Análisis de las encuestas a los padres de familia

 Accreditation is optional.

 _{Institutions that submit proof of accreditation or that they are undergoing the} process of accreditation by an accrediting body approved by the board will be deemed to have presented satisfactory evidence that the amount of instruction, character of instruction, qualifications of staff and other conditions, such as class size, facilities, counseling services, and attendance record-keeping are acceptable to the Board. D.C. Municipal Regulations 2100.3.

 No requirements for Registration.  No requirements for Licensing.  Approval is mandatory.

 The District of Columbia Board of Education is responsible for establishing requirements to govern acceptable credit for studies at independent or private schools. D.C. Code Ann. 38-202(d).

 Schools must provide satisfactory evidence to the superintendent of schools that the amount of instruction, character of instruction, qualifications of staff and other conditions, such as class size, facilities, counseling services, and attendance record-keeping are acceptable to the Board. D.C. Municipal Regulations 2100.2.

 The parochial nature of an educational institution or sectarian nature of instruction cannot be a factor for the board's determination. D.C. Municipal Regulations 2100.5.

Teacher Certification

 A District of Columbia teaching certificate is not required. Schools must provide satisfactory evidence to the superintendent of schools that the qualifications of staff, i.e. the training and educational requirements for teaching and supervisory staff, are acceptable to the Board. D.C. Regulations 2100.2.

Length of School Year/Days

 Schools must provide satisfactory evidence to the superintendent of schools that the amount of instruction, i.e. the number of hours per day, days per week, and weeks per year, is acceptable to the Board. The instruction need not be given at the same time as the equivalent D.C. Public School program. D.C. Regulations 2100.2.

Curriculum

 Schools must provide satisfactory evidence to the Superintendent of Schools that the character of instruction includes acceptable subject matter and time devoted to the subjects. D.C. Municipal Regulations 2100.2.

State Regulation of Private Schools—District of Columbia

47

Recordkeeping/Reports

 School approval for attendance purpose is contingent on the maintenance and submission of attendance records to the D.C. Board of Education. D.C. Municipal Regulations 2100.6.

 Independent, private or parochial school teachers must keep an accurate daily record of attendance of all enrolled students legally required to attend school. These records must be open for inspection at all times by persons authorized to enforce the District's compulsory school attendance law. D.C. Code Ann. 38-203.

 Principals have a duty to report to the District of Columbia Board of Education a student's absence for more than two full-day sessions or four half-day sessions in any school month and the reasons for the absence. D.C. Code Ann. 38-203.

 Principals must report to the Board of Education the name, address, sex, and date of birth of each minor who resides permanently or temporarily in the District who transfers between schools or who enrolls in or withdraws from his or her school. D.C. Code Ann. 38-205.

 Anyone who willfully neglects or refuses to provide information regarding attendance, absence, and enrollment records, or knowingly makes any false statement, is guilty of a misdemeanor. D.C. Code Ann.38-206.

 Elementary and secondary private schools must maintain health files for each student. Each file must contain all health-related documents, including the certificates of health and dental-health. D.C. Code Ann.38-607. See Health and Safety Requirements.

 _{Private schools, and their employees are neither civilly or criminally liable for failing} to recognize or communicate the need for medical treatment based on the information contained in the student's health file. D.C. Code Ann.38-609.

Health and Safety Requirements

 Private school students are required to submit certificates of health at the pre- kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grades. The certificates of health must be signed by a physician or nurse practitioner upon examination not more than 150 calendar days before the first day of school. In addition, the mayor establishes requirements for periodic dental examinations and the submission of certificates of dental health. No student will be excluded from school for failure to submit a certificate. D.C. Code Ann.38-602(a).

 The mayor is responsible for developing and providing the standard forms for certificates of health and dental health. D.C. Code Ann.38-602(c).

 If physical or dental examinations violate the established tenets and practices of a parent's or guardian's or student's church or religious denomination, then certificates of health shall not be required of the student upon receipt of a written notarized statement to that effect. D.C. Code Ann.38-603.

 The District's criminal code gives a mandatory sentence of 1–10 years for any male over 21 serving as a superintendent, tutor, or teacher at a private school who engages in sexual intercourse with consent with a female student who is under 21 years old. D.C. Code Ann.22-3002.

State Regulation of Private Schools—District of Columbia

48 Transportation

 The Mayor may enter into agreements with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to provide transportation at reduced fares for students traveling to private and parochial schools and related educational activities in the District. D.C. Code Ann.35-232.

 The reduced fare is one-half of the peak bus/rail fare. D.C. Code Ann35-233. Textbooks

 Textbooks services are not provided to students attending private schools. Textbooks are issued to free of charge to students attending public elementary and secondary schools. D.C. Code Ann.38-701(a).

