Proposed changes to home schooling regulations in Victoria

The Victorian state government has released proposed changes to home schooling regulations in Victoria.

Families seeking to become registered for home schooling will now need to provide the VRQA with a learning plan.

The plan must show how they will meet eight learning areas: the arts, English, health and physical education (including sport), languages other than English, mathematics; science, studies of society and environment, and technology.

Families already registered for home schooling will not need to submit a plan, and support will be provided to those fulfilling this requirement.

Other changes include:

• A new committee, including representatives from the home-schooling community, who will meet and provide feedback to the VRQA and Department on the operation of the regulations
• A small portion (around 10 per cent) of families will be selected each year for a review of their home schooling arrangements. In the review, parents will be asked to show that the eight key learning areas are being regularly and efficiently addressed, and provide evidence of educational progress.
• Draft regulations will be amended to clarify that the 'reasonable excuse' provisions in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 are still available to exempt a child from school in circumstances of bullying or other trauma, meaning a child can be excused from attending school while their application is considered
• The period for considering an application for home schooling has been extended from 14 to 28 days, giving the Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Authority more time to assess applications
• Distance Education Centre of Victoria will again make curriculum resources available to home schooling families

The changes are being made as part of the development of new regulations to replace the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2007, which automatically end this year.