Some states or local school districts require homeschooling families to submit an instructional plan describing the student’s curriculum and planned instruction. The name and requirements of this document vary by location. In New York, this document is called an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). Families enrolled with Enlightium Academy remain responsible for determining and completing any home education filings required by their state or local school district.
What is an IHIP?
An Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) is the annual instructional plan that a parent submits to the superintendent of the family’s local public school district. The IHIP generally includes:
- A syllabus for each subject
- Curriculum materials
- Textbooks/ebooks to be used, including the name, publisher, and copyright data
- A course’s scope and sequence of instruction
- Student progress percentage and score (this can be covered by a report card)
- Annual assessment information
How do I know if I need to submit an IHIP for my student?
Home education requirements vary by state and, in some cases, by local school district. Families should review the requirements for their location and contact the appropriate state agency, local school district, superintendent, or other designated education authority if clarification is needed. The applicable education authority may provide required forms, instructions, and submission deadlines.
Enlightium Academy may provide available curriculum, course, instructor, enrollment, or progress information to assist families with an IHIP or similar filing. However, the family remains responsible for confirming, completing, and submitting all required documents and should follow the terminology and directions provided by the applicable education authority.
Families may review Enlightium Academy’s state-specific blogs as a starting point. If an IHIP or similar instructional plan is not addressed, families should speak with their local school district superintendent to confirm whether any home education plan or curriculum filing is required in their location.
How often do I have to submit an IHIP?
Submission requirements and deadlines vary by state and local school district. An IHIP or similar instructional plan may be required annually, at the beginning of the school year, when a student begins home education, or when significant changes are made to the student’s instructional plan. Families can speak to their local school district superintendent for direction.
How do I start the process of creating an IHIP?
Families should first review the home education requirements for their location and obtain any required forms or instructions from the appropriate education authority. Enlightium Academy may provide available curriculum, course, instructor, enrollment, or progress information, but the parent or guardian is responsible for completing and submitting the required documents.
How can I request help creating an IHIP?
An IHIP requires extensive documentation. Please reach out to your student’s counselor as early as possible if you have questions about the information you need to gather. Counselors are able to provide the following:
- A generic non-state-specific form for the parent to fill out
- A “Time Spent in the Curriculum” report
- A link to information about Enlightium’s curriculum
- Other information, as applicable
If you need to find information about a specific teacher, please look for a Smore sent to the student.
Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288 or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.
