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Home Instruction
For families who elect to educate their child(ren) at home, the Home Instruction service provides participating districts and parents support throughout the year with providing clear expectations and regular communication to ensure compliance. In addition, it provides a consistent level of expertise on which districts can rely.
Welcome to Home Instruction
The following school districts subscribe to the OCM BOCES Home Instruction Service: Baldwinsville, Cazenovia, Cincinnatus, DeRuyter, East Syracuse Minoa, Homer, Lafayette, Lyncourt, Marathon, McGraw, Solvay, and Westhill School Districts. All other districts should contact their home district for forms and procedures.
If you wish to homeschool your child, you must send a letter of intent to the Home Instruction Liaison and the Superintendent of Schools of your home school district. Ms. Christine Colosurdo and, Mr. John Salatte, will be acting as liaisons between the parent and district to support and assist you and answer any questions you might have about Home Instruction.
The letter of intent must include your name and address, school district, your child's name (first, middle, and last), birth date, grade the instruction will take place, as well as the duration that the instruction will occur (example: from September 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021). This letter is due in the office on July 1st or within fourteen days of commencing Home Instruction.
"Veteran" homeschoolers well understand the regulations, filing requirements, and matters of compliance with assessment. However, should you have any questions or require assistance at any time during the year, please do not hesitate to contact your liaison.
District Liaisons
NYS Certified School Counselor
OCM BOCES, 1710 NYS Route 13, Cortland, NY 13045
(607) 758-5265
ccolasurdo@ocmboces.org
Sending paperwork to your Home Instruction Liaison
Please Note: At this time, we prefer all paperwork to be submitted through email (pdf's, google documents, etc.) or fax. If you are unable to email or fax paperwork, or prefer to mail paperwork through traditional mail, you may still send paperwork via traditional mail. Letters of receipt will be emailed, so please check emails for communication from homeschool liaison.
Forms & Reports
Forms for families working with Christine Colasurdo
(Cincinnatus, DeRuyter, East Syracuse Minoa, Homer, LaFayette, Lyncourt, Marathon, McGraw, Solvay, Westhill)
Forms for families working with John Salatte
(Baldwinsville, Chittenango & Cazenovia)
Examples of Completed Individual Home Instruction Plans
The basic requirements for homeschooling your child are:
- 180 days of instruction per year (900 hours for K-6, 990 hours for 7-12)
- Letter of Intent to home school your child(ren) due by July 1st or within 14 days of beginning homeschooling
- Develop an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) for each homeschooled child due August 15th or within 4 weeks of receipt of the blank IHIP form and regulations
- Submit 4 quarterly reports which indicate the progress of your homeschooler
- Complete an annual evaluation for each homeschooled child
- Age requirements:
-If your child is 6 years old on or before Dec. 1, you must register him/her with Home Instruction. You may use either a Kindergarten or First Grade Curriculum.
-If your child turns 16 years old on or after July 1, you must register him/her with Home Instruction for the entire current school year.
Important Information on Record Retention
According to the NYS Department of Education, districts are not required to retain records for home-instructed students. Parents are required to keep attendance records for each home-instructed student. Since districts are not required to keep information on home-instructed students, we highly encourage parents to create and maintain a portfolio for their home-instructed student(s) that is evidence of the student's progress and achievement. The portfolio should also include any correspondence with the school district. This portfolio may be helpful should home-instructed students decide to seek admission to a college.
