NYS Home School and Educational Resources - Newburgh Free Library: Archive: COVID Home Instruction

August 7, 2020: Statement from Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa and Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe on Decision to Reopen Schools

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented crisis, impacting New York’s students physically, emotionally and psychologically. Indeed, this has been one of, if not the most, challenging periods for education in our history. New York’s educators have heroically risen to the occasion, dedicating themselves to ensuring that students continued to learn as they also provided the level of care and compassion that our students need on a social-emotional level.

Click here to read full statement.

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July 24, 2020: Parent Update: Guidance to Reopen New York State Schools

Dear Parents,

Last week, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) released Guidance to Reopen New York State Schools to help schools and school districts as they plan to reopen, whether that occurs in person, remotely, or in a combination of the two. The guidance encourages community involvement and allows for flexibility so that districts and schools in every corner of the state can assess their unique situations and develop plans that best meet the needs of their students. The guidance document and an FAQ document are available on NYSED's Reopening Schools web page...

Click here to read full letter.

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July 16, 2020: State Education Department Issues Guidance to Reopen New York State Schools

   The New York State Education Department today released guidance to help schools and school districts as they plan to reopen, whether that occurs in person, remotely, or in a combination of the two. The guidance builds on the Framework of Guidance that the Department presented to the Board of Regents on Monday, July 13. 

“On Monday, the Department presented a comprehensive framework of guidance for safely educating students this Fall,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa.  “The guidance disseminated to schools today accounts for the health and safety of our children, teachers and school personnel while encouraging equitable access to the services and resources necessary for a high-quality education.”

“Working with students, parents, educators and stakeholders, the Board of Regents and the Department have developed a guidance document that will help schools as they prepare their respective reopening plans, “ said Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe.  “The guidance encourages community involvement and allows for flexibility so that districts and schools in every corner of the state can assess their unique situation and develop a plan that best meets the needs of their students."

Click here to read full statement.

Important (2/25/05):

In September 2004, the New York State Board of Regents adopted an amendment to section 100.10 of Commissioner's regulations relating to the home instruction of students of compulsory school age who wish to attend college on a full-time basis.

The amendment:

• requires students of compulsory school age who have yet to complete a four-year high school program and who seek to enroll in full-time college study to submit to the college verification from the school district of residence that the student will be meeting the compulsory education requirements through full-time college study. This verification must be in the form of an approved Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) that includes the full-time college study.

• permits school district residents, including home instructed students, to take five specific Regents examinations or approved alternative examinations for the purpose of meeting the preliminary education requirement for earning a college degree, applicable to students beyond compulsory school age.

• repeals the requirement that a student present satisfactory evidence of a preliminary education of at least a four-year high school course or its equivalent before beginning college degree study. This requirement was in conflict with the Commissioner's Regulation that permitted a student to earn a high school equivalency diploma through completing 24 semester hours as a recognized candidate for a college degree.

July 13, 2020 - Board of Regents Acts on Fourth Series of Emergency Regulations to Ease Burdens on Educators, Students and Professionals in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Program Deadline Extension: For the 2020-21 school year, the home instruction program deadline for submission of the written notice of intention to instruct at home is extended from July 1 until August 1, 2020.

June 3, 2020 - Board of Regents Acts on Third Series of Emergency Regulations to Ease Burdens on Educators, Students and Professionals in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Section 100.10(e) is amended to provide flexibility for the unit of study requirements for home instruction programs during the COVID-19 crisis, provided students meet the learning outcomes for the portion of the unit of study completed.
• Section 100.10(f) is amended to provide flexibility from the instructional day and/or hour requirements provided the home instruction program provides continuity of learning to students.
• Revision to April 4, 2020 amendment: These revised emergency regulations were adopted at the June BOR meeting to provide additional flexibility for the home instruction program annual assessment requirement. The revised amendment provides that due to the COVID-19 crisis, students shall be exempted from the annual assessment and alternative evaluation requirements for the 2019-2020 school year where a student otherwise achieves the learning outcomes in accordance with their individualized home instruction plan (IHIP).

April 6, 2020

• Section 100.10(h) regarding annual assessment for students participating in a program of home instruction is amended to provide that an alternative form of evaluation, in lieu of an annual assessment, shall be permitted for all grades in the 2019-20 school year due to the State of Emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to an Executive Order for the COVID-19 crisis. The Board of Regents today adopted emergency regulations to ease the burdens and provide important flexibility for educators, students, professionals and others to address interruptions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information regarding these emergency regulations is available on our website.