 571-423-4447

Final approval of applications for partial enrollment of home-instruction students will be given no later than August 31, provided parents or guardians comply with the requirement for notification and the requirement to provide evidence of academic achievement.

No home-instruction student will be admitted to a course after the third class meeting of that course.

Prior to admission, partially enrolled home-instruction students must fulfill all enrollment requirements as defined in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2101 (http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2101.pdf) and FCPS Regulation 2202.

Prerequisites for requested courses must be satisfied. Student registration staff will determine, with parental consultation, whether a student meets the prerequisite(s) for the requested course(s). Assessment testing may be required.

Partially enrolled home-instruction students are subject to all provisions of the current version of FCPS Student Responsibilities and Rights (http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2601.pdf) and all similar policies, regulations, and requirements pertaining to students, including grading policies.

Partially enrolled home-instruction students must comply with all requirements of the course(s) in which they are enrolled. Any student enrolled in a course with a corresponding Standards of Learning (SOL) end-of-course test, AP exam, or IB exam shall take that test or exam. In addition, partially enrolled home-instruction students may use SOL test results for math and language arts courses to demonstrate evidence of academic progress for the school year.

Partially enrolled home-instruction students are not eligible for participation in school-sponsored athletics, student organizations and clubs, or other co- or extracurricular activities and must limit their presence on campus to the times of their class(es), except when attending events open to the general public or when complying with a bona fide request made by a teacher or administrator.

FCPS does not provide transportation for partially enrolled home-instruction students.
Partially enrolled home-instruction students are not eligible to receive an FCPS diploma or to participate in commencement activities.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL FROM HOME INSTRUCTION
When an elementary or middle school student enters Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) from a home instruction program, the principal shall determine grade placement based on evidence of achievement provided by the parent or guardian. If further evidence is necessary, consultation with school staff or testing may be required.

A student requesting credit for high school courses taken in an approved home instruction program shall provide FCPS with a list of courses taken, the objectives for the courses, and evidence of achievement. The courses for which credit is desired must correspond to courses offered by FCPS. If the evidence of achievement is determined to be insufficient, the principal can require the student to take an examination in each grade or course for which he or she wishes to establish placement and/or credit. Any credit granted by FCPS for courses taken under home instruction shall be designated on the student's scholastic record as credit transferred from home instruction.

ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL-SPONSORED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (July 2000) requires each enrolled student in grades 1 through 12 to maintain a full-day schedule of classes.
Home instruction is a full-time alternative to school attendance. Except as noted above, home instructed students will not be permitted to enroll on a part-time basis or participate in academic or extracurricular activities, except as required by law.

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION
In accordance with Section 22.1-254.B.1 of the Code of Virginia, http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+22.1-254 the School Board shall excuse from attendance at school any pupil who, together with his or her parents or guardians, by reason of bona fide religious training or belief is conscientiously opposed to attendance at school. For purposes of this subdivision, "bona fide religious training or belief" does not include essentially political, sociological or philosophical views or a merely personal moral code.
Parents or guardians shall submit a written request to the School Board for exemption stating their religious beliefs, which are in conflict with public school attendance. Older children (14 years or older) should provide their own individual statements of their religious beliefs that conflict with school attendance. Parents or guardians should provide letters of support from their religious leader and/or persons who can vouch for the authenticity of their beliefs.

Parents or guardians requesting religious exemption should send their letter and supporting documents by August 15 to:

Home Instruction
Fairfax County School Administration Center
8115 Gatehouse Road, Suite 4700
Falls Church, VA 22042
Phone: 571-423-4460
Fax: 571-423-4447

Any parent or guardian who moves into Fairfax County after the school year has begun shall submit their letter of request and supporting documents as soon as practicable.

The Home Instruction Office shall forward the requests quarterly to the School Board for consideration at their regular meetings. The School Board Office sends the letter of approval for religious exemption to the parents or guardians.

Once granted, the exemption applies for future years, although parents should notify the School Board in writing, referencing their religious exemption status, as younger children come of compulsory school attendance age.


FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING HOME INSTRUCTION OR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION, CALL 571-423-4470.

Forms and Additional Information Related to Home Instruction:

Link to the current version of FCPS Regulation 2245

Notification by Parent or Guardian of Intent to Provide Home Instruction form (PDF document*)

Part-Time Enrollment Application form (PDF document*)

Parent or Guardian Agreement (PDF document*)

Link to English and Math SOLs

Link to Correspondence Schools Approved for Home Instruction by Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Click here for the Compulsory Attendance and Home Instruction Related Statutes (PDF document*).

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