HOME INSTRUCTION

HOME INSTRUCTION 6172

The Meriden Board of Education recognizes the right of parents to provide instruction for their children at home, in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes 10-184 and 10-220. The position of the Board of Education in this matter is to consider a request for home instruction in keeping with existing statutory authority and requirements.

Section 10-184 of the Connecticut General Statutes describes the duties of parents for educating their children. It requires that parents or persons having control of children five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age cause such children “...to attend a public school regularly...” Section 10-184 also allows the parent or person having control of such child to educate the child in other than the public schools if they are “able to show that the child is elsewhere receiving equivalent instruction in the studies taught in the public schools.”

The duties of local Boards of Education regarding home instruction are described in Section 10-220 of the Connecticut General Statutes. As part of their identified duties, local boards of education are required to “cause each child five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age who is not a high school graduate and is living in the school district to attend school in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-184.” If parents wish to educate their child in their home, they must show equivalency as described in Section 10-184, and it is the responsibility of the Meriden Board of Education to determine whether or not a child residing in Meriden would receive equivalent instruction as required by Section 10-220.

Legal References:

Connecticut General Statutes, Section 10-184

Connecticut General Statutes, Section 10-220

Approved April 28, 1981

Amended:  December 6, 2016