1. PHILOSOPHY
   The Weber School District (hereinafter referred to as “WSD” and “District”) recognizes and acknowledges the value of education in a variety of settings, including public school and home school.  Under Utah’s compulsory education laws, parents and legal guardians are required to enroll their children in school unless an exemption is granted for a student to receive a home school education.  The law outlines specific exemptions that may be granted by the Weber School District Board (hereinafter referred to as “Board”), for a student who will attend a home school (Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-204).
   
   
2. POLICY
   Weber School District complies with the state’s compulsory education laws and requirements but honors the exemptions outlined in state law, including home-school exemptions.  This policy sets forth the requirements and procedures for home-school exemptions from compulsory education, and allowances for dual enrollment between homeschool and public school.
   
   
3.  DEFINITIONS
   1. "Co-curricular activity" means a District or school activity, course, or experience, outside of school hours, that also includes a required regular school day component.
   2. “Dual enrollment student” means a student who is enrolled simultaneously in:
      1. a private school or home school; and 
      2. a public school.
   3. "Eligibility" means a student’s fitness and availability to participate in a school course, activity, or program governed by this rule that is determined by a number of factors, including:
      1. residency;
      2. scholarship;
      3. age; and
      4. the number of semesters of participation in a particular course, activity, or program. 
   4. “Home school” means a school, a micro-school, other than a private school, comprised of one or more students officially excused from compulsory public school attendance under this policy and Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-204.
   5. "Parent" includes a custodial parent of the minor; a legally appointed guardian of a minor; or any other person purporting to exercise any authority over the minor which could be exercised by a person described in Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-201.
   6. “Private school” means a school satisfying the following criteria:
      1. Maintained by a private individual or corporation;
      2. Maintained and operated not at public expense;
      3. Generally supported, in part at least, by tuition or fee charges;
      4. Operated as a substitute for, and giving the equivalent of, instruction required in public schools;
      5. Employing teachers able to provide the same quality of education as public school teachers;
      6. Established to operate indefinitely and independently, not dependent upon the age of the students available or upon individual family situations; and
      7. Licensed as a business by the Utah Department of Commerce.
   7. "Minor student” or “Student” means a person who is at least six (6) years old, but younger than eighteen (18) years old, and is not emancipated according to Utah law.
      
      
4. HOME SCHOOL EXEMPTION FROM COMPULSORY EDUCATION
   1. The Board will excuse a student from attendance if the student’s parents produce a signed letter of intent with the District, as described in Section V below.
   2. The parent of a minor student who attends a home school is solely responsible for:
      1. the selection of instructional materials and textbooks;
      2. the time, place, and method of instruction; and
      3. the evaluation of the home school instruction.
   3. The District may not:
      1. require a parent of a minor student who attends a home school to maintain records of instruction or attendance;
      2. require credentials for individuals providing home school instruction;
      3. inspect home school facilities; or
      4. require standardized or other testing of home school students.
         
         
5. NOTIFICATION TO HOME SCHOOL
   1. As required by law, parents who withdraw an enrolled school-age child for the purpose of homeschooling or who choose not to enroll a school-age child  are required to provide a one time initial notification to  the District which may include a letter of intent. The notification or letter of intent shall contain the following information:
      1. The parent's name, address, and telephone number;
      2. The student name(s), birth date(s), and grade level(s);
      3. Assurance that the parent assumes sole responsibility for the education of the minor student, except to the extent the minor student is dual enrolled under Section VIII of this policy; and
      4. A statement that the student(s) will attend a home school.
   2. A signed notification or letter of intent shall remain in effect as long as the minor student attends a home school and remains a resident of the District.
   3. Parents who wish to homeschool their minor student but also enroll the student in one or more District activities, subjects, courses, or classes under the dual enrollment program outlined in Section VIII below must indicate on the Notice the specific courses or activities for which enrollment is sought.  The Notice must state names of activities or courses rather than days of the week or times of day.
      
