EQUIVALENT INSTRUCTION
The Board of Directors believes that Iowa’s public education system provides its children with an excellent opportunity to obtain a sound basic education which is essential to a child’s future economic success and personal happiness. However, the Board does recognize that not all of Iowa’s children can attend public school, and that some parents do not wish their children to attend public school. In the event that a child cannot attend or the child’s parents wish the child to not attend public school, the child must receive equivalent instruction from a certified teacher elsewhere.
The Board of Directors shall be responsible to annually make the final determination as to what constitutes equivalent instruction provided to a resident child not attending an approved public or private school. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent of schools, with the Board’s approval, to develop guidelines in accordance with the laws of Iowa and Board policy for determining equivalent instruction. It shall also be the responsibility of the superintendent of schools to report to the Board the names and ages of resident students not attending an approved public or private school and sufficient other information to enable the Board to determine whether the child is receiving equivalent instruction from a certified teacher.
The Board may seek proof of satisfactory student progress by requiring documentation of course work or test results, or by any other reasonable method. In making a determination of the equivalency of an educational program, the Board may approve an instructional program which provides less time of instruction than that in a public school day by considering such factors as pupil-teacher ratio, pupil ability and needs. The hours designated for instruction shall not exceed the hours in a public school day.
If the Board receives information indicating that a child not enrolled in the public schools has been evaluated as being in need of special education, the Board or its designee shall notify the child’s parent or guardian of the results of the evaluation and request a meeting with the parent or guardian to assess the child’s instructional program. A Board’s prior approval, based upon a finding of equivalency under these standards, may be withdrawn in light of the child’s need for special education.
LEGAL REFS.: Iowa Code Secs. 257.25, 279.10, 279.11, 299.1-6, 299.11, 299.15 and 299.24 (1985 & Supp. 1985)
670 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 63
Johnson v. Charles City Community School’s Board of Education
368 N.W. 2nd 74 (Iowa 1985)
CROSS REFS.: 501. Student Attendance
501.3 Student Compulsory Attendance Requirements
601.2 School Calendar
601.3 School Day
602.6 Special Education
Adopted: January 12, 1987
Reviewed: March 11, 1996
March 20, 2000
November 21, 2005
May 16, 2011
June 13, 2016