Testing Office

A home study student in grades 1-8 can only re-enter a Jefferson Parish public school at the beginning of a nine week grading period. Home study students in grades 9-12 may only re-enter in the fall semester because one-half Carnegie unit credits cannot be awarded with the exception of civics and free enterprise.

A home study student is NOT eligible to participate in either academic, special programs including gifted and/or talented, or extracurricular activities provided by the Jefferson Parish Public Schools for its students. Identified exceptional students as defined by the Louisiana Pupil Appraisal Handbook enrolled in a study program are eligible for the same services as those exceptional students enrolled in private schools. These services are in accordance with service plans developed for private schools within the district.

Home study students are required by the Louisiana Department of Education to be tested once a year for the purpose of determining academic progress. Home study students will be tested only during the week of spring testing in Jefferson Parish. It is the responsibility of the parents to call the school system for testing dates. Students must be tested at the Jefferson Parish school in their attendance district. Parents may contact the schools for testing times. There is a $35 per child testing fee.

In accordance with state guidelines, when a student transfers from home study to an approved public school:

• The school shall have the authority to test the student to determine the appropriate grade level placement or award Carnegie unit credit.
• The student must meet testing requirements of the state accountability program.

Expelled Students Who Have Entered Home Study

Students who enter home study after being expelled from and returned to a Jefferson Parish School the next year must repeat the grade to which they were assigned before being expelled.

Kindergarten

A student transferring from home study as a kindergarten student into the Jefferson Parish Public Schools must have reached the age of five by September 30 to be eligible for kindergarten.

1st Grade

A student transferring from home study as a first grade student into the Jefferson Parish Public Schools must have reached the age of six by September 30 to be eligible for first grade and must pass the Academic Readiness Screening

Grades 5-8

The following transfer/re-admission procedures must be followed for placing a student re-entering grades 5-8 from home study:

• The parent must provide verification that the student was enrolled in home study with the Louisiana State Department of Education for the previous school year. If the parent does not provide verification, then the student will be placed in the anticipated grade level as evidenced by his prior school records.
• If the child was not in state-approved home study and was not attending school, the student will be considered absent from school and will not be eligible for promotion to the next grade.
• The principal will request that the parent provide a report card verifying the last grade attended by the student in a public, private, or parochial school.
• The principal will refer the parent to the district’s test coordinator for administration of a norm-referenced test. The level of the tests to be administered will be determined by the student’s anticipated grade placement as evidenced by a prior report card or by the home study application.
• Students entering grade 5 or grade 9 who are Louisiana residents and are transferring to the public school system from home study shall take the English/language arts and mathematics portions of LEAP 21 and achieve at the Basic/Approaching Basic level or above. A student who registers after administration of the LEAP 21 summer retest, but prior to February 15, must take the ITBS and achieve the standards designated by the Louisiana Department of Education.
• If the student performs satisfactorily on the placement test, then the student will be placed in the anticipated grade level as evidenced by prior report cards and the grade designation on the previous home study application.
• If the student does not achieve according to the stated criteria on the ITBS, then the student will be placed in a grade level one year below the grade level for which the student would ordinarily have been assigned if the student had successfully completed a program in a private, parochial, or public school the previous school year.

Grades 9-12

Students entering grade 9 who are Louisiana residents and are transferring to the public school system from home study shall take the English/language arts and mathematics portions of LEAP 21 and achieve at the Basic/Approaching Basic level or above. A student who registers after administration of the LEAP21 summer retest, but prior to February 15, must take the ITED and achieve the standards designated by the Louisiana Department of Education.

