Home Schooling

Home Schooling in QuincyA mother helps a student write the word "Apple"

Home schooling is governed by Massachusetts General Laws chapter 76, § 1. For children of compulsory school age (6–16), home schooling requires advance approval by the district in which the child lives, under the policy that the school committee has adopted. If you are considering home schooling your child(ren), please review each item below to learn more about the application process:

Home School Intent

For each school year, a parent/guardian who would like to home school their child must complete the application process which will be made available after the Home School Intent Form is completed. A link to this form is provided below. Please note that prior to submitting your Home School Intent Form, you must first begin the process by communicating directly with the Principal of the school your child is currently attending or would be attending if enrolled in the Quincy Public Schools. The completed Home School Intent Form will be reviewed by the Superintendent’s office for consideration. At this point, the Home School Application Form will be provided. Note: The home school application form will require submission of your child’s Home School Plan.

Home School Plan

Once you receive access to the Home School Application Form you will be asked to submit the following information as part of your home school petition.

Curriculum

Home Schooling parents/guardians are responsible for imparting comparable knowledge to that given in Quincy Public Schools. The Home School Plan should include details of the material to be taught in each subject during the school year in question. Click here to access a Curriculum Plan Template.

This material should reflect the Massachusetts Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks. Copies of the Frameworks are available via the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.


Materials

Texts and learning materials to be used by home-schooled students must be specified and provided by the home school parent/guardian. The Quincy Public Schools will provide advice/information regarding appropriate texts and materials upon request. Click here to access a Materials Template.

Time Allotments

Home-schooled students should receive at least the same number of hours of instruction in each subject as our public school students do. Guidelines in this regard can be found here: Click here to access a Time Allotment Template.

Assessment

For each academic year, evidence of a home-schooled student’s academic progress should be submitted to the Superintendent’s Office by January 31 and July 15. Digital content can be emailed to [email protected] while hard copies can be delivered to:

Attn: Michael Marani
34 Coddington St, Quincy MA 02169

That evidence must offer at least one of the following forms:

  1. Standardized Test Results

    The home schooling parent/guardian will be responsible for acquiring, administering and grading standardized tests. The Quincy Public Schools will provide information regarding appropriate tests per grade/subject upon request.

  2. Criterion Referenced Texts

    The home schooling parents may request appropriate midterm/final examinations of the school the students would be attending. The parent/guardian will be responsible for correcting and grading these tests.

  3. Portfolio Assessment

    Home schooling parents/guardians may assess student progress in this manner. If so, the portfolio must include completed and graded work upon submission.

Agreement to the terms of submission of academic progress noted above will be required when completing the Home School Application.

Upon the submission of the Home School Application, the Superintendent will either approve of your petition, request additional information or bring it to the Quincy School Committee for action. If you desire to explain or support your petition to the Superintendent, you will be contacted to schedule such an appearance.

To begin your Home Schooling Petition, please complete the Home School Intent Form »