Testing

 There is no state policy at this time. Special Education

 DCPS shall be responsible for the placement and funding of a student with a disability in a nonpublic special education school or program when: DCPS cannot implement the student's IEP or provide an appropriate placement in conformity with DCPS rules, the IDEA, and any other applicable laws or regulations; and the nonpublic special education school or program to which the student has been referred: is approved by the SEA in accordance with D.C. Code Ann. 38-2561.07; can implement the student's IEP; and represents the least restrictive environment for the student. D.C. Code Ann.38-2561.03(a).

 The ayor, or his or her designee, shall administer and implement a rate-setting process for the payment of tuition and related services to nonpublic special education schools and programs that provide special education and related services to students with disabilities funded by the District of Columbia. D.C. Code Ann.38-2561.12(a).

Nursing and Health

 The District's Family and Medical Leave laws apply equally to public school employees and private school employees. Special provisions are made for individuals employed in instructional capacities. Private school policies and practices control restoration of employment determinations. D.C. Code Ann.32-506.

Technology

 There is no state policy at this time. Professional Development

 _{There is no state policy at this time.}

Reimbursement for Performing State/Local Functions  There is no state policy at this time.

Tax Exemption

State Regulation of Private Schools—District of Columbia

49 Public Aid for Private Education

 Constitutional provisions: "Religious societies" maintaining private schools for religious purposes are subject to the incorporation statutes set out at D.C. Code Ann. 29-712.

 Programs for financial assistance for attendance at private schools: The

Opportunity Scholarship Program, also known as the D.C. School Choice Incentive Program, provides scholarships to students for attendance at private schools in the District of Columbia. This is a federally funded program. To be eligible, students must be from families who reside in the District and whose household income does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level. If the number of new scholarships in any year is less than the number of eligible applicants, selection of recipients follows a lottery method. Priority is given to students attending schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under the Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The Washington Scholarship Fund (WSF), a local nonprofit scholarship organization administers the Opportunity Scholarship Program under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-8), signed by President Barack Obama on March 11, 2009, provided $14 million in funding for the D.C. School Choice Incentive Program. However, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 also provided that funds shall only be available beyond the 2009–2010 school year ―upon enactment of reauthorization of that program by Congress and the adoption of legislation by the District of Columbia approving such reauthorization.'' The Conference Report accompanying the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 clearly stated that funds should not be used for new scholarships. As of July 2009, Congress has not authorized continuation of the D.C. School Choice Incentive Program beyond the 2009–2010 school year.

Homeschooling

 There is no specific statute dealing with homeschooling. In 1991, the D.C. school district drafted a policy that would have required unannounced home visits and teacher certification, but later D.C. school district personnel rescinded the policy. No policy, rule, or regulation has been adopted to date. As a result, homeschooling is considered ―private instruction.‖

 Each teacher who gives private instruction shall report to the District of Columbia Board of Education the name, address, sex, and date of birth of each minor who resides permanently or temporarily in the District, who transfers between schools, or who enrolls in or withdraws from his or her school. The District of Columbia Board of Education has never adopted any rules to implement this statute. Since the report referred to is to be submitted ―in accordance with the rules adopted by the Board‖ and since no rules have been adopted, no report is presently required. D.C. Code Ann.38- 205.

 Every teacher who gives instruction privately shall keep an accurate daily record of attendance of all minors. These records shall be open for inspection at all times. D.C. Code Ann. 38-203.

 Standardized testing is not required for homeschool students.

State Regulation of Private Schools—District of Columbia

50 Information resources

 District of Columbia: Education Center

<http://educationcenter.dc.gov/ec/site/default.asp>

 District of Columbia State Superintendent of Education: Homeschooling <http://osse.dc.gov/seo/cwp/view,a,1222,q,561620,seoNav,|31195|.asp>  District of Columbia Official Code

<http://government.westlaw.com/linkedslice/default.asp?RS=GVT1.0&VR=2.0&SP= DCC-1000&Action=Welcome>

 District of Columbia Municipal Regulation

<http://os.dc.gov/os/cwp/view,a,1207,q,522392.asp>

 Office of the State Superintendent of Education (District of Columbia) 441 Fourth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202-727-6436 Fax: 202-727-7656 E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: http://www.seo.dc.gov/seo/site/default.asp  District of Columbia Public Schools

825 North Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone: 202-442-5885 Fax: 202-442-5026

E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.k12.dc.us/

 U.S. Department of Education: District of Columbia School Choice Incentive Program <http://www.ed.gov/programs/dcchoice/legislation.html>

 U.S. Department of Education, District of Columbia

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