The following re-admission procedures will provide a comprehensive assessment plan for determining whether a Carnegie unit will be awarded to a student returning from home study:

• Half-unit Carnegie credits are awarded in home study only for civics and free enterprise.
• The principal will request that the parent provide a report card verifying the last grade attended by the student in a public, private, or parochial school.
• The parent must provide verification that the student was enrolled in the home study program with the Louisiana State Department of Education from the previous year. If the parent does not provide this minimal verification, then the student will be placed in the anticipated grade level as evidenced by his prior school records.
• The parent will provide extensive documentation of a sustained curriculum during the home study program in the identified subject area for which a Carnegie unit is being requested.
• If the parent provides extensive documentation of a sustained curriculum during home study in the identified subject area for which a Carnegie unit is being requested, then the student will be administered the appropriate Carnegie unit re-admission exam to determine if Carnegie units can be awarded for each of the subjects taught during home study.
• A student admitted to grades 9-12 who meets the criteria established above shall be granted Carnegie units of credit by passing a home study admission examination for each course for which a Carnegie unit is requested. After proficiency examinations are developed by subject area consultants, the State Department of Education will approve the re-admission tests and determine the passing score.
• After the student has demonstrated a passing score on the proficiency examination, then the course title earned shall be entered on the Certificate of High School Credits (transcript). Minimum proficiency standards must be indicated in the remarks column.
• The student shall not be allowed to take home proficiency examinations in courses previously completed in high school or at level below that which the student has completed.
• The student shall not be allowed to take proficiency examinations in art, music, and health and physical education.
• If the student is requesting re-admission beyond grade ten, the student will be administered the appropriate sections of the End of Course (EOC) as required by the State Department of Education. These tests can be administered only during the EOC scheduled test administrations in December, May, and summer retest.

Students in grades 5 and 9 transferring to the public school system from any in-state non public school or any home study program, or any Louisiana resident transferring from any out-of-state school shall be required to take the 4th or 8th grade LEAP 21 English language arts and mathematics tests and score at the Basic/Approaching Basic or above achievement level.

The following guidelines shall apply:

• Students may take LEAP 21 at either the spring or summer administration prior to enrollment. It is the responsibility of the parent to contact the district test coordinator to register for the test.
• The nonpublic school and parent (or home study parent) is responsible for providing the district test coordinator, at least ten (10) working days prior to the testing date, any documentation required for requested standard testing accommodations.
• Students with disabilities who have a current 1508 evaluation will participate in on-level LEAP 21 testing. Promotion decisions for these students will adhere to those policies as outlined in the high stakes testing policy.
• School systems may charge a fee for the testing of nonpublic and home study students. This testing fee shall be refunded upon the student’s enrollment in that public school system the semester immediately following the testing.
• Students who participate in the spring administration and score at the Approaching Basic or Unsatisfactory achievement level are eligible to retake the LEAP 21 at the summer administration.
• Local school systems shall offer LEAP 21 summer remediation to nonpublic/home study 4th and 8th grade students who score at the Approaching Basic or Unsatisfactory LEAP 21 achievement level and to those who did not test in the spring, but wish to prepare for the summer administration. School systems may charge a fee, not to exceed $100.00 per student, for this attendance. This summer remediation fee shall be refunded upon the student’s enrollment in that public school system the semester immediately following summer remediation.
• Students who score at the Approaching Basic or Unsatisfactory achievement level are not required to attend summer school offered by the local school system to be eligible to take the summer retest. However, students must attend the LEA offered summer school to be eligible for the appeal process or the policy override.
• Only those students who score at the Approaching Basic or Unsatisfactory achievement level after participation in both the spring and summer administration of the LEAP 21 and who attend the summer school offered by the local school system are eligible for the appeals process or the policy override, provided all criteria are met. (Refer to the high-stakes testing policy.)
• Students who participate in the spring administration only or summer administration only and score at the Approaching Basic or Unsatisfactory achievement level are not eligible for the appeals process or the policy override. These students are not eligible to take The Iowa Tests for placement purposes.
• Students transferring into local school systems after the LEAP 21 Summer retest but prior to February 15 are required to take the state selected form of The Iowa Tests for grade placement, if the student has not taken LEAP 21.
• The high stakes testing policy and the local Pupil Progression Plan shall govern grade placement of students transferring to the local school systems.