Vermont Homeschooling Education Standards

Vermont homeschoolers must meet state requirements.

More than 2,100 children in Vermont were educated at home during the 2006-2007 school year, according to the Vermont Department of Education (DOE) "Guidelines for Home Study." Parents who homeschool their children are required by state law to meet guidelines regarding enrollment age, teaching standards and assessment criteria.

Time Frame

The Vermont DOE explains in its "Guidelines for Home Study" packet that all children from ages 6 to 16 must be enrolled in an approved school environment. To enroll in a home study program, notice must be given to the DOE for each child every year that the child will be homeschooled. Children under 6 and over 16 are eligible for enrollment in home study programs, but enrollment is not required.

Standards

The Vermont DOE requires that all students enrolled in a homeschooling program receive instruction in the six core subject areas: communication skills; citizenship, history and government; English, American and other literature; physical education and comprehensive health education; the natural sciences and fine arts. Children older than 13 may substitute elective studies for the fine arts requirement. No detailed requirements or standards are provided, as each student's coursework is determined individually based on age and ability.

Assessment

To ensure adequate yearly progress, each child enrolled in a Vermont homeschooling program must complete an end-of-the-year assessment, according to the DOE. Families may choose from a progress report by a Vermont licensed teacher, a parent or teacher advisory report and portfolio, the results of an approved standardized test, or a combination of the three assessment options to demonstrate each child's yearly progress.

References

• Vermont Department of Education: "Guidelines for Home Study in Vermont"