NEPN/NSBA Code:  IHBGA

HOMESCHOOLING – PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL PROGRAMS 

The Lewiston School Committee acknowledges the provisions for equivalent instruction under Maine law. The School Committee further observes the Legislature’s recognition, “that the term ‘equivalent’ is intended to mean meeting state standards, for alternate or other instruction and is not intended to mean the same as the education delivered in the public school system.” 

In addition, it is the intention of the School Committee to, “cooperate in the home instruction of any child who resides in the school administrative unit to the degree that the level of cooperation does not interfere with the responsibilities to the students enrolled in Lewiston Public Schools’ regular programs.” Furthermore, participation of students in such programs shall be limited to home-schooled students whose home instruction programs are in compliance with applicable Maine law and Department of Education regulations. 

In order to maintain an efficient and orderly school program, the School Committee directs the Superintendent/designee to develop procedures, as appropriate, regarding the availability of school system resources and services to home-schooled students who would otherwise be eligible to attend school in Lewiston Public Schools. The procedures shall be in accord with the following provisions. 

I. PROVISION OF INFORMATION 

At the request of the student or the student’s parent/guardian, this school district shall make available to home-schooled students, in a form determined by the school, information regarding access to public school activities and attendance in Lewiston schools. This information must include: 

A. Requirements regarding initial health and developmental screening for motor skills, vision, hearing, and immunization; and 

B. Criteria for participation of home-schooled students in curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities. 

II. PERMITTED PARTICIPATION 

A. Participation in Regular Classes. Home instruction students may enroll in specific day school classes provided that the student’s attendance is regular, the class is deemed to be age and grade-appropriate, and all prerequisite course requirements are met. In addition, the following shall also apply. 

1.  The student or the student’s parent/guardian, on the student’s behalf, shall apply in writing to and receive written approval from the Superintendent/designee. Approval may not be unreasonably withheld. 

2.  The student shall demonstrate prior satisfactory academic achievement consistent with school unit policy and procedures applicable to all students. 

3.  The student shall comply with behavioral, disciplinary, attendance, and other classroom rules applicable to all students. If a student fails to comply, the school may withhold credit or terminate the student’s participation. 

4.  Transportation must be provided by the parent/guardian or student. However, the student may use the same transportation as all other students in the school district as long as additional expenses are not incurred and vehicle capacity is not exceeded. 

5.  The student shall complete all assignments and tests as required of all students in the same class. Credit will only be granted following successful completion of the course. 

B.Course Auditing. Home instruction students may audit a course(s) provided the following conditions have been met. 

1.  The student or the student’s parent/guardian, on behalf of the student, shall apply in writing to and receive written approval from the Superintendent/designee to audit a specific course or courses. Participation may not be unreasonably withheld. 

2.  The student agrees to meet established behavioral, disciplinary, attendance, and other classroom rules applicable to all students. If a student fails to comply, the school may terminate participation. 

III. SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES 

Special education services will be available to eligible special education students in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. 

IV. ADMISSION TO REGULAR PROGRAM/PLACEMENT 

A student who has been receiving home-school instruction and who seeks admission to the regular school program will be placed in a grade commensurate with the level of the student’s academic achievement. Placement must be guided by the following

A. For students who transfer into school from an educational program that is not required to meet the standards of the system of Learning Results, the principal of the receiving school shall determine the value of the student’s prior educational experience toward meeting these standards. 

B. Grade level placement is determined by the locally designated, appropriate school staff based upon but not limited to such factors as the student’s completed curricula and record of achievement, conferencing with the student’s parent/guardian, and administration of tests, if determined necessary. 

C. The final grade level placement decision is based upon this district’s policy and procedures. That decision may be appealed to the Superintendent. 

V. RE-ADMISSION TO THE SCHOOL PROGRAM 

Placement of home-schooled students who wish to be readmitted to the school program will be determined by the Administrator who shall consult with members of the professional staff to the extent appropriate. The  Administrator may direct that a test or tests be administered to help determine grade level. In addition, the Administrator is authorized to collect from parents actual samples of coursework (e.g., homework, examinations, etc.) as they deem necessary, in order to make the determination that the requisite academic standards have been met. The decision of the  Administrator may be appealed to the Superintendent. 

VI. USE OF SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS AND LIBRARY BOOKS 

Subject to availability, a student receiving home instruction may use school textbooks, if the number of particular copies are sufficient, and library books owned by Lewiston Public Schools, subject to the following conditions. 

A.The use does not disrupt regular student, staff or special program functions. 

B.The student’s sign-out period for a library book is the same as that applicable to regularly enrolled students. 

C.The student may sign out a textbook for a period not to exceed one school year. The textbook must be appropriate to the student’s age and grade level. 

D.The parent/guardian and student agree to reimburse the school unit for lost, unreturned, or damaged library books and textbooks and for consumable supplies used.

VII. USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT 

A student receiving home-school instruction may use public school facilities and equipment on the same basis as regularly enrolled students if the following conditions are met. 

A.The use does not disrupt regular school activities. 

B.The use is approved by the building administrator in accordance with established school policy. 

C.The use does not create additional expense to the school unit. 

D.The use is directly related to the student’s academic program. 

E.The use of potentially hazardous areas, such as shops, laboratories, and gymnasiums, is supervised by a qualified employee of the school unit, approved and assigned by the Superintendent. 

