QUESTION PRESENTED
Whether Kellen R. W~ (hereinafter, the Claimant), a home-schooled student in West
Virginia, qualifies as a full-time student entitled to receive student's benefits.
SUMMARY
We have reviewed the information that you provided regarding the Claimant's home schooling
and have researched the relevant provisions of West Virginia and federal law. For
your convenience, we have also cited relevant provisions of the Program Operations
Manual System (POMS) derived from the federal law. Based on the evidence presented,
the Claimant meets all federal and state law requirements to qualify as a full time
student entitled to receive student's benefits.
BACKGROUND
Your memorandum of March 28, 2007 states that the claimant was born on March 2, 1989,
and was, therefore, eighteen years old on March 2, 2007. Claimant's Statement Regarding
School Attendance (SSA-1372) completed on January 9, 2007, by the Claimant and Luwanda
B~, DRW, Assistant Principal of A Beka Academy, indicates that the Claimant attends
class 30 hours a week, and that the present school year began on September 1, 2006,
and will end on June 30, 2007. You also provided a letter from Dawn A~, the Attendance
Director for the Mason County Board of Education dated March 12, 2007, stating that
Donna W~, the Claimant's mother, (hereinafter "Donna"), "met the requirements of W.Va.
Code 18-8-1(c) to provide home schooling to Claimant for the year 2006-2007." The
record also contains a "letter of intent" dated August 1, 2006 from Donna to Ms. A~
stating her intention to provide home schooling to the Claimant during the 2006-2007
school year, and a copy of Donna's Bachelor of Business Administration degree from
Marshall University. Additionally, the record contains a Professional Teaching Certificate
for Dorinda L. S~ from the State of West Virginia, Department of Education. Ms. S~
is a Testing Coordinator for the Mason County Board of Education.
DISCUSSION
1. The Applicable Federal Regulations and POMS Provisions
The federal regulations at 20 C.F.R. § 404.352 (2006) provide that entitlement to
child's benefits ends in the month before the month that the child turns age 18, if
the child is not disabled or the child is not a full-time student. That regulation
further provides that a child may receive student's benefits beyond the age of 18
until the month before turning age19 provided the child is disabled, or is a qualified
full-time student who is not disabled. An individual may be entitled to benefits if
he or she is a full-time elementary or secondary student and attends a school which
provides elementary or secondary education as determined under the law of the State
or other jurisdiction in which it is located. 20 C.F.R. § 404.367. He or she is also
entitled to benefits if instructed in elementary or secondary education at home in
accordance with a home school law of the State or other jurisdiction in which the
individual resides. 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(a)(1).
Home schooling is subject to several conditions. The student must meet the federal
standards for full-time attendance; the law of the state in which the home school
is located must recognize home schooling as an educational institution; the home school
the student attends must meet the requirements of the state law in which the home
school is located; and the student must meet all the other requirements for benefits.
20 C.F.R. ' 404.367; POMS RS 00205.275(B). In order to satisfy the federal standards for full-time attendance a student
must be enrolled in a non-correspondence course of at least 13 weeks duration for
at least 20 hours per week. 20 C.F.R. ' 404.367(b)-(c); POMS RS 00205.300(C). Here, the claimant is home schooled in West Virginia.
2. West Virginia Law
Every child between the ages of six and sixteen residing in West Virginia is subject
to the compulsory school attendance law. W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(a). However, a child
is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirement if the child is home schooled.
W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c). West Virginia has created two home school options; in shorthand,
these could be called "approval" and "notice." W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c). Under the
"approval" option, a child is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirement
if he or she receives instruction in the home of the child or children or at some
other place approved by the county board and for a time equal to the school term of
the county. W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(1). The West Virginia Code provides that the instruction
shall be conducted by a person or persons who, in the judgment of the county superintendent
and county board, are qualified to give instruction in subjects required to be taught
in public elementary schools in the state. W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(1). The superintendent
may require the instructor to provide information and records, from time to time,
with respect to attendance, instruction and progress of pupils between the entrance
age and 16 years. W. Va. Code §18-8-1(c)(1).
There are three basic preliminary requirements under the "notice" option. First, an
individual (or individuals) may provide home school instruction for a child after
filing a notice with the local school board. The notice must state that the individual
intends to provide home instruction. It must include the child's name, address, age,
and grade level, an outline of the plan of instruction for the year, and evidence
of the instructor's high school diploma or equivalent. Second, the person or persons
providing home instruction must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Third, the
person or persons providing home instruction must outline a plan of instruction for
the ensuing school year. W.Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2).
