• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • –Need HELP? Start here!–

The Triangle Homeschool Resource Center

Educate. Connect. Create.

  • Home
  • Getting Started
  • Field Trips
  • Homeschooling Helps
  • Podcast
You are here: Home / Homeschooling Helps / Homeschool Records Review FAQ

Homeschool Records Review FAQ

January 18, 2020 By Laina Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. This means that I may receive compensation for reviews, clicks, and purchases at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I trust and believe will be good for my readers. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see my disclosures and cookie policy.

Were you one of the lucky recipients of a letter from the NC Division of Non-Public Education inviting you to a voluntary homeschool records review? If it doesn’t quite feel like winning the lottery, it may be because … well, it’s nothing like winning the lottery. It’s more akin to being selected for jury duty, but not just any neighbor can answer our questions about this summons.

I have compiled an FAQ about voluntary records review letters from a homeschooler’s perspective, I hope this information takes the unknown out of the equation and puts your mind at ease.

NC Homeschool Records Review by mail

Did someone report me to DNPE or CPS?

The voluntary records review summons you received in the mail has nothing to do with any complaints submitted to the state or other compulsory attendance officials. That process looks completely different. So if you ever are reported (highly unlikely), this is not how your opportunity for a response would look.

So why did I get a homeschool records review letter?

According to DNPE’s Homeschool Guide Book: “Schools are randomly selected for the invitation.” See? Aren’t you lucky? Like the lottery and you’re NOI is your ticket to play. But this is not as much fun. (Oh, and it’s nothing like Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, I promise.)

Is it legal for the state to ask for these records?

Yes, absolutely. According to General Statutes 115C-549 and 115C-557 which specify which records must be kept at the “school’s principal office” and available for inspection by DNPE representatives. (The school’s principal office, by the way, is your home.)

The letter says I have been selected to voluntarily attend. Does it look bad if I don’t go?

Well, opinions differ on that. But, generally speaking, no. It does not reflect on your homeschool nor invite further scrutiny on your records whether you attend or don’t. Many people have strong feelings one way or the other about how it looks when the community at large does or doesn’t participate in these meetings.

So should I go?

That’s totally up to you. It is a great opportunity to meet someone from the DNPE staff and ask any questions you may have!  Most are at a library, so you can make it a field trip with the kiddos, too.

If I do attend the meeting, what should I expect?

The DNPE representative will simply look at your records (attendance from current and past year, most recent standardized test results which should be no more than 1 year old) to see if you are keeping them as required by the homeschool statutes. Simply keeping them. The representative is NOT going to count the number of school days on the attendance record, NOR are they going to judge the scores of the standardized tests.

It should go something like this:
Do you have the records? Yes, you do. Do you have any questions for us? No? Ok, thank you for your time.
Done.

If I don’t attend the meeting, I have to return the enclosed update form, correct?

Technically, no, unless you need to close your homeschool. But even then you can do any closing or records updating online in your DNPE portal. The law specifies when we are to open our homeschools, and when we are to close them, and not much about sending updated records to the state in between. (Personally, I don’t see any harm in updating them, but others have different views on that.) I understand, though, that the staff does appreciate a call to the number specified in the letter notifying them you won’t be attending a meeting. This simply lets them know that, at the very least, your mailing address is up-to-date, which IS required by law to keep current!

 

I hope this information takes the panic out of opening that letter! For as long as I’ve homeschooled in North Carolina, our community has had a healthy relationship with the staff at the Division of Non-Public Education. There is certainly nothing to fear about a records review and now that you know more, you can make a more relaxed decision about your participation.

You might also like...

  • Keeping Your Homeschool Records
    Keeping Your Homeschool RecordsYour homeschool records might include a treasure-trove of artwork, heartfelt stories, and pages of math practice, but legally, none of that meets requirements according to the State of North Carolina. In this article (part 4 of a 4-part series on keeping your homeschool legal in NC), I'll show you exactly…
  • Driver's Ed for Homeschoolers in North Carolina
    Driver's Ed for Homeschoolers in North CarolinaThe misinformation about the process for getting a driving permit in North Carolina leaves many homeschoolers confused. Let's cut through the rumors about driver's education and give you the facts you need to help your teen get legally, and safely, behind the wheel!   On your mark... If you have…
  • 3 Keys to Following North Carolina Homeschool Law
    3 Keys to Following North Carolina Homeschool LawDeciding to homeschool can be overwhelming -- and exciting! Fortunately, if you live in North Carolina, following the homeschool law doesn't have to be part of what makes it overwhelming. I mean, it's hard to make the legal stuff exciting, but let's make it as easy as possible, ok?  …

Filed Under: Homeschooling Helps Tagged With: attendance, dnpe, Homeschooling Helps, laws, records

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Get our Newsletter

Be in the know with news, special offers and exclusive content delivered right to your inbox.

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome

If I could settle anywhere and homeschool my kids, I couldn't imagine choosing anywhere other than Raleigh. The people, the culture, the opportunities, the freedom... and have I mentioned the people? Read More…

Check out some of our favorite products!

Easy Dinner Plans

Looking for something?

Footer

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookies

The mission of the Triangle Homeschool Resource Center is to connect homeschooling families in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina to the information and resources they need to succeed.

TriangleHomeschoolResources

Connect on the web

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Contact Us
P.O. Box 1724
Garner, NC  27529
Tel: 919-346-3098

Copyright © 2021 · The Triangle Homeschool Resource Center