Thank you for visiting this page, which we have put together for your convenience. It is intended to share accurate information that you might not be aware of.
Connecticut has families with children who are all homeschooled, as well as blended families with some of the children in a family being homeschooled while others are enrolled in public or private school. In the event that a family decides to withdraw their child to homeschool, there is only one thing that they need to do – give the school district – Superintendent or the Head of School for a private school, a Letter of Withdrawal. Effective immediately upon the parent delivering that letter, the student is no longer enrolled. The school district no longer has any jurisdiction over that family as they are now homeschoolers.
Parents withdrawing their children to homeschool should not be threatened with DCF or reported to DCF for simply declining to file the Notice of Intent (NOI) form. Why? Because it is NOT required by law and that would be false reporting (illegal). It is also harassment and the homeschool community has seen it happen time and time again – beyond coincidence of having so many school districts uninformed about the law.
Furthermore, there have been numerous reports of parents with special needs children who have given up on the efficacy of the PPT to set their child up for success with appropriate services and an IEP plan. When these parents have reached a point of completion with their disappointment, they have frequently already researched home education. When they announce they are going to homeschool, they are then threatened with DCF or just reported outright. Parents of special needs children have a right to homeschool. They often find more appropriate services for their children through private providers. To report them to DCF for exercising their right to home educate, is unacceptable.
In either of the above incidents, the bar for reporting abuse or neglect has not been reached. It is, as it has been reported many times and news outlets in CT have published – intentional harassment. It needs to stop.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) is not required by law. It is a policy developed in 1990 by the State Board of Education. The homeschool community never agreed to that policy or document. Furthermore, the original document had a title. It was written, “Suggested Procedure for Home Instruction”
We invite you to read our laws and policies page here.
View the Letter of Withdrawal
View the Notice of Intent