HB0046 removes the requirement for homeschool families to submit their curriculum to their home school district for review. The law goes into effect July 1, however, districts are advised to continue to attempt to contact home schools to maintain compliance with federal law requiring consultation with non-public schools for equitable services and Child Find activities under ESSA and IDEA.
The Wyoming Department of Education acknowledges the difficulty in proactively reaching homeschool families due to the reliance on parent initiative. It is recommended that the school district website and/or other social media be used to promote public awareness of services available to homeschools, how to access them, and a designated point of contact at the district.
Districts can also establish community partnerships with agencies or entities like public libraries, healthcare providers, community centers, and homeschool support groups to distribute information. Public service announcements in the media to raise awareness for equitable services and Child Find are allowable uses of federal funds per 2 CFR §200.421(b)(4), so long as the costs are reasonable and necessary to meet the requirements of the federal award.
For more information, contact Mark Bowers, Supervisor – ESSA Grants Team, at mark.bowers@wyo.gov or 307-777-6208.
