Homeschool benefits and savings in Somerville
Somerville Public Schools lets Somerville-based homeschool and virtual school students try out for and join school-sponsored extracurricular activities, including athletic and academic teams, when space is available and their participation adds no cost to the district. Apply in writing to the Assistant Superintendent.
Who qualifies
Lives in Somerville
The policy covers Somerville-based home school and virtual school students whose programs comply with Massachusetts law and state education regulations.
Applies in writing
Send a written request; the Assistant Superintendent or a designee approves participation when space is available.
Meets equivalent academic standards
Your child must meet the same academic standards as enrolled students in the activity and show evidence of it.
Follows the same rules
Your child meets the same physical exam, immunization, insurance, age, semester eligibility, participation, and transportation rules as enrolled students.
What access includes
These terms come from Somerville School Committee policy IHGB, adopted December 16, 2019, linked from the district's homeschooling page.
- Try out for school teams
- Allowed if space
- Academic competition teams
- Allowed if space
- Physical exam, immunizations, insurance
- Same as enrolled
- Transportation
- Same policy as enrolled
- Extra cost to the district
- Must be none
The district can say no if the activity is full, your child's participation would add cost, or for behavior, academic, or safety reasons, so ask early before tryouts.
How to request access
- Before the school year
Get your homeschool approved
File a letter of intent, meet with the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, and submit the written application.
- Before tryouts
Apply in writing
Send a written request naming the activity to the Assistant Superintendent.
- During the season
Keep proof current
Provide evidence that your child meets the academic standards and rules of participation, and have physical, immunization, and insurance records ready on request.
- Each year
Renew your homeschool approval
Follow the same procedure to continue homeschooling for another year.
What it includes
Included
- Athletic teams
- Academic teams and competitions
- Other school-sponsored supervised activities
Not included
- Activities already filled by enrolled students
- Participation that adds cost to the district
Good to know
Academic teams are included
Somerville's policy defines extracurricular activities as school-sponsored, staff-supervised activities, including athletic and academic teams that compete against other schools.
Who to contact about access
The Assistant Superintendent answers questions about homeschool approval and the extracurricular participation policy.
jbostondavis@k12.somerville.ma.us Homeschooling page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Massachusetts
Obtain approval of your home education plan from the resident district before instruction begins or withdrawing a child of compulsory school age. Renewal and reporting follow the district’s homeschool policy.
Massachusetts sets these rules:
- Subjects: The approved plan must provide instruction in the studies required by law, equal in thoroughness, efficiency, and progress to the local public schools. Districts review content, materials, instructional time, methods, and evaluation.
- Testing: Assessment methods and reporting follow the locally approved plan. Massachusetts does not impose one statewide annual standardized-test requirement.
- Records: Keep the progress evidence and reports required by your approved district plan; the state does not prescribe a single homeschool portfolio format.
- Teachers: State educator-licensing requirements for public schools do not apply to home instruction.
Read the Massachusetts homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Massachusetts
Questions parents ask
- How does my child show they meet Somerville's grade requirements?
- By giving evidence that they meet academic standards equivalent to those for enrolled students. Ask the Assistant Superintendent what evidence the activity accepts.
- Can we appeal a denial?
- Only if the decision violates the law or a School Committee policy. Otherwise the district's decision is final.
- Can the district say no even if my child qualifies?
- Yes. Somerville can refuse if the activity is full, your child's participation would add cost, or for behavior, academic, or safety reasons, so ask early before tryouts.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Local classes cover the subjects they offer. We teach the remaining subjects, so a local class can stay part of the year without becoming the whole curriculum.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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