Source: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/1508005019
Timestamp: 2019-01-17 03:24:02
Document Index: 311821993

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 72', '§ 72', '§ 72', '§ 72', '§ 72', '§ 72', '§ 72', '§ 72', '§ 404']

SSA - POMS: PR 08005.019 - Kansas - 02/14/2017
PR 08005.019 Kansas
B. PR 04-299 Entitlement of Eighteen-year-old Child to Continued Child's Benefits While Being Home Schooled in Kansas; Nichole H~, ~C3
By: Susan M~
C. PR 99-140 Kansas Home Schooling
The Kansas legislature has not specifically addressed home schooling. According to Kansas statutes, a child under age 16 must attend continuously each school year either a public school or "a private, denominational or parochial school taught by a competent instructor for a period of time which is substantially equivalent to the period of time public school is maintained. . ." Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1111(a) (Supp. 1996). The statutes do not define "competent instructor." A school term consists of 186 school days. not less than six hours per day, for grades kindergarten through eleven, and 181 school days. not less than six hours per day for grade 12. In the alternative, a school term may consist of 1116 hours per year for grades one through eleven, and 1086 hours per year for grade 12. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1106 (Supp. 1996). The statutes do not require nonpublic schools to be accredited, and they do not require teachers in nonpublic schools to be certified. In addition, only accredited public, private or parochial schools are specifically required to instruct pupils in certain subjects. Th~. at §§ 72-1 101 and 72-1103.
On December 18, 1997, we contacted Mr I~, an attorney in the Legal Department of the Kansas State Department of Education, regarding the state's view of home schooling. Mr. I~ stated that home schooling is not "officially" recognized in the state. The state does allow, however, a home school to register as a nonaccredited, private school under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-53,101. The only state requirements for nonaccredited, private schools are those relating to health and safety. The Kansas State Department of Education informed us that the F~'s have registered their home school as a nonaccredited, private school. There are no minimum course requirements for any private school, and there are no sanctions imposed if the nonaccredited, private school does not register in accordance with § 72-53,101. Mr. I~ stated, however, that the private/home school must still be in session for a period of time which is 'substantially equivalent to the period of time public school is maintained in the school district in which the private, denominational or parochial school is located ' Kan Stat. Ann. § 72-1111(a). The Kansas statutes require that a school term must consist of 186 school days, not less than six hours per day for grades kindergarten through eleven, and 181 school days, not less than six hours per day for grade 12. In the alternative, the school term must consist of 1116 hours per year for grades one through eleven, and 1086 hours per year for grade 12. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1106(a) and (b) (Supp. 1996). Mr. I~ estimated that school attendance which was within five percent of the state's requirements would qualify as 'substantially equivalent' attendance.
It is not clear what grade Christopher is in, but regardless, it does not appear that his attendance meets the statutory requirements set forth in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1 106 (Supp. 1996). As previously discussed, the statute provides that a school term consists of 1116 hours per year for grades kindergarten through eleven and 1086 hours for grade 12, or 186 days (six hours per day) for grades kindergarten through eleven and 181 days (six hours per day) for grade 12. Id. Christopher attended home school approximately 716 to 805.5 hours, or approximately 179 days for four to four and one-half hours per day for the 1996-1997 school year. The Social Security regulations require only 20 hours of attendance per week for full-time attendance; however, the regulations also require that both state and federal requirements must be met for students who are in a home school program. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.367(b) and (c) (1997). Mr. Ireland of the Kansas State Department of Education opined that 805 hours of attendance would not qualify as "substantially equivalent" attendance.
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/1508005019
PR 08005.019 - Kansas - 02/14/2017