Welcome to Home Schooling
The Office of Home Instruction is responsible for coordinating all documentation related
to home-instructed students on behalf of the following school districts: Dryden, Groton,
Ithaca, Lansing, Trumansburg and South Seneca.
In an expanded effort to help our environment and lessen the carbon footprint, all home
school information, forms, regulations, resources, etc. are available on our website at
http://www.tstboces.org/node/19 . The documents can be downloaded as MS Word
files for your convenience. If you do not have access to the internet and wish for a hard
copy of any document to be mailed, please let the Director of External Programs know.
WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL PROGRAMS
I am excited to be working for TST BOCES and I am looking forward to working with
you and supporting you as you provide instruction to your child(ren). I have been an
educational professional for more than 28 years, including working with students of all ages
in several of the component districts. Over the years, I have worked as a school counselor,
a physical education teacher, an athletic director, been a school administrator of an
alternative school and a career & technical school. I am familiar with many of the districts
through my work at Newfield, Trumansburg and Ithaca School Districts as well as my past
6 years with GST BOCES in Elmira. I want to thank you in advance for working with our
office as we continue to fine-tune our processes and procedures. All documents should be
sent to Alissa Elghazi, my administrative assistant, at aelghazi@tstboces.org. The office
phone number is (607) 257-1555 ext. 7203 or (607) 257-1561. Feel free to contact the
office at any time if there is any way we can be of assistance through the process of home
schooling your child(ren). The External Program Department covers a wide array of
services, one of which is home instruction. All programs I oversee are off campus so I am
frequently out of the office, however Alissa will be here to respond to your communications,
document and file paperwork, and print all documents for me to approve. Please accept
my very best wishes for a successful year of home schooling.
-- Diahann Hesler
We are now offering PLATO Courseware - FREE
We are extremely excited to be offering a free resource to homeschooling families this year!
PLATO Courseware is an online learning environment with courses that are aligned with NYS
Standards. Browse their course catalog to see if they offer courses your child needs this year!
Please contact Alissa Elghazi via email at aelghazi@tstboces.org if you are interested in learning
more about this new option and she will forward to you an introductory letter with additional details
and log-in information. TST BOCES will be hosting a webinar training on June 30th with periodic
trainings to follow!
Revised 7/2015
PAPERWORK REMINDERS AND DEADLINES
 We have almost 500 students, organized by school district. To ensure that your
paperwork is properly accounted for and filed, PLEASE put the following information
on EVERY piece of paperwork that your send in.
-the school district in which you reside
-your child’s name, grade, address, phone number,
-parent or guardian’s name, email
-type of paperwork: Letter of Intent, IHIP, First Quarterly Report, etc.
 You are encouraged to maintain copies of ALL paperwork sent to this office.
 Letters of Intent are due on July 1 or as soon as the decision to home school has
been made.
 Individualized Home Instruction Plans (IHIP’s) are due generally within four
weeks of the letter of intent, or by August 15th.
 Quarterly Reports are due every 10 weeks. Dates are stated on the IHIP. If no
dates are submitted, we will expect to receive your quarterly reports on the following
schedule:
 November 15
 February 1
 April 15
 June 15
 Year-End Assessments and Standardized Test Results are sent in with the fourth
quarterly report or immediately after receiving the test results.
 Please be cognizant of the deadlines so you can remain in compliance with
the home school instruction requirements.
MAILING/E-MAILING REPORTS
 Whenever you email regarding your child, please use the child’s last name and
the school district in which the child resides as it will help with maintaining
records. Thank you.
 All Documents can be emailed, mailed, or hand delivered but receipt of all
documents will be confirmed via email. The office preference is email due to the high
costs of postage and to make as little of a carbon footprint as possible. It will save
you postage and paper, and it will make the review process go more smoothly. It will
also provide a good electronic, digital copy of all communications for you.
 Please try to put documents in MS Word, pdf, or other compatible file format, and
use a font of 12 points or less and delete unused spaces to make printing out
documents more energy efficient.