3. The Claimant's Home Schooling Meets the Requirements of West Virginia Law
Based on the evidence presented, the Claimant satisfies the standards of West Virginia
law for home schooling under the "notice" provision of W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2).
Donna provided a "letter of intent" dated August 1, 2006 to Ms. A~, an official of
the Mason County Board of Education. As required, the letter included the child's
name, address, age, and grade level, and an outline of the plan of instruction for
the year. W.Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2). Donna noted that her credentials were on file
with the Mason County School Board. West Virginia requires that the home school instructors
have a high school diploma or equivalent, and Donna has a Bachelor of Business Administration
degree from Marshall University. W.Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2). Though not required under
W.Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2), Donna also supplied a letter from the Mason County Board
of Education stating that she had met the requirements of the West Virginia Code to
provide home schooling for the current school year.
4. The Claimant Satisfies the Federal Standards for Full-Time Attendance
In order to be considered a full-time elementary or secondary student, an individual
must satisfy all of the conditions described in the federal regulation at 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.367(a)-(c). Paragraph (a) of the regulation defines "full-time student" as one
who is attending a school program that provides elementary or secondary education
as determined under the law of the state in which the school is located. It provides
that an individual may satisfy the definition of full-time student if she participates
in instruction provided at home in accordance with the home school law of the state
in which the individual resides. 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(a)(1). Here, Claimant participates
in home-schooling in accordance with West Virginia law.
Paragraph (b) provides that the course must be a non-correspondence course of at least
13 weeks duration; the individual must carry a subject load that is considered full-time
for day students under the institution's standards and practices. If the individual
is in a home-school program, the individual must carry a subject load that is considered
full-time for day students under the standards and practices set by the state. 20
C.F.R. § 404.367(b). According to the information provided, the Claimant's school
year began September 1, 2006 and will end June 30, 2007, a period well-exceeding 13
weeks in duration. Her courses include English 12, Economics, American Government,
French, Bible, Life Applications, and Physical Education. Paragraph (c) of the regulation
provides that to be in full-time attendance, an individual's scheduled attendance
must be at the rate of at least 20 hours per week. 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(c). The information
provided on Form SSA-1372 indicates that Claimant attends school for 30 hours per
week, or six hours per day.
Finally, the Claimant satisfies the requirement of being enrolled in a course that
is not a correspondence course. A Beka Academy's Program shares some characteristics
of a correspondence school, but does not fit squarely into the definition of a correspondence
school. POMS RS 00205.330 defines a correspondence school as "a school that teaches by mailing lessons and
exercises to the Claimant. Upon completion, the Claimant returns the exercises to
the school for grading." Claimant's lessons are provided on DVD, textbooks, and workbooks.
Course work is sent every nine weeks to A Beka Academy and they issue a report card.
In this way, A Beka's program is like a correspondence school.
However, A Beka's Program differs in important ways from a correspondence school.
Materials from A Beka Academy DVD Program I provide that parents must meet all applicable
local and state home school requirements. Donna coordinates the home schooling and
she has a very active role in the educative process. She has a Bachelor of Business
Administration degree from Marshall University bolstering her statement that she coordinates
Claimant's education. A Beka supplies a school calendar with a daily schedule. Donna
is responsible for ensuring that the Claimant follows the schedule. Claimant attends
school for 30 hours per week, or six hours per day. Donna is also responsible for
having the Claimant follow the plan of study and watch all DVD lessons. She provides
parental supervision for all work. She grades quizzes and tests and checks compositions.
Donna must contact the local school district regarding compliance with the academic
standards, health/immunization records, and attendance requirements of the state;
informing the local school district that her child will be enrolled in a home school
environment; and sending proof of previous work completed for enrollment. Donna must
send the required graded work to A Beka Academy for evaluation in accordance with
the provided academic calendar and ensure that her child has met the state's requirements
for achievement tests. In addition, certified teachers are available through the e-mail
or the telephone. This relationship among the parent, student, and A Beka Academy
appears to be far more interactive than the usual correspondence course.
CONCLUSION
Based on the evidence provided, the Claimant appears to meet all federal and state
requirements to qualify as a full-time student based on her home schooling.
Michael M~
Regional Chief Counsel
By:___________________
Victor J. P~
Assistant Regional Counsel