From HSLDA COVID-19: No Assessment Required This Year

Homeschool families will not be required to submit assessments upon subsequent notification for the 2020-21 school year in order to continue homeschooling. Originally a technical tax correction bill, House Bill 197 was amended to include coronavirus response legislation. The bill reads on page 724-725:

“(L) No school district shall require the parent of any student who was instructed at home in accordance with section 3321.04 of the Revised Code for the 2019-2020 school year to submit to the district superintendent the results of a standardized achievement assessment administered to the student as a condition of the district allowing the student to continue to receive home instruction for the 2020-2021 school year.”

Although the language is somewhat unclear, CHEO’s legislative liaison, Melanie Elsey, was told by the Non Public Education Department of the Ohio Department of Education, who proposed the language, that the intent was to waive the entire assessment requirement for the current school year for homeschoolers in light of the challenges presented by the coronavirus. The ODE has assured CHEO and HSLDA that it will issue guidance to all school districts that homeschoolers should not be required to submit assessments. 

However, any family still wishing to assess is free to do so. Families who have issues when they submit their notice of intent in the fall are invited to contact HSLDA for assistance. You can visit CHEO’s website for more information also!