      
6. ISSUANCE OF EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES
   1. For a Homeschool Exemption under Section IV.A., the following procedures apply.
      1. Within 30 days after receipt of the signed notification or letter of intent  described in Section V, the District shall approve the exemption, unless:
         1. the student enrolls in a school within the District;
         2. the student’s parent notifies the District that the student no longer attends a home school; or
         3. the student’s parent notifies the District that the student’s school district of residence has changed.
      2. A student may be withdrawn from school as soon as the notification is submitted to the District in accordance with Section V above.
         
         
7. DISTRICT SERVICES
   1. The District will appropriately cooperate and assist parents who teach their children at home to help them succeed.
   2. The District recognizes that parents are ultimately responsible for their children's educational program.  To help parents with their home school efforts, the District may, at its discretion, offer the following services upon request:
      1. textbooks and other materials similar to what other students receive;
         1. There may be fees required for some of these textbooks and materials.
      2. school assessments administered to students enrolled in the District, in accordance with Section VIII.D.; 
      3. special education services provided at the school; and
      4. participation in field trips, after-school activities, or other programs offered during the school day.
         
         
8. DISTRICT PARTICIPATION 
   1. Dual Enrollment
      1. Students who are enrolled in regularly established private schools or home schools may also enroll in WSD schools for dual enrollment purposes as provided in Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-702 and Utah Admin. Code R277-438.
      2. Dual enrollment students may participate in a course, co-curricular activity, or program at the student’s resident school, if the student:
         1. takes courses comparable to resident school courses or earns credits under options outlined in Utah Admin. Code R277-700-6; or
         2. demonstrates competency to the satisfaction of the Board in the subject matter taught in the courses required by the Board of a student for participation in the course, co-curricular activity, or program.
      3. A public school that is not the student's resident school may allow a private or homeschool student to enroll in the public school, including in a single course or program, as a dual enrollment student, at the discretion of the public school, and in accordance with Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-703.
      4. Dual enrollment is based on courses or activities rather than days of the week or times of day.  A student enrolled in a dual enrollment program is considered a student of the District for purposes of state funding to the extent of the student’s participation in the  school’s programs.  A student shall be subject to administrative scheduling and teacher discretion of the school.
      5. A dual enrollment student attending an activity or a portion of a school day under Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-702 is subject to the same behavior and discipline rights and requirements of a full-time student.
      6. A dual enrollment student with a disability may participate as a dual enrollment student consistent with law, R277-438-5 and 34 CFR 300.450 through 300.455.
         1. A public school that enrolls a dual enrollment student shall prepare an IEP for a student prior to the student’s participation in dual enrollment using comparable procedures to those required for identifying and evaluating public school students.
         2. A student with a disability seeking dual enrollment is entitled to services for the time, or for the number of courses, the student is enrolled in the public school, based on the decision of the student’s IEP team.
         3. Decisions about the scheduling and manner of services provided is the responsibility of the enrolling public school and District personnel.
         4. The District may provide additional services to a student with a disability above and beyond the requirements of this section but is not required to do so.
   2. Extracurricular Activities
      1. Students exempt from compulsory education requirements may be eligible for participation in extracurricular public school activities.  Such participation is governed and more fully described by Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-703, Utah Admin. Code R277-494, Weber School District Policy 4500 - Extracurricular Activities, and District administrative directives.
   3. Fees
      1. Students exempt from compulsory education requirements who also participate in extracurricular activities or dual enrollment in the District are responsible for school fees in the same manner as full-time District students as set forth in Weber School District Policy 4200 - School Fee & Fee Waiver.  Fees may be waived in accordance with applicable law.
   4. Participation in Statewide Assessments for Homeschool Students
      1. A homeschool student who is a Utah resident as defined under Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-302 and has satisfied the homeschooling requirements of Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-204 may participate in statewide assessments as provided in this policy. 
      2. A homeschool student who desires to participate in statewide assessments must have residency within Weber School District through the student’s parent or legal guardian. 
      3. Applications for participation in statewide assessments must be received by the Assessment, School Improvement & Research department at least forty-five (45) days prior to the opening of the applicable assessment window.  Assessment, School Improvement & Research shall respond to the application in a timely manner. 
      4. In the event that a homeschool student has a current IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan requiring special accommodations, it is the responsibility of the applicant/parent to indicate such at the time of the application.  Assessment, School Improvement & Research shall review the requested accommodation(s) and determine the feasibility of the request.  The applicant/parent shall be informed of the results of the determination prior to the testing date.
      5. A homeschool student or parent may request the following from Weber School District:
         1. an annual schedule of statewide assessments;
         2. the location at which the homeschool student may be tested; and
         3. written policies for homeschool student participation.
      6. Weber School District may not require a homeschool student to pay a fee that is not charged to traditional students for any assessment.  
      7. Assessment results will be sent electronically to the applicants email address indicated in the application.
   5. Participation in Statewide Assessments for Private School & Scholarship Students
      1. A Private School or Scholarship student who is a Utah resident as defined under Utah Code 53F-6-401 may participate in statewide assessments as provided in this policy.
      2. A private school or scholarship student who desires to participate in statewide assessments must have residency within Weber School District through the student’s parent or legal guardian; or, at the discretion of the district, attend a Private School within the boundaries of Weber School District. 
      3. The number of private school or scholarship students accepted for assessment will be limited to the space available after all public school students have been accommodated.
      4. Applications for participation in statewide assessments must be received by the Assessment, School Improvement & Research department at least forty-five (45) days prior to the opening of the applicable assessment window.  Assessment, School Improvement & Research shall respond to the application in a timely manner. 
      5. In the event that a private school or scholarship student has a current IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan requiring special accommodations, it is the responsibility of the applicant/parent to indicate such as the time of the application.  Assessment, School Improvement & Research shall review the requested accommodation(s) and determine the feasibility of the request.  The applicant shall be informed of the results of the determination prior to the testing date.
      6. A private school or scholarship parent may request the following from Weber School District:
         1. an annual schedule of statewide assessments;
         2. the location at which the home school student may be tested; and
         3. written policies for home school student participation.
      7. In accordance with Utah Admin. Code R277-604-3, the District has set the following fees schedule for participation in statewide assessments for private school and scholarship students to cover the administrative costs:
         1. Acadience Reading K-6 Benchmark: $35
         2. Acadience Math K-3 Benchmark: $35
         3. RISE/UA+: $50 per test
      8. Assessment results will be sent electronically to the applicants email address indicated in the application.
         
