A sample of factors that a school committee may wish to consider in evaluating the "thoroughness and efficiency" of the instruction offered by a private school is attached. Street or elevated railway companies must provide special rates for public and private school students during the days or evenings when school is in session not to exceed one-half of the regular fare. 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906, Voice: (781) 338-3000 Persons operating an education institution have an obligation to provide a student with his or her written transcript upon the student's request. "Prior approval of the superintendent or [school] committee is a prerequisite to the removal of children from school and to the commencement of a homeschooling program.". The school periodically evaluates students' skills, competencies, and knowledge and documents their progress. However, a memorandum put out by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) suggests a school committee include in the criteria for approval adequate student learning time. Does the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or any other state agency have responsibility for approving private schools for purposes of the compulsory school attendance law? https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-k12-schools/s/massachusetts Although the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not review, monitor, or investigate school committee decisions regarding private school approval, it does require school committees to report such information to the Department. The fire marshal shall keep or cause to be kept a record of all fires or explosions occurring in the state, and ensure that the results of such investigations and records are open to public inspection. Washington House Bill 1638 removes the personal belief exemption for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine requirement for public schools, private schools … c. 76, § 1. The only requirement is that a school committee apply its policies and procedures consistently to all private schools located within its jurisdiction. (m) Each school district, charter school, approved private day or residential school or collaborative school may … May a school committee delegate its authority to approve or disapprove a private school to the superintendent or another school administrator? c. 76, § 1, should not be interpreted as extending particular public school mandates regarding instruction and curriculum to private schools. The instruction in all studies required by law must equal in thoroughness, efficiency, and progress of the child, that in the public schools of the same town. Notwithstanding the distinction between the two approval functions, the Department recognizes that the programs offered by some private special education schools are so specialized that it is difficult for the local school committee to assess the equivalency of the programs to those offered in the public schools. Should a school committee notify the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education when it approves or disapproves a private school? Generally, the "thoroughness and efficiency" language in G.L. A student may not begin a home school program until the home school program is approved by the school district in which the student resides. In addition to the school committee's approval responsibility, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has responsibility under G.L. State regulations broadly define restraint as restriction of students' … No; at least not for regular attendance purposes. In addition to the school committee's approval responsibility, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has responsibility under G.L. 27.01(2). The local superintendent of schools files an annual report with the commissioner of education on or before May 1st on the number of pupils enrolled in nonpublic schools within the district. Following are some suggested elements for such a policy. "); the procedures for school committee approval (application process, timetable, requested documentation, site visits, procedures for periodic review of approval status, etc. No. Once a school is approved, is the approval subject to renewal or periodic review? School committees may authorize the prepayment of tuition of a publicly place student with disabilities, for a period not exceeding three months, to any approved private school. The form, Notification of New Private School requires the school committee to confirm that it has approved the private school, the date which the private school commenced operation, and other basic information, such as the school's street and e-mail addresses. School committee approval is needed for compulsory attendance purposes and, therefore, is required only for regular day school programs. School committees will approve a private school when satisfied that its instruction equals the public schools in the same town in thoroughness and efficiency and that private students are making the same progress as public school students. Whether to require fingerprint-based check for volunteers is left to the discretion of each school. In that case, the private school must transfer the student's records to the school that the student will be attending. School committee approval is neither an evaluation of program quality nor an endorsement of any particular school. Department means the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. I was kicked out of a private school in Massachusetts for stating to the school counselor that I wanted to die. The responsibility to consider and act upon private school applications for approval rests solely with local school committees under G.L. The 1852 law required every city and town to offer primary school… The school committee may choose to perform its own evaluation of the school in accordance with G.L. School committee approval under G.L. The school has a clearly defined organization that facilitates its objectives. Thus, attendance by a Massachusetts student between the ages of 6 and 16 at a private school operating without such approval would not fulfill the requirements of the Massachusetts compulsory school attendance law, and the student would be considered truant. c. 76, § 1, does not specify the manner in which a school committee conducts its review process, school committees are afforded wide discretion in developing their own policies. Private schools are eligible to receive grants from the Massachusetts Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics Grant Fund with the purpose of increasing the number of qualified science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers and improving the course offerings in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Eligible students with disabilities who attend private school at private expense are entitled to special education designed to meet their needs. Keep in mind they are a PRIVATE school. Can I sue them for this? 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