1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
1.1. The Board of Education of Sevier School District recognizes that while a student’s parent is the primary person responsible for the student’s education, under Utah’s compulsory education laws parents are generally required to enroll their children in school unless an exemption is granted. The law outlines specific exemptions that may be granted by the Board, including for a student who will attend a home school.
1.2. The Sevier School District Board of Education further believes that the educational needs of its students can best be met in the classrooms of the Sevier District schools where core curriculum and enrichment are taught by certified teachers.
1.3. Sevier School District participates in dual enrollment with students who are attending private schools, the Statewide Online program, or homeschooled in accordance with UCA 53G-6-702. This dual enrollment would provide the students with the opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities and for other group activities that may not be available in the home school, private school or Statewide Online program.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1. “Home school” means a school, other than a private school, comprised of one or more students officially excused from compulsory public school attendance under this policy and UTAH CODE ANN., § 53G-6-204.
2.2. Dual enrollment student: Any child who is enrolled in a regularly established private school, a home school, or Statewide Online Education (SEOP) and is also enrolled as a student with a school in Sevier School District. A child cannot dual enroll with Sevier School District if currently enrolled in another public school other than Sevier including online or charter. A student enrolled in a dual enrollment program is considered a student of the District for the extent of the student’s participation in the District school’s programs. A student attending activities or a portion of the school day under the dual enrollment program shall be subject to the same behavior and discipline rights and requirements of a full-time student, and shall be subject to administrative scheduling and teacher discretion of the District school.
2.3. Extracurricular Activities. Students exempt from compulsory education requirements may be eligible for participation in extracurricular public-school activities. Such participation is governed and more fully described by UTAH CODE ANN. § 53G-6-703, UTAH ADMIN. CODE R277-494, Sevier School District Policy #3050A, Eligibility to Participate in Extracurricular Activities and District administrative directives. (Elementary and Middle schools do not offer any kind of extracurricular activities.
2.4. Fees. Students exempt from compulsory education requirements who also participate in extracurricular activities or dual enrollment in the District are responsible for school fees in the same manner as full-time District students as set forth in Sevier School District policy #3035 School Fee Guidelines. School fees may be waived in accordance with applicable law.
3. COMPULSORY EDUCATION
3.1. Except as otherwise provided in this policy, the parent of a minor student is required to enroll and send the student to a public or regularly established private school. UTAH CODE ANN. § 53G-6-202. A public school may include a District school, a school in another district wherein the student may be legally enrolled, or a charter school. A student who is not attending a public school or a regularly established private school must obtain an exemption certificate as provided herein.
3.2. See Sevier School District policy #3020 for details concerning attendance.
3.3. In order to earn a diploma from high school in Sevier School District, the student must have earned enough credit from an accredited school to satisfy the graduation requirements by the Board of Education.
4. EXEMPTIONS
4.1. Board Release
4.1.1. Students who meet one or more of the following conditions to the satisfaction of the Board shall be exempt from the compulsory education requirements and shall be given a certificate stating that the student is excused from public school attendance during the time specified on the certificate.
4.1.1.1. A student over age sixteen (16) may receive a partial release from school to enter employment or attend a trade school if the student has completed the eighth (8th) grade. Minor students receiving this exemption must still attend school or home school part-time as required by the Board.
4.1.1.2. On an annual basis, a minor student may receive a full release from attending a public, regularly established private, or part-time school or class if any one of the following is established to the Board’s satisfaction:
4.1.1.2.1. The minor student has already completed the work required for graduation from high school;
4.1.1.2.2. The minor student is in a physical or mental condition, certified by a competent physician, which renders attendance inexpedient and impracticable;
4.1.1.2.3. Proper influences and adequate opportunities for education are provided in connection with the minor student’s employment; OR
4.1.1.2.4. The Superintendent determines that the minor student, if over the age of sixteen (16), is unable to profit from attendance at school because of inability or a continuing negative attitude toward school regulations and discipline.
4.2. Home School Exemption
4.2.1. The Board will excuse a student from attendance if the student’s parent files a signed Home School Affidavit with the District, as described in section 5, stating that:
4.2.1.1. the minor student will attend a home school; and
4.2.1.2. the parent assumes sole responsibility for the education of the student, except to the extent the student is dual enrolled as provided in section 7.
4.2.2. The parent of a minor student who attends a home school is solely responsible for:
4.2.2.1. The selection of instructional materials and textbooks;
4.2.2.2. The time, place, and method of instruction; AND
4.2.2.3. The evaluation of the home school instruction.
4.2.3. The Board may not:
4.2.3.1. Require a parent of a minor student who attends a home school to maintain records of instruction or attendance;
4.2.3.2. Require credentials for individuals providing home school instruction;
4.2.3.3. Inspect home school facilities; OR
4.2.3.4. Require standardized or other testing of home school students.
4.2.3.5. Allow home school, private school or Statewide Online program online students to dual enroll and attend classes at schools in their attendance area. Home school, private school or Statewide Online program online students are eligible to participate in the extracurricular activity programs if school and Utah High School Activities Association eligibility rules are met.
4.2.3.6. The Sevier School District Board of Education places the following conditions upon students returning to the public schools from home schools: or Sevier Connection Online:
4.2.3.7. Upon students returning to the public school system, some testing may be required to place students in an appropriate grade level.
4.2.3.8. To obtain a release from school the parent or guardian will complete a “Home School Waiver.” Upon completion the waiver will be submitted to the Superintendent, who is the Board’s designee for approval.