         
9. TRANSFER TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
   1. Students who have attended a home school pursuant to Section VIII above may enroll in the District’s schools consistent with Weber School District Policy 4160 - Residency and Enrollment and subject to all eligibility requirements imposed by District policy and state and federal laws and regulations.
      1. When a home school student transfers from a home school to a school within the District, the District will place the student in the grade level, classes, or courses that the student’s parent, in consultation with the school administrator, determine are appropriate based on the parent’s assessment of the student’s academic performance (Utah Code § 53G-6-706).
      2. Within thirty (30) days of a home school student’s placement in a school grade level, class, or course, either the student’s teacher or the student’s parent or guardian may request a conference to consider changing the student’s placement.
      3. If the student’s teacher and the student’s parent or guardian agree on a placement change, the school will place the student in the agreed-upon grade level, class, or course.
      4. If the student’s teacher and the student’s parents do not agree on a placement change, the school will evaluate the student’s subject mastery in accordance with the parent’s choice between the following options:
         1. allowing the school to administer, to the student, assessments that are regularly administered to students and used to measure students’ subject matter mastery and determine placement; or
         2. having a private entity or individual administer assessments of subject matter mastery to the student at the parent’s expense.
      5. After an evaluation of a student’s subject matter mastery under this section, the school may change a student’s placement in a grade level, class, or course.
      6. This section does not apply to a student who is dual enrolled under Utah Code Ann. §53G-6-702 and Section VIII.A. of this policy.
   2. Refer to WSD Policy 4370- Graduation Requirements, for transfer credits.

Approved by the board: June 12, 2024