Procedure 2.1.16 HOME INSTRUCTION

Approved: November 20, 2012

Revised: April 21, 2015

1.0 Procedures

1.1 A Home Instruction program may be provided for a pupil where,

The pupil will be absent from school because of serious illness, injury or exclusion;
A medical certificate or documentation is furnished stating why the student is unable to attend school;
The student is able to benefit from the tutorial given; and
The Principal, in consultation with the appropriate Superintendent, is satisfied that home instruction isrequired;
The pupil must be registered in a DSB Ontario North East school;
The pupil must have attended a minimum of 1 day of school.

1.2 Every pupil given home instruction shall receive a minimum of five (5) hours of instruction each week, given in at least two Additional time is at the discretion of the Superintendent of Education who holds the home instruction portfolio, in consultation with the school Principal.

1.3 The Home Instruction Program will be created in consultation between the classroom teacher and the home instruction teacher. This program of instruction will consist of both instruction and student support. The program will be identified on the home instruction form. (Appendix A)

1.4 A teacher employed for the purpose of home instruction shall have a current Vulnerable Sector Screening and be registered and in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers and the Board.

1.5 When a teacher, who is currently employed by the Board, accepts the home instruction assignment, the instruction must be given outside of the teacher’s contracted school

1.6 A home instruction teacher will be registered with the Ontario College of Teachers and will be reimbursed at 1/1000 of the minimum salary of Category 1, Year 0 (plus 4% vacation) in accordance with the appropriate teacher collective

1.7 When an OCT qualified teacher is unable to fill a home instruction teaching assignment, an unqualified person may be considered for the position in consultation with the Principal and Superintendent of Education responsible for Home Instruction.

1.8 Home instruction shall not be given on those days designated as school

1.9 The Superintendent of Education responsible for Home Instruction must authorize home instruction and any modification of

1.10 After authorization, the Superintendent of Education responsible for Home Instruction will notify the payroll department of the following details of an approved program;

Effective date of home instruction program,
Expected duration of program, and
Minimum instruction time and number of periods per

1.11 Whenever possible, a neutral site should be agreed upon by the parent/guardian and the school Principal, for the Home Instruction to take place.

1.12 Kilometrage to the neutral site from the student’s school will be paid at the approved Board rate. The teacher shall submit their Travel Expense Form (found in Docushare under ‘Forms >> Business and Financial Forms’ – sample shown in Appendix D) to the Principal for approval and processing.

1.13 The Principal shall:

Meet with the parent to discuss the student’s needs;
Ensure the appropriate documentation is completed;
Determine the length of time and number of hours that are required;
Send copies of documents to the Superintendent of Education responsible for Home Instruction for approval (Appendix A);
Obtain Superintendent of Education with Home Instruction responsibility approval for any unusual requests, such as;
- Home instruction more than five (5) hours per week, and/or
- Home instruction occurring during school holidays;
First offer the student’s classroom teacher the opportunity to provide the home instruction to offer continuity in the delivery of instruction;
If the classroom teacher is unavailable to do so, then offer the assignment to another teacher of the same school;
In the case where a teacher of the home school cannot be secured to deliver the program, the Principal will then seek a teacher elsewhere in the
When no teacher can be found, a person who is unqualified may be hired by the Principal in consultation with the Superintendent of Education with Home Instruction responsibility.
Sign the home instruction teacher’s time sheets and forward to the payroll office (Appendix C);
Sign the Travel Expense Form (found in Docushare under ‘Forms >> Business and Financial Forms’ – sample shown in Appendix D), identifying that it was for Home Instruction purposes, and forward to the appropriate Superintendent of Education with Home Instruction responsibility.
Supervise the work of the teacher/individual employed for the purpose of home instruction; and
Make clear, to the home instruction teacher, that at all times a parent or guardian must be present in the agreed upon location and in sight when the teacher is delivering instruction to the student.

1.14 The Home Instruction Teacher shall:

Consult with the principal about the number of sessions and lengths of the sessions based on the needs of the student;
Contact the family and arrange the dates and times for the home instruction;
Create, in consultation with the classroom teacher(s), the program of instruction and studentsupport;
Keep the principal and classroom teacher(s) updated regularly (as determined by the school Principal) as to the progress of the student;
Provide the student’s marks to the school when available; and
Maintain time records of hours worked and provide timesheets on a regular basis to the principal.

The Parent shall:

Provide the school with the signed Home Instruction form (Appendix A);
Sign a Release of Information form, providing the home instruction teacher with information required for effective instruction (Appendix B);
Ensure that there is an adult present in the agreed upon location and in sight for the duration of the home instruction;
Ensure that there is a quiet location for instruction; and
Ensure that assigned homework is completed.

Appendices

References