The "Declaration of Intent" must be completed by the
parent/guardian and returned to Laurie Hamilton, Bethel School District
Home School Liaison at Challenger Secondary Schools by September 15,
2006 or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter,
trimester or semester. Washington State law requires that a new
declaration be filed each school year.
If your child is enrolled in a Bethel Public School we ask that you
withdraw your student upon filing your "Declaration of
Intent".
For a copy of the Declaration of Intent that can be downloaded click on
the Documents tab.
RCW 28A.225 defines instruction as home-based if it consists of planned
and supervised instructional and related educational activities
including curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of
occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies,
history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an
appreciation of art and music. Total annual program hours are as
follows:
* Kindergarten at least a total of 450 hours
* Grades 1 -12 an annual average total of 1,000 hours
RCW 28A.200 recognizes that all decision relating to philosphy or
doctrine; selection of books, teaching materials, and curriculum; and
methods, timing, place in the provision or evaluation of home-based
instruction shall be the responsibility of the parent except for
matters specifically referred to in RCW 28A.225.
For a link to RCW 28A.225 and RCW 28A.200 click on the Links tab.
A parent must either a). Be
supervised by a certificated teacher who has contact with the child for
one hour per week average per month, b). Have earned the equivalent of 45
college-level quarter credit hours, c). Have taken a course in home-based
instruction at a post-secondary institution or vocational technical
institute, or d). Been deemed
sufficiently qualified by the local superintendent.
We recommend you contact the Office of the Superintent of Public
Instruction (OSPI) in Olympia for a copy of the free publication
"Washington State's Laws Regulating Home-Based
Instruction", also know as the "pink book". This is
available through the Office of Learning and Teaching Support at (360)
664-3574. Or you can download a copy from our Documents tab.This information is also
available on the OSPI website.
For a link to the OSPI website click on the Links tab.
Credit may be granted by a review of acutal student course work, or
by review of transcripts from private school, agency, or home schooling
organization. Please note the Bethel School District has no obligation
to accept credits earned outside the school district. For more
information and to set up an appointment for a credit evaluation
contact Laurie Hamilton, Bethel School District Home School Liaison at
(253) 683-6888.
An approved standardized test administered yearly by a qualified
individual, or an annual academic progress assessment of the
student's academic progress written by a certificated person
currently working in the field of education must be administered yearly. A parent must
ensure that test scores or annual academic progress assessments and
immunization records, together with any other records that are kept
relating to the instructional and eduational activities provided, are
maintained. The Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) makes an
effort to keep a current list of person offering to test or assess
homeschoolers.
For a link the the WHO website click on the Links tab.
If your student is in a grade level affected by the Bethel School
District or State Assessment program, he/she may go to their
neighborhood school to access the assessments at the times scheduled
for testing. The parent/guardian should contact the principal of their
student's resident school if the student will be participating in
the testing program at least two weeks prior to the scheduled test. See
the Calender tab for testing
dates in March and April.
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