Home Schooling

At EPSD, our goal is to partner with our families who provide education for their children at home. We can serve as a resource to answer questions and help you understand and fulfill your responsibilities.

Home School in Colorado

Under Colorado Revised Statute, (§ 22-33-104.5, C.R.S.), home-based education is defined and provides guidelines for the public. We encourage home-based educators to review this statute to understand a full spectrum of responsibilities.

Home schooling is considered non-public education, and therefore is not accredited by the Colorado Department of Education or by a local school district.
The parent/legal guardian who oversees a home school program is responsible for selecting books, supplies, tests, curriculum selection, and any costs associated.
A student completing an online school or a public school that allows a student to complete their education at home is not the same as home school.
There are a variety of external organizations that provide support for homeschool families throughout the state.
- Home School Resources
A letter of intent must be submitted 14 days before beginning the home school program to a Colorado school district. The letter of intent must include the name, age, place of residence, and number of attendance hours for each child that will be participating in the home school program. Should you begin your home school program during the school year, you may prorate the 172 days of instruction requirement against the attendance already completed. Written notification must be re-submitted to a Colorado school district each year.
- Link to online Estes Park School District’s Intent to Homeschool Digital Form
- Link to print version Estes Park School District’s Intent to Homeschool Form
Colorado law states that home school programs must include, but are not limited to, the subjects of communication skills of reading, writing, and speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and regular courses of instruction in the constitution of the United States. Home school programs must have no less than 172 days of instruction, averaging 4 contact hours per day. The selection of curriculum is at the discretion of the parent who is overseeing the home schooling program.

Home School Information

Letter of Intent to Home School

A letter of intent must be submitted 14 days before beginning the home school program to a Colorado school district.

The letter of intent must include the name, age, place of residence, and number of attendance hours for each child that will be participating in the home school program.
Should you begin your home school program during the school year, you may prorate the 172 days of instruction requirement against the attendance already completed.

You may fill out an intent to homeschool through our online Google Form or by submitting a printed form or letter to the building principal with the necessary information. A form must be submitted for every child participating in a home school program.

Link to online Estes Park School District’s Intent to Homeschool Digital Form
Link to print version Estes Park School District’s Intent to Homeschool Form

Record Keeping

Records for each child participating in a home school program must be kept on a permanent basis by the parent who is overseeing the home school program.

The records must include, but are not limited to, attendance, test and evaluation results, and immunization records as required by C.R.S sections 25-4-901, 25-4-902, and 25-4-903.

Estes Park School District requires home school programs to submit the following records for every child by June 1 following each school year.

A copy of attendance records for the child that shows the number of days and hours of education received.
Test or evaluation results of academic progress from a nationally normed standardized test administered at the child’s current grade level for the following grade levels: 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
Immunization records
- See the district policy JLCB-R for information on how to submit an exemption.

Records must be submitted to the appropriate building principal

Elementary School (PK-2): Erin Miller, erin_miller@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-7406, ext. 3605
Elementary School (3-5): John Bryant, john_bryant@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-7406, ext. 3601
Middle School: Sonja Greenway, sonja_greenway@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-4439, ext. 3201
High School: Mary Barron, mary_barron@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-5321, ext. 3301

Participating in EPSD Assessments

Students that are participating in a home school program must have academic progress evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Students are not required to take the state standardized test, but must take a nationally standardized achievement test or a qualified person, as described in C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(3)(f), can be selected by the parent to evaluate the student’s academic progress.

According to the home school law, the assessments that home school students must take are either a nationally standardized achievement test or an evaluation of academic progress administered by a qualified person that the parent selects.
- A qualified person is someone who has a CO teacher license, is a teacher in an independent or parochial school, is a licensed psychologist, or has a master’s degree in education.
- The parent of the home school program works with the qualified person to determine what the evaluation of academic progress would be. Local home school support groups may also have more information on what those evaluations of academic progress could be.

Estes Park School District offers two opportunities for students in home school programs to take assessments for free.

Participate in April State CMAS, PSAT, or SAT testing. This is a state recognized assessment and will be accepted as a data measure.
- April 8 - April 26, 2024
- If you would like to participate in the April State assessments, contact the appropriate building principal

Participate in NWEA Maps testing in the fall or spring. This is a nationally recognized assessment and will be accepted as a data measure.
- Fall Dates
  - September 28, 2023
- Spring Dates
  - April 25, 2024

If you would like to participate in any of the assessment opportunities, contact the appropriate building principal.

Elementary School (PK-2): Erin Miller, erin_miller@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-7406, ext. 3605

Elementary School (3-5): John Bryant, john_bryant@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-7406, ext. 3601

Middle School: Sonja Greenway, sonja_greenway@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-4439, ext. 3201

High School: Mary Barron, mary_barron@psdr3.k12.co.us, 970-586-5321, ext. 3301

Participating in EPSD Activities & Athletics

The district shall allow students enrolled in any school (including charter schools, non-public schools and home schools) to participate on an equal basis in any activity offered by the district that is not offered at a student’s school of attendance.

The following students shall be eligible to participate in activities at schools within the district provided they meet the eligibility requirements for participation.

1. Students from other school districts which have boundaries contiguous to this district may participate if the district of residence does not sponsor the particular activity.

2. Students who are residents of this school district but who are being educated in a home school may participate provided they comply with all laws governing non-public home-based education.

3. Students who are residents of the district but who are being educated in an independent or parochial school if the school in which the student is enrolled does not sponsor the activity.

A student may participate in activities at more than one school of participation during the same school year only if the original school of participation does not offer an activity in which the student wishes to participate. A student must choose the school that offers the greatest number of activities in which the student wishes to participate.

Additional Home School Resources

Options Program

The Estes Park Options Program is an enrichment program for home schooled students in grades K-8 that meets Thursdays during the school year at the YMCA of the Rockies.

Options Program