Department of Defense Homeschooling Policy
In a surprise move, the United States Department of Justice
decided to drop its appeal of a decision by the Veterans' Court of Appeals, upholding
a ruling favorable to homeschoolers. Do to the change the VA will likely adopt the approach
taken by the Social Security Administration, which also requires that students must be enrolled
in an educational institution to continue receiving benefits after they reach the age of 18.
The SSA has already adopted rules and policies that recognize homeschooling as an educational
institution, simply requiring evidence that the family is homeschooling in accordance with state
law.Posted: May 8, 2005
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
EDUCATION ACTIVITY
4040 NORTH FAIRFAX DRIVE
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22203-1635
November 6, 2002
Office of the Director 02-OD-02
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY
POLICY MEMORANDUM
Home Schooling
This Policy Memorandum supersedes all previous policies on home schooling
issued by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). It applies to DoD
dependent students eligible to attend a DoDEA school on a space-required basis in the
Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) and on a tuition-free basis in the
Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools
(DDESS) systems.
It is DoDEA policy neither to encourage nor discourage DoD sponsors from home
schooling their minor dependents. DoDEA recognizes that home schooling is a sponsor's
right and can be a legitimate alternative form of education for the sponsor's dependents.
A host nation, state, commonwealth, or territory where a DoD sponsor is stationed
may impose legal requirements on home schooling practices. DoDEA encourages DoD
sponsors who wish to home school their dependents to communicate their desire to their
commanders to determine if there are any command policies or other rules ensuring that
home schooling practices meet host nation, state, commonwealth, or territory
requirements. Sponsors are responsible for complying with applicable local requirements.
DoDEA schools will provide and offer home schooled DoD dependents classes
and/or special education services, consistent with existing regulations and policy.
Dependents of sponsors electing to take a single class or more must complete a
registration form and comply with other registry procedures and requirements.
By statute, (20 U.S.C. 926(d), as amended by section 353 of PL 107-107) eligible
dependents in overseas areas are entitled to receive specified auxiliary services from
DoDDS. This Policy Memorandum implements this statutory provision for DoD
dependents who are eligible to enroll in DoDDS on a space-required basis and
administratively extends it to DoD dependents who are eligible to attend DDESS on a
tuition-free basis. A DoD dependent who is educated in a home school setting but
eligible to enroll in a DoDEA school, shall be permitted to use or receive auxiliary
services of that school without being required either to enroll in or to register for a
minimum number of courses offered by the school. A DoD dependent who is home
schooled may be required to satisfy other eligibility requirements as well as to comply
with standards of conduct applicable to students actually enrolled in the DoDEA school
who use or receive the same auxiliary services. Auxiliary services includes use of
academic resources, access to the library of the school, after-hours use of school
facilities, and participation in music, sports, and other extracurricular and interscholastic
activities.
For the purposes of use or receipt of auxiliary services without enrolling or
registering in DoDDS, a DoD dependent must be eligible for space-required enrollment
as specified in DoD Directive 1342.13, "Eligibility Requirements for Education of Minor
Dependents in Overseas Areas." For the purposes of use or receipt of auxiliary services
without enrolling or registering in DDESS, a DoD dependent must be eligible for tuitionfree
enrollment, as specified in DoD Directive 1342.26, "Eligibility Requirements for
Minor Dependents to attend Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and
Secondary Schools (DDESS) ." In both DoDDS and DDESS, eligible home schooled
DoD dependents using or receiving auxiliary services or electing to take courses will not
be charged tuition.
Proof of eligibility must be provided and will be maintained at the school where
the dependent is receiving services or participating in extracurricular or interscholastic
activities. Documentation establishing eligibility will not be maintained as a permanent
record and will be returned to the sponsor when services are no longer being received, the
dependent is no longer participating in extracurricular or interscholastic activities, or the
school year ends, whichever is earliest.
Attached are Frequently Asked Questions and Answers related to the
implementation of this Policy Memorandum.
Attachment: As stated
Joseph D. Tafoya
Director
