Frequently Asked Questions for Home Schooling

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Home > Parents > Home Schooling > Frequently Asked Questions

These are some common questions regarding home schooling. The answers are provided by Oregon Department of Education with references specific to Multnomah County.

Q:  At what age may students be home schooled?

A: Students may be home schooled at any time. However, in order to comply with the compulsory school attendance law, parents of students between the ages of 6-18 must notify their local Education Service District (ESD) of their intent to home school within 10 days of beginning to home school or withdrawing their child from school or moving to a new ESD region. ORS 339.030, 339.035, OAR 581-021-0026(4).
          Register your child for home schooling in Multnomah County.

Q: At what age must a child begin home schooling?

A: A parent whose child is 6 years old on or before September 1, and who is to be home schooled, must notify the local ESD of their intent to home school their child within 10 days of beginning to home school or moving to a new ESD region. ORS 339.010, OAR 581-021-0026(4). You can register your child at 5 years of age in preparation of your child's sixth birthday.
          Register your child for home schooling in Multnomah County.

Q: What about the child who turns 6 after September 1?

A: Although the child may be home schooled at any time, it is not necessary to notify the ESD until the beginning of school year following the child’s sixth birthday. You can register your child at 5 years of age in preparation of your child's sixth birthday through the Multnomah ESD home school online registration system.
          Register your child for home schooling in Multnomah County.

Q: What happens if a parent withdraws a student from school with the intent to home school and the parent does not notify the ESD within 10 days?

A: A student who is withdrawn from school and is not registered with the ESD as being home schooled within 10 days of being withdrawn is truant. Any gap of more than 10 days between withdrawal and registration equals truancy. OAR 581-023-0006(4)(b)

Q: What are the testing requirements for my home schooled child?

A: Home schooled children must be tested before the end of grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. The end of the grade is defined as before August 15 following the end of that school year. OAR 581-021-0026(5). Home schooled parents are required to organize and keep record of their child's testing.
          Upload your test records into your child's online home school account as a place of storage. 

Q: What if parents do not notify the ESD of intent to home school their child?

A: The compulsory school attendance law requires that all students between the ages of 6-18 years attend public school or be exempted as allowed by law in ORS 339.030. One of the options is home schooling [ORS 339.030 (1) (c-d)]. If a child is not in school and is not exempt under one of the provisions of the compulsory school attendance law, the child’s parent may be reported by the school district as in noncompliance with the compulsory school law and court action may follow. 

Q: Must I notify the MESD if my child returns to private or public school or if we move out of the area?

A: Although it is not required by law, it is best to keep your child's educational records up to date.
          Log into your child's online home school account.

Q: Must I notify my child's school prior to removing him/her for home schooling?

A: No, however, we suggest you notify the school attendance secretary so the school can withdraw your child.
 

Q: What information do I need to register my child?

A: To start the registration process you will need a valid email account to access the system. Once you are in the system you will need to provide your name and contact information, your child’s name, birth date, grade level, last school attended and whether your child qualifies for Special Education, ELL or a 504 plan. All information collected is confidential and not released outside of the district.
          Register your child for home schooling in Multnomah County.

Q: What are my registration options?

A: MESD provides an online portal for easy and quick registration.
          Register your child for home schooling in Multnomah County.

MESD also accepts written notification of intent to home school. In accordance with OAR 581-021-0026, home school families must provide the following information when submitting a written notification: 
          (A) The child's and the parent's name, address, telephone number (optional), and e-mail address (optional);
          (B) The child's birth date; and
          (C) The name of the school the child is presently attending, or last attended, or if child has not attended school, the name of the public school district in which the child resides.

Due to the current COVID-19 guidance, the Multnomah ESD building is closed and all Home School staff are working remotely at this time. Please contact the Home School team via email if you need further assistance. If you submit registration or send documents by mail, our response time may be delayed until after the Oregon Stay at Home order is lifted.

Q: I am not comfortable providing my email and submitting materials online. Will a written notice suffice?

A: Yes. Please call Pattie Lincoln at (503) 257-1689 for details on how to submit a written notification.

Due to the current COVID-19 guidance, the Multnomah ESD building is closed and all Home School staff are working remotely at this time. Please contact the Home School team via email if you need further assistance. If you submit registration or send documents by mail, our response time may be delayed until after the Oregon Stay at Home order is lifted.

Q: What curriculum requirements do I follow when I home school my child?

A: You are encouraged to set up a curriculum similar to the course of study pursued in the public schools. It is the responsibility of the parent / guardian to select and provide curriculum. Multnomah ESD does not provide home school curriculum.

Q: Where do I get textbooks and find out what standards must be met?

A: Local school districts are not required to furnish textbooks or curriculum guides. Some of them, depending on their policy, do provide materials. Also, commercial companies sell textbooks and curriculum materials. Purchasing textbooks and materials is the parent / guardian's responsibility. There are a variety of home school support groups that may be able to help you. You can usually find those by doing an internet search.

Q: Can Home School children attend a particular class or classes at their local district?

A: Many districts do offer classes and learning opportunities designed to meet the needs of home schooled children. Please check with your local school district.

Q: Can my child participate in interscholastic activities such as athletics, choir and band providing he / she meets eligibility criteria.

A: The short answer is yes. However, there are some specialized requirements depending on the school district and the activity. Please contact your local school district for eligibility requirements.

Home school students may participate in interscholastic activities at their resident school if they are compliant with home school law and meet the requirements of the OSAA (Oregon School Athletics Association). OSAA requires home school students to be registered at the beginning of the school year and tested yearly with an approved exam by August 15th prior to the school year; the student must meet the 23rd percentile or more on those exams (OAR 581-021-0033). Yearly test results should be submitted to the athletic director of your local school or school district prior to participation in an interscholastic activity. Students may participate in interscholastic activities while awaiting test results. Please contact your resident school district if you have questions regarding interscholastic activities, visit the OSAA website at www.osaa.org or call 1.888.838.6722.

Q: May my child receive academic credit and / or graduate?

A: School districts are not required to award credit toward graduation for work completed while being home schooled. However, many school districts will work with the parent and child to create opportunities for earning credit toward graduation. Please check with your local school district.

Q: I'm interested in making sure my child learns about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. What are some resources available?

​A: ​Courageous Conversations About Race​
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Q: How do I receive Special Education Services for my home schooled student?

A: Home school is a parental choice. If you wish to receive Special Education Services, you will need to work with your local school district. Districts are required to do a child find for home schooled students, but they are not required to provide services to the child unless they have worked out an arrangement. Parents / guardians are encouraged to speak directly to their resident district's Special Education Director about their needs. Special Education Services are not provided through MESD.

Q: When do I have to submit my child's test results?

A: You are not required to submit test results to MESD unless asked. However, we strongly encourage you to upload / input test results into your students online home school account. Regardless of submission, you are required to have tests completed by the end of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 ending August 15th.

While Oregon law states you are required to test your child at grades 3, 5, 8 and 10, MESD encourages annual testing so you can better monitor your child's academic progress. You can store test records as part of the online home school account.
          Log in to your online home school account.

Q: Who is authorized to administer the tests?

A: The test examiner must be a "neutral person" and one who is "qualified" to administer such tests. A “neutral person” is defined as an individual who is selected by the parent or guardian of the child to be taught at home who has no relationship by bloodline or marriage to the child. A “qualified person” is defined in OAR 581-021-0026 (1)(i) as a person who:

• Holds a current personnel service license or teaching license from Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission; or

• Has been licensed by the Oregon Board of Psychological Examiners; or

• Has met the publisher’s qualifications for purchase, and has purchased at least one test from the list set forth in section (1)(a) of this rule; or

• Provides evidence of satisfactory completion of a graduate course in which test administration and interpretation is included in the objective; or

• Has previously qualified as a tester pursuant to paragraph (1)(i) of this rule, and has during the previous year administered at least one test from the list set forth in section (1)(a) of this rule.

                    List of qualified persons (XLS).

Still have questions?

Please contact Melinee Steck (msteck@mesd.k12.or.us), Home School Coordinator for MESD.

For further information concerning Oregon home school laws please contact the Oregon Department of Education.

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