Home School

Overview

If you live in Linn, Benton or Lincoln County and make the decision to home school your child, Oregon Administrative Rule 581-021-0026 requires you to:

Provide one time, written notification of your intentions to home school to Linn Benton Lincoln Education Service District.

If a student is being home schooled, then parents must notify LBL ESD of their intention to home school. Home school is education provided in the home by the parent or guardian. Home school parents have the full responsibility for their student’s education, including all curriculum choices and record keeping. Each family may use whatever methods and curriculum they choose, but they must find and purchase their materials on their own. Students enrolled in an online public charter school, or physically attending a local private school do not need to enroll as home school students.
Your registration must be submitted within 10 days of withdrawing your child from public or private school. If your child has never attended school, you must notify us of your intentions to home school once the child is six years old. We will send you an acknowledgment letter to confirm your student’s home school enrollment and let you know when test results will be due.
Your child’s home school registration will remain active until you notify us of a change. Please contact our office before registering your student in public/private school, or if you are moving out of the Linn, Benton, or Lincoln county area. You can request a withdrawal from home school by phone, email, fax, or through our website. When you move, change school districts or register your student back into public or private school please inform us of this change.

Have your child tested at the completion of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.

New home school students are not required to take the first test for a minimum of 18 months, if they have recently been withdrawn from public or private school. If your child completes the 3rd, 5th, 8th or 10th grade during this 18-month window of time, testing does not need to occur until the next required grade level. If the child never attended public or private school, the first test must be taken at the end of 3rd grade.
Parents are responsible for all testing arrangements and costs.
Home school students establishing eligibility for interscholastic activities (athletics, music, speech, etc) must test annually at the end of each school year (prior to Aug. 15th) because test scores are used to determine eligibility for the following year. Parents are responsible to keep and file their student test results for future reference.

Books, Curriculum, & Diplomas

Oregon law does not specify any curriculum, course of study or teaching/learning schedule for home school students. Each family can choose and use whatever methods and curriculum works for them, but they must find and purchase their materials on their own.

For High School Students

LBL ESD does not issue credits, transcripts or diplomas for home school students. Public school districts are not required to award credit for work completed at home. The acceptance by a local public school of high school credit earned while homeschooling is determined by local district board policy (OAR 581-021-0210). Please contact your local school or district with any questions.

Home schooled students aged 16-17 years are eligible to participate in GED classes and testing through the local community college with the proper authorization forms from LBL ESD. Please call at least one week in advance of when you need the completed form. Students age 18 years and above do not need authorization forms from LBL ESD.

Online Registration

To register your child(ren) as a new home school student(s), complete the Home School Registration either online or in PDF format.

Once completed and your student’s registration has been accepted, you will receive an email confirmation for your records. If you have any questions, concerns or need assistance with the online registration please feel free to call us at 541-812-2711 or email us at homeschool@lblesd.k12.or.us.

Download Registration Form

Once LBL ESD receives your home school registration form, a confirmation will be sent. Online registrations will receive a reply by email. If you do not receive the email confirmation, please contact our office by phone 541-812-2711 or email.

You must notify LBL ESD of your intentions to home school within 10 days of withdrawing your child from public or private school. If your child has never attended school, you must notify us of your intentions to home school once the child is six years old.

Your child’s home school registration will remain active until you notify us of a placement change. When you move, change school districts or register your student back into public or private school please inform us of this change.

Oregon online public charter schools are part of the public school system, and not considered a home schooling option. These schools are tuition free, and the entire curriculum is provided. Students enrolled in an Oregon online public charter school are public school students and are NOT considered home school students.

FAQ

Can I home school my child?

Yes, if the answer to each of the following questions is “yes”:

Are you the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s)?
Is your child between the ages of 6 and 18?

Effective July 1, 2016, Oregon school attendance law (ORS 339.010) has been amended, lowering the age of compulsory attendance from age 7 to 6. Students who are age 6 on or before September 1st, must be enrolled in school – public school, private school or home school.

Do I need school/district permission to home school?

No. Parents may decide to home school at any time and no permission or approval is needed from their local school or school district.

What do I do if I want to home school my child?

