Connecticut State Legislature
Connecticut Homeschool Network, Inc.
Connecticut Home Schooling
Compulsory School Age
Five years of age and over and under seventeen
years of age. Option to not enroll until age seven with
notification.
Teacher certification required - No
Connecticut statutes provide that parents shall instruct
their school age children or "cause them to be instructed in
reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography,
arithmetic and United States history and in citizenship,
including a study of the town, state and federal
governments." The Connecticut Department of Education has
developed "procedures" for homeschoolers, but these
procedures are not law, only "suggested."
State required subjects or courses - Instruction
equivalent to public schools
Required number of hours per day per year - At least 180
days a year
Connecticut Homeschool Regulations
In 1990 the state revised the "Guidelines" that govern
the oversight of home schools. Essentially you have to fill
in a Notice of Intent Form which just commits you to teach
the required subjects, however you please, using whatever
curriculum you desire. A portfolio review is required in the
spring demonstrating that you have been teaching.
Section 10-184
Duties of Parents. School attendance age requirements.
All parents and those who have the care of children shall
bring them up in some lawful and honest employment and
instruct them or cause them to be instructed in reading,
writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic
and United States history and in citizenship, including a
study of the town, state and federal governments. Subject to
the provisions of this section and section 10-15c, each
parent or other person having control of a child five years
of age and over and under sixteen years of age shall cause
such child to attend a public school regularly during the
hours and terms the public school in the district in which
such child resides is in session, unless the parent or
person having control of such child is able to show that the
child is elsewhere receiving equivalent instruction in the
studies taught in the public schools. The parent or person
having control of a child five years of age shall have the
option of not sending the child to school until the child is
six years of age and the parent or person having control of
a child six years of age shall have the option of not
sending the child to school until the child is seven years
of age. The parent or person shall exercise such option by
personally appearing at the school district office and
signing an option form. The school district shall provide
the parent or person with information on the educational
opportunities available in the school system.
Sec. 10-184a.
Refusal of certain parents to consent to use of special
education programs or services. The provisions of sections
10-76a to 10-76h, inclusive, shall not be construed to
require any local, regional or state board of education to
provide special education programs or services for any child
whose parent or guardian has chosen to educate such child in
a home or private school in accordance with the provisions
of section 10-184 and who refuses to consent to such
programs or services.
Sec. 10-184b.
Waiver provisions not applicable to equivalent
instruction authority of parents. Notwithstanding any
provision of the general statutes or public or special act
granting the Commissioner of Education the authority to
waive provisions of the general statutes, the Commissioner
of Education shall not limit the authority of parents or
guardians to provide for equivalent instruction pursuant to
section 10-184.
Outline of Recommended Home Instruction Procedures
Parents are recommended to file with the superintendent of
schools in the town in which they reside a state Department
of Education developed notice of intent form which provides
basic information about the program to be provided to their
child. A notice of Intent will be effective for up to one
school year.
2. Filing must occur within ten days of the start of the
home instruction program.
3. The school district will receive the notice of Intent,
check it for completeness and keep it as part of the
district's permanent records. A complete form will be one
which provides basic program information including name of
teacher, subjects to be taught and days of instruction, and
the teacher's method of assessment.
4. A parent, by filing a notice of intent, acknowledges
full responsibility for the education of their child in
accordance with the requirements of state law. Receipt of a
notice of intent in no way constitutes approval by a school
district of the content or effectiveness of a program of
home instruction.
5. If a parent fails to file a notice of Intent or files
an incomplete form then a certified letter shall be sent to
the parent requesting compliance within ten days.
6. An annual portfolio review will be held with the
parents and school officials to determine if instruction in
the required courses has been given.
7. Any continued refusal by the parent to comply with the
reasonable request of the school district for completion and
filing of the notice of intent, or to participate in an
annual portfolio review may cause the child to be considered
truant.
8. A school district should not accept nor require a
notice of intent for any child younger than seven years or
older than sixteen years.
9. The school district shall provide a copy of the
completed notice of intent to the Bureau of Curriculum and
Professional Development, State Department of Education.
From R. Shavloy
