British Columbia Educational Code For
Homeschooling
This is not intended to be legal advice and is distributed
for information purposes only. Check for updates at your public
library. These regulations came from Division 4 of the British
Columbia School Act of 1996
Compulsory attendance - 5 on or by December
31 (I could not locate an upper age limit in the School Act.
If you know of a verifiable link that has this age, please send me the link.)
Division 4 - Home Education
Home education
12 A parent of a child who is required to enroll in
an educational program under section 3
(a) may educate the child at home or elsewhere in accordance
with this Division, and
(b) must provide that child with an educational program.
Registration
13 (1) A parent of a child who is required under section
12 to provide the child with an educational program must register
the child on or before September 30 in each year with
(a) a school of the parent's choice that is operating in the
school district in which the parent resides,
(a.1) if the child is an eligible child, a school referred
to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c), or a francophone school of the
parent's choice that is operating in the francophone school district
in which the parent resides,
(a.2) if the child is an immigrant child, a school referred
to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c), or a francophone school of the
parent's choice that is operating in the francophone school district
in which the parent resides but only if the francophone education
authority responsible for that school permits the parent to register
that child,
(b) a distance
education school providing services to the school district
in which the parent resides or with the minister if no distance
education school provides services to that district, or
(c) an independent
school operating in British Columbia.
(2) If, in accordance with subsection (1), a parent is entitled
to register his or her child with a school or, in the case of
an eligible child or immigrant child, with a francophone school,
(a) the board that has jurisdiction over the school must ensure
that the principal, vice principal or director of instruction
responsible for that school registers the child, or
(b) the francophone education authority that has jurisdiction
over the francophone school must ensure that the francophone
principal, francophone vice principal or francophone director
of instruction of that francophone school registers the child.
(3) A school or francophone school that registers a child
under this section must provide the child with access to educational
services in accordance with the regulations.
(4) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence.
Power to report
14 (1) A person who believes that a child who is required
to be registered under section 13 is not so registered may
report that belief to the superintendent of schools for the school
district in which that child resides.
(1.1) A person who believes that a child who is being educated
in accordance with section 12 is not receiving an educational
program may report that belief
(a) in the case of a child registered under section 13 with
a francophone school, to the chief executive officer of the francophone
education authority for the francophone school district in which
that child resides, and
(b) in the case of a child registered under section 13 with
a school, an independent school or the minister, to the superintendent
of schools for the school district in which that child resides.
(2) On receipt of a report under this section, the superintendent
or chief executive officer must take such action as is required
by the orders of the minister.
(3) No action lies against
(a) a person making a report under subsection (1) or (1.1),
or
(b) the superintendent or chief executive officer in respect
of an action taken under subsection (2)
unless the report is made or the action is taken maliciously.
Other Resources for Homeschool Laws
Division
4 - Home Education
School Act of 1996
Home
School Examination Policy
Home schoolers have the option to write provincial examinations
and may register for and write them at the school where they
are registered. Schools should register home schoolers by faxing
the ministry a completed 1004 Form for Grade 10 courses
or a 3008 Form for Grade 11 and 12 courses (see Appendix
A). Please make sure to indicate "HS" for home schooler
in the grade category. The ministry reports only exam percentages
to home school students, unless a school grade has been reported.
A school should not report a school grade to the ministry unless
the student has been assessed by the school in the applicable
subject area. See Handbook page 34.
Homeschooling
Ministry of Education. Additional responsibilities of other institutions
toward homeschoolers.
Independent School Distributed Learning (DL) Program
Ministry of Education
Home Education
in BC: The Law
BCHLA encourages all home educators to register. Not doing so
places you outside the law.
Return
to British Columbia homeschooling information.
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