Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §5021, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 610, §1, is amended to read:

A school administrative unit shall conform to the following standards in making public school resources and services available to a student enrolled in an equivalent instruction program approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 5001- A, subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraph (3) or enrolled in a home instruction program under section 5001-A, subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraph (4) for a student otherwise eligible to attend school in that school administrative unit.

SUMMARY

This bill provides that a child is excused from attending a public day school if the person responsible for ensuring the child's attendance provides a written notice of intent to provide home instruction to the Commissioner of Education within 14 calendar days of the beginning of home instruction. This notice must contain a statement of assurance that the home instruction program will provide 175 days of instruction annually and provide instruction in the following subjects: English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts and, in at least one grade from grade 6 to 12, Maine studies. A home instruction program must also provide that, at one grade level from grade 7 to 12, the student must demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers.