DNPE PROVIDES VERIFICATION CARD FOR HOME-SCHOOL OPERATORS
Replaces former ‘orange postcard’ honored by merchants statewide

RALEIGH – To assist merchants who offer discounted educational supplies to bona fide home school operators, the N.C. Division of Non-Public Education today announced that it has created a downloadable verification document for this purpose.
 
The document replaces and serves the same function as the distinctive orange postcards formerly mailed by DNPE to registered home schools. It and other costly printings and mailings have been curtailed due to budget cuts and increased automation of DNPE processes.
 
“We appreciate the confusion felt by businesses that have historically extended the same discount opportunities to home schools as they do with public school educators,” said Dr. Chená Flood, DNPE Director. “The new verification document contains the same information and may be accepted by businesses as proof that the home school is appropriately registered to operate for the 2011-12 school year.”
 
The new 5x8-inch verification document includes the name and address of the school and primary operator, as well as the number is it assigned by DNPE. An example of the card is posted at http://www.ncdnpe.org/registration/CreateCard.aspx. Vendors with questions or concerns may call the Division at 919-733-2476 or visit http://www.ncdnpe.org/index.aspx
 
DNPE’s new Home School Guidebook,  designed to be easily hole-punched and kept as a handy resource, is available to help home school operators become more familiar with the Division’s online reporting process as well as answers questions frequently asked by families considering home-schooling as an option for their children.
 
The guide includes legal requirements for establishing and maintaining a home school, as well as resources for selecting a national standardized testing tool to meet annual requirements. It also provides information regarding Driver’s Education and Driver Eligibility Certificates, and copies of forms used by DNPE.
 
The Home School Guidebook may be downloaded from this link: http://www.ncdnpe.org/documents/HomeSchoolGuideBook.pdf