School committee approves revised homeschool policy after community input

The South Kingstown School Committee approved a revised homeschool policy (policy number 7710) on third read following a review and additional wording changes to clarify reporting requirements to the Rhode Island Department of Education and how administrators may record missing information in the student information system.

At the start of the public comment period, two homeschool parents — Britney Appuzzo and Corey Newkirk — thanked the committee for pausing and returning the policy to the subcommittee for additional review. Appuzzo said the process had been "very educational" and expressed appreciation for the committee’s responsiveness. Newkirk told the committee that the district’s attention to homeschool families’ concerns showed a willingness to find "solutions that are logical, fair, and protect the lives and lifestyles of South Kingstown's homeschooling children and families."

Superintendent James Pedraza summarized the main changes: restructuring and clearer wording to make the policy easier to read, aligning required reporting elements with RIDE guidance, and allowing administrators to fill in missing data so students can be properly recorded in district systems. Pedraza said the changes were largely driven by technical needs to create accurate records for state reporting rather than changes to substantive legal expectations under state law.

A committee member made a motion to accept the policy for homeschooling on its third reading. The motion passed; the meeting record shows voice approval with no roll‑call tally provided.

Ending: Superintendent Pedraza thanked homeschool families for their engagement and said the approved policy will be returned to the regular agenda and implemented according to state reporting requirements.