4.3.6   Educational Neglect/Home Schooling

When a report is received with allegations of educational neglect/home schooling because the parent(s) or other responsible caretaker(s) are educating their children at home:

Initiate the investigation according to Section 2, Chapter 4.1.

Upon being advised that the parent(s) or other responsible caretaker(s) is providing education in the home, the investigation shall cease, and the worker shall:

Refer case to superintendent or designee of school district of child's residence.  Inform parent(s) of this action and forward written report to the school within (3) working days of being advised by parent(s); and

Related Subject:  Section 2, Chapter 8.3.1, Guidelines For Letter to School Districts on Reports Concluded as Home Schooling.

Refer the case to the juvenile office.

CA/N-1 conclusion code will be coded as "I” for Home Schooling.  The category of CA/N should be coded "7” for None - Home Schooling.  Worker's specific findings and severity should be left blank.

If family refuses to allow CSW to view subject child, and the only allegation is home schooling, the only referral made is to the local school district.

If other CA/N allegations are present, CSW proceeds as family assessment or investigation.

If the report concerns a foster child, the Children’s Service Worker shall verify that the resource family has filed a signed, written declaration of enrollment with the Recorder of Deeds stating their intent for the foster child to attend a home school.  This verification must be documented in the foster child’s file.  The Recorder of Deeds may charge a service cost of not more than one dollar for each notice filed.  The worker should also notify the chief school officer in the public school district where the child legally resides.  The home school educator is to provide documentation of the child’s progress on a quarterly basis.  This documentation will ensure that a monitoring program is in place.

Related Subject:  Section 1, Chapter 1, Roles and Responsibilities of Children’s Division, Supervisor, Agency Administrator, and Children’s Service Worker

If worker determines that "true" educational neglect is occurring (i.e., no education - public, private, home, etc. is taking place), then the investigation shall proceed in the usual manner as described in Section 2, Chapter 4.1.

If report contains other allegations of abuse/neglect in addition to the allegation of educational neglect/home schooling or if other incident(s) of abuse/neglect are observed during the course of the investigation:

• Follow procedures as outlined above in regard to allegation of educational neglect;
• Clarify with parents that further investigation is needed relating to other allegations;
• Complete investigation of other allegations;

NOTE:  Reports involving educational neglect/home schooling and any other type of abuse or neglect will be treated as two separate reports with separate CA/N-1's being completed.  Contact CA/NHU to set up a second report.

• In the event that the initial report involves only educational neglect, but during the course of the investigation the CSW observes other abuse or neglect, the CSW will report the other allegations to CA/NHU as a separate initial report and proceed with an investigation of those allegations.

If a subsequent report of educational neglect is received regarding home schooling, and procedures have been followed, take action as follows:

• Contact the school district to provide subsequent information/report;
• Complete the CA/N-1 reporting the "Home Schooling" code and noting the referral.

NOTE:  A new investigation status date will be entered on the CA/N-1 for subsequent reports.

Notify the juvenile court of results of the CA/N investigation if status is "Preponderance of Evidence".