4.2.3.9. The District must also receive assurance that reasonable academic progress is being (has been) made by the student. Evidence of this progress can be provided by (1) standardized testing, (2) end of level testing, (3) summative tests, (4) student portfolio with records of progress and samples of work to be reviewed by District personnel, (5) interview with student by district personnel, (6) other methods agreed upon by the District and home school instructor, and (7) a combination of these.
5. HOME SCHOOL AFFIDAVIT
5.1. As required by law, parents who wish to home school their minor child or children are required to notify the District by properly completing, executing, and filing with the Coordinator of School and Student Services, or designee, a signed Home School Affidavit. The Home School Affidavit shall contain the following information:
5.1.1. The parent's name, address, and telephone number;
5.1.2. The student name(s), birth date(s), and grade level(s);
5.1.3. Assurance that the parent assumes sole responsibility for the education of the minor student, except to the extent the minor student is dual enrolled under section 7;
5.1.4. The home school provider is responsible for all the teaching tools including textbooks that are required to give the child/children a quality education. The District is in no way responsible for providing facilities, transportation or supplies;
5.1.5. A statement that the parent has not been convicted of child abuse or been the subject of a substantiated finding of child abuse by a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with UTAH CODE ANN. § 53G-6-204.
5.2. A signed affidavit shall remain in effect as long as the minor student attends a home school and remains a resident of the District. A copy of the signed affidavit may be given to the parent and serves as the certificate described in subsection 6.2.
6. ISSUANCE OF EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES
6.1. For a board release under subsection 4.1, a certificate may be issued according to the following procedures.
6.1.1. The Coordinator of School and Student Services will evaluate each proposed compulsory attendance exemption submitted under subsection 4.1 and make a recommendation to the Superintendent regarding whether to issue an exemption certificate to the parents.
6.1.2. The Superintendent will then present the matter to the Board, who will ultimately decide whether to excuse the school-age minor from public school attendance under this policy.
6.1.3. When the Board excuses a minor student from public school attendance pursuant to an exemption provided in subsection 4.1, the Board shall cause a certificate to be issued by the District excusing the minor student from attendance during the time specified on the certificate, pursuant to UTAH CODE ANN. § 53G-6-204. For all Board approved exemptions under subsection 4.1, the Superintendent or designee shall sign the Certificate.
6.2. For a Home School Exemption under subsection 4.2, the following procedures apply.
6.2.1. Within 30 days after receipt of the signed affidavit described in section 5, the Board shall approve the exemption.
6.2.2. A copy of the affidavit serves as a certificate exempting the student from attendance.
6.2.3. A student may be withdrawn from school as soon as the completed affidavit is submitted to the District in accordance with section 5.
7. DISTRICT PARTICIPATION
7.1. A student enrolled in a dual enrollment program is considered a student of the District for purposes of state funding to the extent of the student’s participation in the District school’s programs. A student attending activities or a portion of the school day under the dual enrollment program shall be subject to the same behavior and discipline rights and requirements of a full- time student, and shall be subject to administrative scheduling and teacher discretion of the District school.
7.2. Extracurricular Activities. Students exempt from compulsory education requirements may be eligible for participation in extracurricular public school activities. Such participation is governed and more fully described by UTAH CODE ANN. § 53G-6-703, UTAH ADMIN. CODE R277-494, and District administrative directives .
7.3. Fees. Students exempt from compulsory education requirements who also participate in extracurricular activities or dual enrollment in the District are responsible for school fees in the same manner as full-time District students as set forth in Sevier School District policy #3035, School Fee Guidelines. School fees may be waived in accordance with applicable law.
7.4. Students who have attended a home school pursuant to section 5 above may enroll in the District’s schools consistent with Sevier School District policy #3185, Open Enrollment/Transfer Policy and Form and subject to all eligibility requirements imposed by District policy and state and federal laws and regulations. Sevier School District believes students are best served within their age group cohort. See Policy #3015, Accelerated Promotion Policy: Administrative Guidelines.
7.5. When a home school student transfers from a home school to a school within the District, the District will place the student in the grade levels, classes, or courses that the student’s parent or guardian, in consultation with the school administrator, determine are appropriate based on the parent’s or guardian’s assessment of the student’s academic performance. UTAH CODE ANN. § 53G-6-706.
7.6. Within 30 days of a home school student’s placement in a school grade level, class, or course, either the student’s teacher or the student’s parent or guardian may request a conference to consider changing the student’s placement.
7.6.1. If a student’s teacher and the student’s parent or guardian agree on a placement change, the school will place the student in the agreed upon grade level, class or course.
7.6.2. If the student’s teacher and the student’s parents or guardian do not agree on a placement change, the school will evaluate the student’s subject mastery in accordance with the parent or guardian’s choice between the following options:
7.6.2.1. Allowing the school to administer to the student assessments that are regularly administered to students and used to measure students’ subject matter mastery and determine placement; or
7.6.2.2. Having a private entity or individual administer assessments of subject matter mastery to the student at the parent’s or guardian’s expense.
7.6.3. After an evaluation of a student’s subject matter mastery under subsection 7.6.2, the school may change a student’s placement in a grade level, class, or course.
7.6.4. The Student Services Department will be responsible for coordination of student academic assessments.
Approved: 09/19/12
Revised: 10/08/14
Revised: 01/13/16
Revised 11/15/23