Pupil Services

Foster Care Liaison & Homeless Liaison- Carol Johnson: 540-227-0023  cjohnson@rappahannockschools.us     

Project Hope

 

Pupil Services Contact-Michelle Berta: 540-227-0023

Mission

The Pupil Services Department of Rappahannock County Public Schools is committed to supporting students and families to identify and effectuate suitable educational alternatives necessary to meet the Virginia Code educational requirements for students.

Purpose

Pupil Services serves the entire student population of our division.  Professional staff members will work with students, parents and other educators to resolve unique attendance, medical and social issues as well as alternative schooling needs to ensure successful student learning.  Areas covered by Pupil Services include Homebound, Homeschooling, Religious Exemption and Pre-K.  Necessary information and forms can be found on this website under the section "Forms."

Home Instruction

Notice of Intent

Any parent who elects to provide home instruction in lieu of school attendance shall annually notify their local school division by August 15 of their intention to instruct the child. Parents who move into the school district or begin home instruction after the school year has begun must notify the school division as soon as practicable and comply with the provisions of the law within 30 days of such notice. Parents may use the Sample Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction to meet the notice requirement.

For additional information regarding the notice of intent requirement, please contact your local school division.

Evidence of Progress

The parent who elects to provide home instruction shall submit to their local school division, by August 1 following the school year in which the child has received home instruction, evidence of the child’s academic progress with either:

Evidence that the child has attained a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test; or an equivalent score on the ACT, SAT, or PSAT test; or

An evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress, including but not limited to:

An evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, or a person with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline, having knowledge of the child's academic progress, stating that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress; or

A report card or transcript from a community college or college, college distance learning program, or home-education correspondence school

For additional information regarding the evidence of progress requirement, please contact your local school division.

Other Resources

Home Instruction Handbook – Information for Parents

Sample Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction

Compulsory Attendance Statutes

Health requirements for home-instructed, exempted, and excused children

Driver Education Information for Home Schoolers -   Rappahannock County Public Schools is excited to announce that we will be offering a Behind-the-Wheel program to not only RCPS students but also Non-RCPS students.  Your child is eligible for the program if they have a learner’s permit, completed Driver’s Education (online or in a classroom), and have completed the 45-hour driving log.  The course consists of 7 drive times (2 hours per drive time) and your child will be paired with a partner (each student drives 50 minutes and observes the other student drive for 50 minutes).  The cost of the program is $250.00 for Non-RCPS students and $50.00 for RCPS students.  Once successfully completing the program requirements, your child will be a Virginia Licensed driver.  We understand that it can be a confusing process for parents to get their teen driver licensed and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have!  To sign up for the program or if you have any questions about the Behind-the-Wheel program, please email Elizabeth Fox (Driver’s Education Coordinator) at efox@rappahannockschools.us.

Affidavit for Approval to Provide Driver Education Programs for Parents Approved to Home School

Pre-K Program

In the fall of 2014, Rappahannock County Public Schools, under the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI), started a Pre-K program for 4-year old county students within our elementary school.  This program was a collaborative effort with Skyline Head Start (3 and 4-year olds) and focused on addressing cognitive, social-emotional and physical development as mutually supportive areas that require active attention in the pre-school years. As of August of 2018, Head Start is no longer offering services in Rappahannock County.   However, if you have a child in the 3 to 4 year old age range and are interested in participating in the Pre-K program, please call Michelle Berta at 540.227.0023, extension 3210 for more information.Our Pre-K application form can be found on this site under "Forms."  Applications for the next school year are due in the Office of the School Board by May 1st.  Parents will be notified of acceptance by mail before the end of the school year.

NOTICE:  Please send completed applications with required documents to the School Board Office as soon as possible after January 2 to ensure you are in the pool for the upcoming school year.  Limited number of slots are available. Applications can be found under the forms tab. They are also available at the School Board Office.