Provide one time, written notification of your intentions to home school to Linn Benton Lincoln Education Service District:

Your registration must be submitted within 10 days of withdrawing your child from public or private school. If your child has never attended school, you must notify us of your intentions to home school once the child is six years old. We will send you an acknowledgment letter or email and let you know when testing needs to be completed.
Students enrolled in an online private school are considered home school students and need to notify LBL ESD of their intention to home school. Students enrolled in an online public charter school are considered public school students and are NOT considered home school students.

Who has responsibility for my child’s education once I start home schooling?

Parents have full responsibility for and freedom to design their student’s education. The decision to home school means you must decide what to teach and are responsible for selecting and purchasing all curriculum and materials.

How do I know what to teach?

Oregon law does not specify any specific course of study. Parents may teach whatever they feel is best for their student. It may be helpful to review the National Education Standards, Oregon Content Standards and a World Book Encyclopedia’s Typical Course of Study list.

Where do I find books and materials?

Public libraries or resident school districts may have some curriculum and instructional materials available for home school students. Other sources of curriculum include used book stores, teacher supply stores, free curriculum websites, home school curriculum vendors, and online or correspondence schools.

What if I decide to send my child back to school or move out of the area?

Your child’s home school registration will remain active until you notify us of a change. Please notify our office before registering your student in public/private school, or if you are moving out of the Linn, Benton, or Lincoln county area. You can request a withdrawal from home school by phone, email, fax, or through our website. When you move, change school districts or register your student back into public or private school please inform us of this change.

What about testing?

Home schooled students must take a test at the completion of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10, per OAR 581-021-0026. If your child completes the 3rd, 5th, 8th or 10th grade during this 18-month window of time, testing does not need to occur until the next required grade level. If the child never attended public or private school, the first test must be taken at the end of 3rd grade. Special testing rules exist for students with disabilities.

Parents are responsible for all testing arrangements and costs, and need to keep their students’ test scores and be able to provide them if asked.

Can home schooled students participate in any public school activities?

Yes. Parents or guardians can make arrangements with their resident public school district for home school students to participate in interscholastic/extracurricular activities or attend public school on a part-time or limited basis. LBL ESD is not involved in making or overseeing such arrangements and interested parents or guardians should contact their resident public school district. Home school students establishing eligibility for interscholastic activities (athletics, music, speech, etc) must test annually at the end of each school year (prior to Aug. 15th) because test scores are used to determine eligibility for the following year.

Parents need to submit these test results directly to their resident school district.

For more information, call our office or view the OSAA Home School Eligibility Guidelines

Testing

A home school student must be tested at the completion of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 by August 15th.

If your child completes the 3rd, 5th, 8th or 10th grade during this 18-month window of time, testing does not need to occur until the next required grade level. If the child never attended public or private school, the first test must be taken at the end of 3rd grade.

Oregon State law provides that children with disabilities be evaluated for “satisfactory educational progress” according to the recommendations of an individualized education plan (IEP) or privately developed plan (PDP).

Home school students establishing eligibility for interscholastic activities (athletics, music, speech, etc.) must test annually at the end of each school year (prior to August 15th) because test scores are used to determine eligibility for the following year. Parents need to submit these test results directly to their resident school district.

Approved Tests

Tera Nova CAT/3 Test
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills / Tests of Achievement and Proficiency
Stanford Achievement Battery

Public school tests such as the OAKS test or Smarter Balanced test are not acceptable for home school testing.

Achievement Test Levels Coinciding with Grade Levels

Grade	TerrNova (Level)	Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)/Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITED)(Level)	Stanford Achievement Test Battery (Level)
1	11	ITBS 7/8	Prim1
2	12	ITBS 8/9	Prim2
3	13	ITBS 9	Prim3
4	14	ITBS 10	Intermediate 1
5	15	ITBS 11	Intermediate 2
6	16	ITBS 12	Intermediate 3
7	17	ITBS 13	Advanced 1
8	18	ITBS 14	Advanced 2
9	19	ITED 15	Task 1
10	20	ITED 16	Task 2
11	21/22	ITED 17/18	Task 3
12	21/22	ITED 17/18	Task 3

Tests must be given by a qualified and neutral person as defined in OAR 581-021-0026(1)(e)(i). A test may be given by anyone who meets the legal criteria. If you use a tester not registered with Oregon Department of Education or LBL ESD, then please include a copy of the examiner’s qualifications with the test results.

