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LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
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ACROSS THE STATES
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District refuses to follow guidelines
The Director of Education Services at Ellington Public Schools has notified a Home School Legal Defense Association member family that he will not conduct face-to-face portfolio reviews in accordance with state guidelines. Originally adopted in 1990 by the Connecticut State Board of Education, the guidelines provide for an annual portfolio review held "with the parents and school officials" to determine if instruction in the required courses has been given. Historically, parents have met in person with public school officials to conduct a portfolio review at the conclusion of each school year. While the guidelines are not law, neither is a local school district authorized to require homeschooling parents to adhere to a different procedure in conducting a portfolio review.
In the case of Ellington Public Schools, the school official directed the HSLDA member family to deliver their child's portfolio to his office for review at a later time. This procedure was unacceptable to our member family, who then contacted us for assistance. HSLDA Senior Counsel Dewitt Black wrote to the school official that the family did not want to deviate from the guidelines covering portfolio review and would not drop off the portfolio as requested. Further, Black explained that by refusing to follow the guidelines, the school officials waived any right to complain that the family had not conducted a portfolio review with them.
Any HSLDA member families desiring to comply with the guidelines but whose school districts are insisting on a different procedure should contact us for assistance.
— by Dewitt T. Black
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