Homeschool Registration
Homeschooling
Under Oregon law, parents/legal guardians are required to register students for homeschool if students withdraw from or do not intend to attend a public or private school. Education Service Districts serve as the registration point of contact. InterMountain Education Service Districts (IMESD) supports the homeschool registration process for students and families with resident addresses in Baker, Union, Umatilla, and Morrow Counties. IMESD will receive and confirm notification of intent to homeschool, and request test scores per Oregon law. Resident school districts may also interact with families regarding students who qualify for Special Education services, and students who want to participate in interscholastic activities or academic classes.
Contact
All inquiries or questions regarding Homeschooling should be sent to:
Bianca Bates
IMESD Homeschool Registrar
541-966-4655
Login to Your Account
Login option is available to those who have created registration accounts and would like to update information.
Homeschooling Requirements
Parents or Guardians must meet the following two requirements to homeschool in Oregon:
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Parents/guardians of children between the ages of six (provided that the birth date is on or before September 1) and eighteen must notify their local Education Service District (ESD) of their intent to teach their child/children at home. In order for us to keep our records current, we ask that you notify us with changes, including address or enrollment status.
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A qualified, neutral test proctor must administer an approved test before August 15th at the end of grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 or annually for those wishing to participate in interscholastic. If your child has never attended public or private school, the first test must be completed prior to the end of grade 3 and continue to the end of grades 5, 8, and 10. If your child was withdrawn from public school, they are exempt from testing for 18 months; students then follow the standard testing schedule.
- Local Testing Information Link
- Local Testing Group Registration Form
- Remote Testing Registration Link
- Basic Skills | Achievement Testing, Assessment Tools, Practice Tests, and Academic Support for Home Schoolers
- Local GED Testing at Eastern Oregon University (EOU)
- Local GED Testing at Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC)
OSAA Testing
Families with students who wish to participate in interscholastic activities need to test annually to maintain eligibility or present alternative forms of evidence to demonstrate satisfactory progress (portfolio, collections of evidence). The August 15 deadline still applies to students establishing or maintaining eligibility.More information about Oregon laws, policies, and answers regarding homeschooling can be found on the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) website.
Homeschool Registration
Choose from the three options below to register for homeschool. The online registration option requires an email address to create an account. If you do not wish to provide an email address, use one of the printable form options. Print and complete the entire printable form and return to IMESD via email, mail, or drop off in-person at the La Grande or Pendleton offices.
Email to:
IMESD Homeschool Registrar
Subject: Homeschool registration
Mail to:
InterMountain Education Service District
Attn: Bianca Bates
1604 27th Street
La Grande OR, 97850
La Grande Office Address:
1604 27th Street
La Grande OR, 97850
Pendleton Office Address:
2001 SW Nye Avenue
Pendleton, OR 97801
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If your child is enrolled in an accredited online school in the State of Oregon, such as the Virtual Learning Academy, Connections Academy, or Baker Web Academy, etc., you do not need to provide notice of homeschool.
Even though your child is learning from home, they are actually enrolled in a public online school.
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Parents/guardians are responsible for curriculum, including selection and purchase costs. Typically, each county has an organized Home School Association that can assist in curriculum selection and advice. List of local contacts is included below.
The IMESD does not offer curriculum consulting or purchasing services.
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Upon request from the ESD, test results must be submitted for evaluation of satisfactory educational progress, as pursuant to OAR 581-021-0026(5) after grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 are completed. If the ESD determines satisfactory progress has not been made, a plan of assistance may be put into effect according to the Oregon Administrative Rules governing home schooling.
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ORS 339.460 allows students who are homeschooled, enrolled in a charter school, or a GED program to participate in interscholastic activities at their resident school. The law specifies that this is allowable in grades K-12, but that in grades K-8 this is restricted to those activities that occur before or after school. Homeschooled students who wish to participate must test annually, by August 15. For more information, please see the OSAA Handbook.
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Under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act), school districts are obligated to identify students in their boundaries who qualify for special education services, including students who are homeschooled. Oregon requires districts to offer, and document to the parent: (1) the opportunity to receive special education services if enrolled within the district, and (2) the opportunity for an IEP team to consider providing special education and related services to the child with a disability in conjunction with homeschooling. Parents may also request IEP meetings and the district must comply; however, the decision of whether or not to provide services is an IEP team decision.
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Students who are home schooled do not earn credits for graduation.
Furthermore, ESDs do not award diplomas to home school students. Local high schools do not award diplomas to home schooled students, nor do they normally recognize a students' home school experience to grant credits toward graduation. However, a school district may have other policies regarding course work done outside school. Please contact your resident district for information about types of course work that may be acceptable.
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The ESD does not maintain individual student files for home school students. The student’s cumulative file is maintained by the last public school attended.
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Home school students must obtain a Statement of Enrollment form from IMESD prior to receiving a driver’s permit or license. Please contact the IMESD well in advance to obtain the appropriate document.
GED RELEASE
Sixteen and seventeen year old home school students wishing to obtain a General Education Diploma, must complete a GED Release form. The form can be obtained by visiting Blue Mountain Community College BMCC. This is a new GED release form is available to everyone from the state that doesn’t require the schools to fill out. Also the forms need to be sent to state directly for approval and no longer need to come to BMCC. They will get information from the state once students are approved. Email form to Annie Marges, Alternative Education Options Specialist with the Oregon Department of Education: annie.marges@ode.oregon.gov.
Students between the ages 16 and 17: In order to test, students must have permission from a parent or guardian. Please visit the Oregon Department of Education website for links and information.
In addition to the required form, the student must create an account in the MyGED site on the GED Official Website. GED students must register in MyGED located on the GED.com website at least 24 hours in advance before being eligible to take a GED test. To register you must have a valid e-mail address. All fees must be paid prior to testing.
Questions? Call Adrienne Ochs at the Higher Education Coordinating Commission: 503-934-0957
For more information about homeschooling in Oregon, refer to ORS 339.035 at this link: Home School Laws in Oregon.
Hermiston Area
Patricia Alder
916-342-2891
Pilot Rock & Pendleton Area
Lindsay Adair
541-215-2607
La Grande Area
Jackie Whitesell
