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School District of Philadelphia
Policy and Procedures

Subject	Home Schooling
Classification	Form Cover Letter
Date Issued	September, 1990
Policy Number	#115.2
Issued by	Office For School Operations
Supersedes	New
Review Before	As needed

Dear Home Schooling Supervisor:

Enclosed you will find a copy of the School District of Philadelphia's procedures for home schooling applications. To ensure compliance with State law, please be sure to read all the enclosed materials carefully. Please note, in particular, that all applications must include the following materials:

1. A notarized affidavit conforming to the legal requirements set forth in the attached form 115.1, which clearly sets forth all of the information required in Section IIIA and IIIB of Procedure 115.0. In particular, please note that you must provide an immunization record for each child.

2. Proof of your high school diploma.

Unless your child(ren) are already in an approved home schooling program, Pennsylvania law requires that they remain in their current public or licensed private school until you are notified that your application is complete.

The following time requirements must be closely followed:

1. The affidavit must be filed prior to commencement of the Home Education Program.

2. A renewal affidavit must be filed by August 1 of each year.

3. Your child(ren) must be tested in grades 3, 5 and 8, in a standardized format approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. If you wish to have your child(ren) tested in the 3rd, 5th or 8th grades in the statewide testing program, administered in the Philadelphia Public Schools at the end of February or the beginning of March, you must notify the principal of your neighborhood school by January 31 of the preceding test administration.

4. The documentation you must submit at the end of each school year (portfolio, achievement testing and independent written evaluation) must be submitted by July 1 at the conclusion of each school year, to allow for review and resolution of any questions. Remember, the Pennsylvania Home Schooling Act places the responsibility with you to maintain the necessary documentation and obtain the necessary testing and evaluation (s).

5. If your child has been identified as a special education student, under the Education of the Handicapped Act, your affidavit (see 1 above) must also include notification of approval of your child's program by a certified special education teacher or licensed clinical school psychologist (see Section V of procedure 115.0).

If you should discontinue the approved home schooling program for any child of compulsory school age, you must immediately notify the Office of Instruction and re-enroll your child in an approved education program.

If you have any questions, call the office of Instruction at (215) 299-7604).

Very truly yours,

Bessie W. Session

Director

Comprehensive Student

Support Services

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