Trust homeschooling parents to do what the law already allows
New York’s homeschooling regulation is built on a simple premise: Parents have a legal right to provide instruction at home, and school districts review the required paperwork to verify that such instruction is substantially equivalent.
TL;DR
- Edmeston Central School District claims parents cannot be trusted to administer annual homeschool assessments due to their relationship with their children.
- New York's regulation (8 NYCRR § 100.10) allows parents to conduct assessments with the superintendent's consent, not a blanket refusal based on parental status.
- The New York State Education Department's guidance confirms parents can administer assessments with consent.
- The district's policy may prevent homeschool graduates from obtaining a necessary district letter, hindering college or employment opportunities.
- The article advocates for trusting parents unless specific, evidence-based concerns exist, aligning with the regulation's foundation of parental trust.