Board sends graduation-policy changes back to committee after heated debate over homeschooled students

The RSU 52/MSAD 52 board spent more than an hour Thursday debating proposed changes to its IKF graduation policy, centered on a provision that would set minimum attendance requirements for students transferring from home‑based instruction.

At a packed meeting, board member Anthony moved to remove paragraph 5B — which requires homeschooled students to meet a two‑year attendance threshold before receiving an MSAD 52 diploma — calling the requirement discriminatory. "It makes no sense to treat one set of kids differently than another," Anthony said, urging the board to assess transfer students on the same basis regardless of how their prior instruction was delivered.

Supporters of the policy committee’s version, including staff who drafted the language, argued the provision responds to variability in the documentation submitted by families who homeschool. A policy committee representative said administrators need a consistent rule because some families do not submit the assessments or transcripts the district relies on when awarding credit: "There is more variability in the backup information and transcripts we receive from homeschooling," the representative said, describing why a minimum standard had been recommended.

Board members proposed and debated several alternatives. One compromise amended language to require a homeschooled student seeking an MSAD 52 diploma to be enrolled for the full senior year and earn a minimum number of credits; a motion to restate the requirement as "attendance for the entire senior year and a minimum of six credits" was offered, seconded and discussed. Opponents said even that formula risked creating unequal treatment: "You're punishing them because they opted out of school," one trustee said.

After extended exchanges, a later motion to send the IKF policy back to the policy committee for further revision prevailed on a weighted vote that the chair reported as 464 to 441. The referral means the policy will be reworked in committee and returned to the board for additional consideration rather than being adopted as written at second reading.

The dispute illustrated tensions between two board priorities: ensuring diplomas reflect the district’s academic expectations and avoiding blanket rules that could disadvantage students whose prior learning does not arrive in standard transcripts. Several board members said they want clear, administrable standards that still allow case‑by‑case assessment; others said the board should avoid rules that single out homeschooled students.

The board did not adopt final language at the meeting. The policy will return to the policy committee for revision and a future board review. The motion to refer the policy was made by Anthony and seconded by Alex; the chair announced the referral passed on the reported weighted tally.