 Microsoft Word documents attached to the email work best. All forms can be found
on our website.
 You will receive an email response when your document has been received. If you
don't receive an email confirmation within two weeks, either email it again, or call
(607) 257-1555, Ext. 7203 or (607) 257-1561 to ensure it was received.
 If you wish a written record stating that we have received your report, please print
out the email confirming that it was received.
TST BOCES HOME SCHOOL WEBSITE
To get information and download paperwork, go to: http://www.tstboces.org/node/19
Revised 7/2015
AGE REQUIREMENTS
 If your child is 6 years old on or before Dec. 1, you must register him/her with Home
Instruction. You may use either Kindergarten or First Grade Curriculum.
 If your child turns 16 years old on or after July 1, you must register him/her with
Home Instruction for the entire school year.
SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDARS & CONTACTS-these are available on your home
district website. You can also find a contact list of administrators there.
GRADUATING FROM HOME INSTRUCTION
Once your child turns 16 and completes that year of schooling, it is your choice whether to
continue submitting paperwork or not, even if he/she continues with home instruction.
However, be aware that if sometime in the future you request a Superintendent’s
Letter of Equivalency for college, OR dual-credit at a community college such as
TC3, or for Tuition Assistance Program applications, we will need to have complete
documentation for all four years of high school: four IHIPs, all quarterly reports, and
four standardized tests.
SUPERINTENDENT’S LETTER OF EQUIVALENCY
If you wish for your child to receive a Letter of Equivalency, contact the Director of External
Programs early in the spring of your child’s last year of high school. If you would like to
review your home instruction records- IHIPs, Quarterly Reports, Standardized Tests, to
ensure you are prepared to request the Letter of Equivalency, please make an appointment
with the Director of External Programs.
To receive a Letter of Equivalency, you will also need a completed transcript- you may use
the BOCES form as a model. If this office has received documentation for everything, the
file will be sent onto the Superintendent along with a recommendation regarding the Letter
of Equivalency. It is the Superintendent who is ultimately responsible for writing the Letter
of Equivalency.
**It is strongly recommended that a transcript review be conducted in the fall of 11 th
grade to ensure all coursework is on track for earning a Letter of Equivalency.
MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
 If your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) written by the Committee on
Special Education, send a copy to the Director of External Programs for the file.
 As of 2008, the Commissioner of Education has reversed a decision directing public
school districts not to provide special education services to children who are being
home schooled. Parents of students with disabilities may utilize district resources.
 If at any time you would like your child assessed by the Committee on Special
Education, contact your local school district Chairperson for Special Education.
YEAR-END TESTING- NARRATIVE ASSESSMENT AND STANDARDIZED
 Children in grades K-3 do not need standardized tests. You or someone you
designate may write a ‘Year-End Narrative Assessment’ instead. (More info below)
 Children in grades 4-8 must take standardized tests at least every other year (or
every year if you wish.) On alternate years, you may choose to have a narrative
assessment completed. For example, if you do a narrative for grade 3, then you
must give a standardized test for grade 4.
Revised 7/2015
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Children in grades 4-8, may be able to test in their school district of residence,
depending upon the district’s Board of Ed Policy. Contact the school in the fall
regarding testing dates for Math and English/Language Arts.
Once testing has occurred, send in a copy of OFFICIAL TEST RESULTS as soon as
possible. Only the official results that are sent from the testing service will be
accepted as evidence of testing.
New York State Education Law requires that students in grades 9-12 be tested every
year. It is recommended that a New York State certified teacher administer the test,
although the parent may do so. You are responsible for purchasing the test and
arranging for it to be given. Allow ample time for ordering and shipping.
Students planning on furthering their education may need to take college entrance
exams. Students in grades 10 or 11 can take the PSAT in October. (Sign up with
your child’s school counselor). Students in grades 11-12 may also take the ACT
(www.act.org ), SAT, or SAT II from College Board (www.collegeboard.com ).
12TH graders may also use any college placement test that is given by a college or
university.
