During the 1999 legislative session, the Oregon Legislature revised statutes pertaining to home school (ORS 329.465, 339.030, 339.035, 339.250, 339.460 and 345.505). New Oregon Administrative Rules were passed in May 2000 and require home schoolers, age 7 (on September 1) to 18 to:
1. Provide a one-time written notification of your intent to home school to the Education Service District (ESD) that contains the school district of which your child is resident. If you move to another ESD, the new ESD must be notified in writing as well. (Addresses and phone numbers can be found below.)
Your letter stating your intention to home school must be received by the ESD at least 10 calendar days prior to the first day of school for your local school district. If the child is taken out of school after the school year has started, the letter of intent is to be submitted within ten days from the time the student was withdrawn. In either case, the letter must provide ESD with:
- The child's and parent's name, address, phone number (optional), e-mail address (optional)
- Child's date of birth
- The name of the school the child is presently attending, or last attended, or if the child has not attended school, the name of the public school district in which the child resides.
2. Test at grades 3, 5, 8 and 10. Testing for these grades is to occur in the third, fifth, eighth and tenth grade year ending August 15th. The first year is defined as when the child is seven on September 1, or earlier at the parent's discretion. The following table illustrates how the new rule is to be applied:
Age on September 1
9 years old - Grade 3
11 years old - Grade 5
14 years old - Grade 8
16 years old - Grade 10 In many cases a student might be a year older when they test depending upon the date they were born. For example, a third grader born on November 20 will be 10 if they take the test in May. The key question remains, how old was the child on September 1st?
Some home schoolers who do not have children in the above grade levels may ask if they should still have their children tested. We believe that parents should test for their own information first and secondarily to comply with state law. Achievement testing helps:
- to determine if the curricula being used is working
- identify academic strengths and weaknesses
- provide proof of the progress their children are making
- establish a beginning or ending academic benchmark
- aid them in preparing their child for the achievement test that is legally required
3. Turn test results into ESD at graders 3, 5, 8 and 10 upon request. The new law does not require home schoolers to turn in test results unless the ESD specifically asks for them. Blanket requests in some counties may take place.
Oregon Education Service Districts:
Clackamas ESD - Home Instruction
P.O. Box 216
Marylhurst, OR 97036
Phone: 503.675.4008
Multnomah County ESD
P.O. Box 301039
Portland, OR 97294-9039
Phone: 503.257.1771
NW Regional ESD Service Center / Columbia ESD
800 Port Avenue
St. Helens, OR 97051
Phone: 503.397.0028
NW Regional ESD: Washington County Service Center
5825 NE Ray Circle
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone: 503.614.1626
Willamette ESD (Marion and Polk Counties)
2611 Pringle Road SE
Salem, OR 97302
Phone: 503.588.5330
Yamhill ESD
2045 SW Highway 18, Suite 100
McMinnville, OR 97128
Phone: 503.472.1431
Legal Obligations for Home Schooling in Washington:
Parents who home school in Washington state need to qualify as home instructors, notify their local school district each year, and have their students tested annually. You may contact the following organizations for more information:
WA Association of Teaching Christian Homes (WATCH)
P. O. Box 1750
Airway Heights, WA 99001
Phone: 509.299.3766
Clark County Home Educators (CCHE)
For further information, or for other states, please visit these sites:
|