F. The use does not involve removing furniture or equipment from the school premises. 

VIII. MAINE EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT 

If a parent of a student in an equivalent instruction program requests to have the student participate in the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) or any other State-mandated test, such request must be granted. Participation in such examinations must be in compliance with all rules and procedures governing testing conditions in the Lewiston schools. 

IX. ACADEMIC CREDIT 

A student receiving home-school instruction must receive academic credit subject to the following requirements. 

A.Academic credit for individual courses must be awarded if the student meets the required academic standards applicable to all students enrolled in the same course. 

B.Academic credit must be awarded for the successful completion of alternative instruction opportunities sponsored by the school and available to all students. 

X. HIGH SCHOOL COURSE CREDITS AND DIPLOMA ELIGIBILITY 

The following standards govern the awarding of course credits and a graduation diploma to a student receiving home-school instruction who seeks admission or readmission to the high school. 

A.A student shall earn high school credits for satisfactory completion of courses in the high school pursuant to 20-A MRSA § 5021, (2)(A). 

B. A student may earn credit for coursework completed through home-school instruction if the building administrator determines both in advance and upon completion of the course that the course satisfies the requirements for awarding the credit. This determination shall be made through the evaluation of a portfolio submitted by the student. 

1.The portfolio should include curriculum guides, all student work, evaluative criteria, goals and objectives, documentation of related activities, experiences, trips, projects, etc., and an assessment of the success of the program. Although portfolios may vary from course to course, it is meant to be a detailed compilation of a student’s work. 

2.The portfolio will be reviewed by a committee consisting of the guidance director, a department chairperson, the building administrator, and two representatives of a homeschooling program. This committee will determine if credit should be granted. 

C.Requests for transfer credit for equivalent instruction completed at non-approved private schools, at private schools that elect not to meet requirements under 20-A MRSA § 2901, or through other equivalent instruction programs must be evaluated on the merits of the documentation provided. The building administrator and guidance staff shall conduct these evaluations on request by the student or the student’s parent/guardian. The principal may direct that the student undergo a test or tests to assist in making a determination relative to the awarding of credit. 

D. Awarding of a high school diploma by the local school is conditioned upon the student’s demonstration of having satisfied all specific course credits or other requirements established by the State of Maine and the School Committee. The School Committee may establish resident credit requirements as a precondition for the awarding of a local school unit diploma.

E. For students who transfer into a secondary school from another state or an educational program that is not required to meet the standards of the system of the Maine Learning Results, the principal of the receiving school shall determine the value of the prior educational experience toward meeting the standards through the local assessment system. 

XI. PARTICIPATION IN CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 

Students receiving home-school instruction may participate in co-curricular activities such as field trips, assemblies, and academically-related fairs provided: 

A.Prior written permission is obtained from both the parent and the building administrator; and 

B.The student has agreed to meet established behavioral, disciplinary, attendance, and other rules applicable to all students. 

XII. PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 

Students receiving home-school instruction are eligible to try out for extracurricular activities sponsored by Lewiston Public Schools, provided the student applies in writing and the following requirements are satisfied. 

A.The student agrees to abide by equivalent rules of participation as are applicable to regularly enrolled students participating in the activity and provides evidence that the rules of participation are being met. 

B.The student complies with the same physical examination, immunization, insurance, age, and semester eligibility requirements as regularly enrolled students participating in the activity. All required documentation must be made available upon request by the school unit. 

C.The student meets equivalent academic standards as those established for regularly enrolled students participating in the activity and provides evidence that the academic standards are being met. The school administrator is authorized to collect from parents actual samples of coursework (e.g., homework, examinations, etc.), as they deem necessary in order to make the determination that the necessary academic standards have been met. 

D.The student abides by the same transportation policy as regularly enrolled students participating in the activity and travels to and from activities with the team.

XIII. STANDARDS FOR PARTICIPATION WHEN TUITION PAYMENT TO ANOTHER UNIT IS REQUIRED 

If and when the school unit does not provide academic instruction for specific grade levels, the following applies for students enrolled in an approved program of equivalent instruction. 

A.Class participation. The home-schooled student or the student’s parent/guardian shall request authorization from the resident local school unit to apply to another school unit for permission to participate in classes or activities in that other school unit. 

B.Tuition payment. Tuition payments for home-schooled student participation in a local school unit, including attendance at an applied technology center or an applied technology region, other than the applicant’s resident district, is the responsibility of the home-schooled student, the student’s parent/guardian or the student’s resident school administrative unit, in accordance with school unit policy. Participation may not be unreasonably withheld. 

C.Participation eligibility. A tuitioned, home-schooled student is subject to the rules relating to eligibility for participation in co-curricular or extracurricular activities as may apply at the receiving school unit. 

D.Interscholastic activities. A tuitioned, home-schooled student attending classes in more than one receiving school unit is not eligible for participation in interscholastic activities at any local school unit. 

XIV. APPEALS 

Appeals from administration and application of the School Committee policy are heard by the School Committee, whose decision is final and binding. Appeals that question the School Committee policy compliance with legal requirements must be made to the Commissioner, whose decision is final and binding. 

Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA §§ 5001-A(3), 5021-5025 

Chap. 127, 130 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rules) 

Cross Reference: HBG - Home Schooling

 IHBGB – Special Education Services for Students in Private Schools or Home Schooling 

 IKF – Graduation Requirements 

Revised: January 26, 2004 

Reviewed: September 10, 2012 

Revised: October 16, 2017

Revised: September 25, 2023