STANDARDIZED TESTING RESOURCES
 California Achievement Test: Bayside School Services
PO Box 250 Devil Hills, NC 27948, 1-800-723-3057
 IOWA test and Stanford Achievement Tests: Bob Jones University Press
Testing and Evaluation Services, http://www.bjupress.com/services/testing/
1-800-845-5731 *order early, you must provide some credentials that you are home
instructed, ie the letter accepting your notification of home instruction.
 Thurber’s Educ. Assessments: 400 Clayton Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919-9675782)
 BJ Testing and Evaluation, http://www.bjup.com/services/testing
 Personalized Achievement Summary System (PASS): Hewitt Homeschooling
Resources
P.O. Box 9, Washougal, WA 98671-0009, (360) 835-8708, Fax (360) 835-8697
http://hewitthomeschooling.com
YEAR-END NARRATIVE ASSESSMENT
 Year-End Narrative Assessment may be written by a certified teacher, a home
instruction peer group review panel, or other qualified person(s).
 The Year-End Narrative Assessment is generally a one-page overview of the
student’s learning. We recommend that the evaluator look over samples of work
your child has done for the year before completing the narrative. The Assessment
should focus on the growth and achievements over the year in all content areas.
 At the top, please list your child’s name, grade, birth date as well as the school
district. Include your name and contact information and the name(s) of the
evaluator, such as the certified teacher or peer group review panel.
 List the high points or areas of strength in each of the content areas.
 List those areas that need improvement or weaknesses that could be addressed in
next year’s Individualized Home Instruction Plan.
 Write a paragraph identifying whether the work accomplished was adequate or
inadequate to be promoted to the next grade.
Revised 7/2015
HOME SCHOOL RESOURCES
There are many resources on the Internet. Make sure they are accredited.
LOCAL HOME SCHOOL GROUPS: groups in our area that provide academic and
networking support to home school families.
Fingerlakes Unschooling Network (FUN): www.unschooling.org
-Yahoo Group Listserv for FUN: email: funschooling-owner@yahoogroups.com.
- Please contact Marlo at marloco@verizon.net or call (607) 277-5516 for more
information about this Network’s library in downtown Ithaca that is available for use
by any home-educating family (membership NOT required). Selections include
parenting, homeschool how-to, subject-books (math, science, history/geography,
etc.), magazines, curricula, learning games and software.
LEAH-Loving Education at Home: www.leah.org
- Ithaca area Contact: Daniel & Heather Woodie, heather.woodie@ithacaleah.org,
(607) 272-2838
- Ithaca LEAH web page: www.ithacaleah.org
- Ithaca LEAH resources page: http://ithacaleah.org/support/
- Cortland area Contact: Peter & Jennifer Rogati, pnjrogati@gmail.com
Northern Light Learning Center: www.nllchs.org
- Contact Zarra Leonard, (607) 542-9892, leolaz@frontiernet.net
- Mailing Address: Northern Light Learning Center c/o, 166 Crescent Place, Ithaca,
NY 14850
Primitive Pursuits: www.primitivepursuits.com
- Contact: (607) 272-2292 ext. 195, primitivepursuits@cornell.edu
- Mailing Address: Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY
14850
OTHER RESOURCES:
○ American Homeschool Association: www.americanhomeschoolassociation.org
○ High School Equivalency Exam- TASC www.tasctest.com
○ Engage NY- www.engageny.org
○ New York State Education Department: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov
-For the latest information on guidelines for students headed to a two or four year
college: www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/lrp/ceomemorandum.htm
○ Cooperative Extension: www.ccetompkins.org
○ Kids.Gov: www.kids.usa.gov
○ US Federal Science: www.science.gov
○ Smithsonian: www.si.edu/Kids
○ National Endowment for the Humanities: www.edsitement.neh.gov
Revised 7/2015
PUBLISHERS OF CURRICULUM MATERIALS: You are responsible for reviewing the
resources you choose: below are suggestions only, not recommendations. Some of
these listings are Christian-based and others are non-sectarian.
