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Alternative Education, and Home School, Charter, and Online, Schools

Approved: 9/11/02
Revised:    12/13/06, 6/10/11, 8/12/15, 11/13/24

Recognizing that a meaningful education is the legal right of each student of school age (6-18), South Sanpete School District is committed to serving all of the students that are legally under its jurisdiction. The District also recognizes that some parents/guardians may believe the best education for their children may not be in a public school, but rather in an Alternative Educational setting: Home School, Electronic High School, Private School, Charter School, Online program, etc. The District respects a parent’s decision to provide an alternative means of education for their children providing it is within State law and District guidelines.

Definitions—
  1.       Home School - means when parents/guardians choose to provide education for their children using their own In order for parents to provide this type of education, they must officially excuse their children from compulsory public school attendance in accordance with District and Utah law.
    Utah Code § 53A-11-102
  2.       Private School - means an accredited school that is supported by tuition and fees paid by the parent/guardian and employs teacher(s) to provide education for their
  3.       Designated School - means the school that a home or private school student would normally attend based upon geographical area.
  4.       Charter school - means a school that receives public funding, but operates independently of the established public school system in which it is
  5.        Online student - means a child who participates in an online education program sponsored or supported by the State Board of Education, a school district, or a charter school and who generates funding for the school district or school under Utah Code Ann. § 53A-17a-103(4) and Utah Administrative Code.
  6.        Dual enrolled student - means any child who is enrolled in a regularly established school, including a charter school or a statewide online program.
Policy—

Parents who choose to educate their children in a Home School setting or another Alternative Educational setting shall meet or exceed the following State and District requirements:

Home-Centered Enrollment Option

Home-centered, school-supported enrollment is an enrollment option where a student is allowed to complete the course work for one or more courses or subject areas from home during part of the day and to attend in-person instruction for the remainder of the day.
Utah Code § 53G-6-710(1)(a) (2023)

The Board of Education may elect to allow home-centered, school-supported enrollment at one or more schools within the District by resolution establishing that as an enrollment option.
Utah Code § 53G-6-710(2)(a) (2023)

Requirements for Home-Centered School Enrollment

 If home-centered school enrollment is authorized by the Board, the District shall:

  1. Establish standards and requirements for students to participate;
  2. Provide the instructional materials to be used by participating students;
  3. Provide a participating student’s parents with resources the District considers appropriate to assist in parent involvement with student learning;
  4. Develop assessments to measure a participating student’s academic progress;
  5. Administer the assessments to a participating student; and
  6. Monitor compliance with the standards and requirements for participation.
    Utah Code § 53G-6-710(2)(b) (2023)

Students participating in home-centered school enrollment are subject to statewide assessments to the same extent as students in regular school enrollment.
Utah Code § 53G-6-710(4) (2023)         

  1. Dual Enrollment Student
    1. A student may not be dually enrolled in the South Sanpete School District if currently enrolled in another statewide public school. If transferring from a charter school or public online school the following condition must be met:
      1.      Students may attend their school of residence only after written release is obtained from the charter/online school and written permission to enroll is granted by the requested school and school
  2. Enrollment of Transferring Charter School/Statewide Online Students in District Schools
    Utah Administrative Code R277-472-5
    1. The school shall enroll the student as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks after specific formal parental request. 
    2. Schools may limit students who are transferring from a charter/online school to a district school after September 30 for the upcoming school year due to: school, grade level, program, and courses that are at capacity.
    3. Students who are enrolled at charter/online schools and are seeking enrollment at district schools should check with the school for official current capacity information about schools, grade levels, programs or courses before leaving a charter/online school and forfeiting a charter/online school enrollment right.
    4. If a school changes the location of services for a student with disabilities, the new location may only be considered a change of placement as determined by the student's IEP and consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. 1400, Part B.
    5. Consistent with Utah Code, schools may deny enrollment to students in a public school if they have been expelled from another public school. Utah Code § 53A-11-904(3)
    6. Schools may deny students' enrollment in a public school if they leave a public school with disciplinary procedures at a previous public school until previous allegations have been resolved.
  1. Home, Charter, and Online School Participation in Public School Extracurricular Activities
    1. Home School students who are exempted from attending public school may be eligible for participation in extra-curricular activities providing they meet eligibility requirements required by all students as outlined in Utah Administrative Code R277- 700-6, District Policy JEC-SP, and the rules of the UHSAA.
    2. Charter, and Online students may be eligible for participation in extra- curricular activities providing they meet eligibility requirements required by all students as outlined in Utah Administrative Code R277- 700-6, District Policy JEC-SP, and the rules of the UHSAA. Charter and Online students may only participate in extra-curricular activities providing their school doesn’t participate in that activity.
    3. Home School, Charter, and Online students may only participate in extra- curricular or school activities at the school within whose boundaries the student’s custodial parent(s) or legal guardian resides.
  2. South Sanpete Online Curriculum
    1. The District has optional on-line curriculum programs available for parents who may want to supplement their own curriculum at home.
    2. The online programs are a comprehensive K-12 curriculum that offer the flexibility of placing students on levels commensurate with their age and
    3. In order to use the online program, the parent/guardian must complete the registration information found on the District’s website and also
    4. Parents are responsible for all computer equipment, and internet connections, and expenses to access the District’s online
    5. Parents who choose to use the online curriculum are required to make a weekly contact with the school or curriculum This weekly contact may be scheduled during the day, evening, or periodically done via technology.
    6. Parents may also choose to participate in a dual enrollment program where the student takes some courses online and then takes some at their respective