Testing must include the basic battery, which includes reading, language and math, is provided in both complete and survey editions of the tests. Some testers may offer the complete battery, which may include social studies, science, and other subjects but these are optional tests, and are not required as part of the student’s ‘composite score’.

Test Preparation

For information on what material is covered by a specific test, you may try an internet search with the test name + “scope and sequence” or “test preparation”, ask your tester, or visit the test publisher’s website.

High School Level Students

High school level home school students are not able to substitute other tests – GED, SAT, ACT, etc. for an approved home school test which are defined in OAR 581-021-0026(1)(a).

GED Option Program

What is the GED Option Program?

The General Education Development Testing Service (GEDTS) enables approved states to provide access to the GED Option for selected secondary students, 16 and 17 years of age, who are enrolled in school. This authorization is from the American Council on Education. Local Education Service Districts will serve as GED Option providers for home school students. Authorized ESDs will release registered home school students to participate in GED option programs.

GED Option Procedures for LBL ESD Home School Students

The procedure below explains the GED requirements for home-schooled students. Your student must be registered as a home school student, and be 16 years of age or older, before LBL ESD can compile the GED Authorization Packet for that student. Please contact LBL ESD at least one week before your student plans to attend GED classes or take the GED tests.

A parent/guardian notifies LBL ESD that their student wishes to participate in GED preparation and testing by submitting a GED Options Program Parent Assurance Form. Complete the form by choosing below:

Upon receiving a completed Parent Assurance Form, LBL ESD will compile the GED Authorization Packet for that student.
Prior to any classes and/or testing, student must take the GED Authorization Packet to the GED preparation/testing site.

Please note: Parents/guardians are responsible for all costs associated with GED testing and preparation. When the student has completed the requirements to achieve a General Educational Development (GED), please submit a copy of the certificate to our office. A student remains registered with LBL ESD as a home school student until our office receives a copy the student’s GED certificate or until the student is 18 years old.

For information about GED please contact www.ged.com and your local community college:

Linn-Benton Community College
6500 Pacific Blvd. SW
Albany, Oregon 97321
Dept. of Developmental Studies (ABE/GED)
541-917-4710

Oregon Coast Community College
400 SE College Way
Newport, Oregon 97366
Dept. of Developmental Studies (ABE/GED)
541-867-8535

Chemeketa Community College
400 Lancaster Drive
Salem, Oregon 97309
Dept. of Developmental Studies (ABE/GED)
541-399-5000

Lane Community College
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene OR 97405
Office of Adult Basic and Secondary Education
541-463-5723

Student Release

Your student will remain enrolled with LBL ESD as a home school student until you notify us of a change. Please use this form if you are enrolling your student in school, or if you are moving out of the Linn, Benton, or Lincoln county area, so we can release your student from home school. Students need to be released from home school by LBL ESD before enrolling in public school, online public charter school or private school.

Once a student has been released from home school by LBL ESD, you will receive a letter to confirm the status change and the student’s resident school district will be notified. You must enroll your student in a public or private school within 10 days of withdrawing from Home School to avoid truancy.

If you have any questions, contact Home School at 541-812-2711 or email.

Release Request Form

Education Records

LBL ESD does not disclose student information without parent or eligible student authorization, or as provided by law. To request student records, please review our records policy and download the request form below:

By Oregon law, both parents (whether married, separated or divorced) have access to the records of a student who is under 18 years of age, unless the ESD is provided evidence that there is a court order, state statute or legally binding document relating to such matters as divorce, separation or custody that specifically revokes these rights.

Federal law requires education service districts to provide, upon request, access to directory information by a military recruiter or institution of higher education, unless the parent specifically requests that LBL ESD withhold this information. A high school student or the parents of the student may request that the student’s name, address, and telephone listing not be released.

To make such a request, please contact our office phone at 541-812-2711, by fax at 541-812-2617, or by email.