* Elementary level only
**High School level only
○ A Beka Book: www.abeka.com/HomeSchool/
Box 19100, Pensacola, FL 32523-9100
(877) 223-5226
○ Alpha Omega Publications: www.aop.com
804 N. 2nd Avenue East, Rock Rapids, IA 51246
(800) 682-7391
○ **American School: www.americanschoolofcorr.com
2200 East 170th Street, Lansing, IL 60438
(866) 260-7221
○ Christian Light Publications, Inc.: www.clp.org
P.O. Box 1212, Harrisonburg, VA 22803-1212
(800) 776-0478
○ Clonlara School: www.clonlara.org
1289 Jewett, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 769-4511
○ Griggs International Academy: www.griggs.edu
8903 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-1950
(800) 782-4769
○ Hewitt Research Foundation: www.hewitthomeschooling.com
PO Box 9, Washougal, WA 98671
(800) 348-1750
○ HoltGWS, LLC: www.johnholtgws.com
2269 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
○ Home Education Magazine: http://unschooling.com/homeeducationmagazine/
PO Box 1083, Tonasket, WA 98855
(509) 486-1351
○ KONOS, Inc.: www.konos.com
5441 CR 424, Anna, TX 75409
(972) 924-2712
○ Novi Christian School/McGuffey Academy International: www.chsnovi.org
45301 West Eleven Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375
(248) 349-9441
○ Oak Meadow, www.oakmeadow.com
PO Box 1346, Brattleboro, VT 05302
(802) 251-7250
Revised 7/2015
○ The Sycamore Tree, Inc.: www.homeschool.com/resources/SycamoreTree
2179 Meyer Place, Costa Mesa, CA 92726
(800) 779-6750
OTHER COMMONLY USED RESOURCES:
○ Key Curriculum Press, www.keycurriculum.com, (800) 338-3987
○ Pearson, www.pearsonhighered.com; www.pearsonhomeschool.com
○ Saxon Publishers, www.saxonpub.com , www.saxonpub.com/order/home-order.html
○ Seton Home Study School, www.setonhome.org, 1350 Progress Drive, Front Royal,
VA 22630, (540) 636-9990
○ The Concerned Group, Inc.: www.areasonfor.com, PO Box 1000, Siloam Springs, AR
72761, (800) 447-4332
○ Time 4 Learning, www.time4learning.com/homeschool , 6300 NE 1 Ave, Suite 203,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334, (888) 771-0914
○ Common Sense Press: www.commonsensepress.com, 8786 Highway 21, Melrose,
FL 32666, (352) 475-5757
○ *Everyday Mathematics, www.everydaymathonline.com
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS:
 NYSED Office of Special Education: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/
 National Challenged Homeschoolers Associated Network: http://www.nathhan.com
SUGGESTIONS FROM LOCAL HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES: These sites were
suggested by local homeschooling families. If there are additional resources you’d like us
to add, please let us know!
 Discovery Education: www.discoveryeducation.com, One Discovery Place, Silver Spring,
MD 20910, (800) 323-9084
 Bartleby – Books Online: www.bartelby.com
 Kinderart- art lessons and ideas- this is a commercial site, but much of the
information is useful and free. www.kinderart.com
 The MESSENGER Mercury Mission Education & Public Outreach team has a set of
K-12 units based on three themes of the mission, developed by American
Association for the Advancement of Science and the Carnegie Institution of
Washington. They are available for free download at
http://btc.montana.edu/messenger/main/epo.php Each lesson includes essential
questions, concepts, objectives, science overview for teacher, warm-up and preassessment, two engaging activities, assessment criteria, extensions, additional
resources on topic, and worksheets. Supplies are generally available in the
classroom or easily obtained.
 North Merrick Union Free School:
www.nmerrickschools.org/programs.cfm?subpage=99837
 The Labor of Love: www.thelaboroflove.com/forum/hs/resource.html
Revised 7/2015