Pre registration meeting

What does a home educator do when they receive a letter like the one below? This is from the regional district coordinator of one of the district offices to a (waiting for registration certificate) home educator. Please note I am not a lawyer, so my information is based on the Act and on legal advice that I received whilst home schooling.

 It is important to understand that your [h]ome [s]chooling registration is not yet complete and as such it is a lawful requirement that your children attend school at xxx xxx xxxx*.

In relation to your request to register for [h]ome [s]chooling you are required to attend a meeting with myself and xxx xxx* ([home [s]chool [m]oderator) to discuss the home schooling option and development and implementation of appropriate learning programs (sic) for your children. As part of this process you are required to bring to this meeting all planning documentation completed by you so far and examples of learning resources that your children will be using as home schoolers.

All educators in Western Australia, including home educators are required to implement the Curriculum Framework in accordance with the Curriculum Council Act 1997 and the School Education Act 1999. The Curriculum Framework and the Australian Curriculum provides the learning outcomes expected of all students and for assessment that is fair and contributes to learning.

The date and time for the meeting has been arranged for (day after receiving letter).Brackets mine. * names removed.

My page on registration explains the registration process.

 Section 47 (4)&(5) states:

(4)Subject to subsection (5), an application is to be made by the last Friday in February in the first year for which the parent wishes to be registered as the child’s home educator.

(5) If a child is enrolled in a school for a particular year and a parent of the child wishes to be registered as the child’s home educator in that year, the application is to be made within 14 days after the last day on which the child was recorded as —

As this family has made their application within the time periods stipulated above - my reading of this would be that their children do not have to attend a school in the meantime.

My page on moderator's visits explains the process of meeting wth the moderator.

Section 51 of the School Education Act 1999 (link to right) states:

 51. Evaluation of child’s educational programme and progress
(1) A child’s home educator is to arrange with the chief executive
officer for an evaluation to be made of the child’s educational
programme and educational progress —
(a) within 3 months of the day of the home educator’s
registration in respect of the child; and
(b) at least once in each 12 month period following that
registration.
(2) A home educator is to give the chief executive officer at least
21 days’ notice of an evaluation that is required to be made
under subsection (1)(a) or (b).
(3) An evaluation is to be made —
(a) at the time that is agreed between the home educator and
the home education moderator; and
(b) at the place that is the usual place for the child’s
educational programme to be undertaken unless the
home educator objects, in which case the evaluation is to
be made at the place that is agreed between the home
educator and the home education moderator.
(4) Following an evaluation, the home education moderator is to
prepare a report about the child’s educational programme and
educational progress and provide a copy of the report to the
home educator and to the chief executive officer.

A close reading of this section shows that it is the home educator who arranges for the evaluation visit. The first one taking place within three months of receiving the certificate of registration. This visit takes place at a time and in a place that suits the home educator. 

Therefore, the requests in the letter above are not a requirement of the Act. The time and place of the meeting are also not in harmony with the Act.

What to do.

Have all exchanges with the office in writing. Write to the office and ask them to reference their requests. That is, you write, in this case, and ask them to cite what sections and subsections of what Act or Acts is being referred to when they make the statement that: xyz, or in this case:

In relation to your request to register for [h]ome [s]chooling you are required to attend a meeting with myself and xxx xxx ([home [s]chool [m]oderator) to discuss the home schooling option and development and implementation of appropriate learning programs (sic) for your children. As part of this process you are required to bring to this meeting all planning documentation completed by you so far and examples of learning resources that your children will be using as home schoolers.

You can also state that you will arrange for a meeting with the home education moderator within the three month period of the date on your registration certificate.

 Having a written record of exchanges means that there can be no gaslighting (saying that certain things were or weren't said when the opposite is true) and if you need to go to the Ombudsman you have the paper trail to argue your case. 

Writing to the department also allows you to have your voice. You can take the time to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it. If you are telephoned with requests like the above and you feel intimidated or flustered - can't answer on the spot - then you can put your words, change your mind etc. on paper or in an email to the department afterwards. I personally had all exchanges in writing; it is businesslike and proper.