Homeschooling in Newfoundland and Labrador
What Newfoundland and Labrador actually asks of a family teaching their own children. Written plainly, and honest where the answer is that nobody asks for anything.
CanadaFiling requiredWho is in charge
Superintendent of Schools (or designate - the regional home schooling coordinator) within NLSchools; policy set by the Department of Education
Who actually reviews your child
The Superintendent or designate approves. The zoned school administrator and grade-level teachers review submissions where the coordinator requires it; program specialists may be involved. A student record is created and holds the application, curriculum guide, meeting notes, progress reports and education plans.
What you must file
Application for home schooling
Written approval must be obtained from the Superintendent EACH school year, before the program runs. New applications submitted after the Easter Break are considered only in extenuating circumstances.
Goes to: The regional office (Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Corner Brook, Gander or St. John's), attention the home schooling coordinator
An Education Plan must accompany the application. The Superintendent determines whether the proposed educational plan constitutes SATISFACTORY INSTRUCTION and is in the best interest of the child, and will approve only curricula approved by the Department.
Home Schooling Progress Report / work samples - FIRST YEAR
End of NOVEMBER, end of MARCH, and MID-JUNE.
How often: three times in the first year
Goes to: The zoned school administrator, unless the home schooling coordinator directs otherwise
Must include an overview of all assessment and student work across academic, social and emotional domains, with representative samples of student work and assessments completed IN EACH SUBJECT OR COURSE; progress notes on the goals and outcomes of any individualized program; and any other documentation demonstrating progress.
Home Schooling Progress Report / work samples - SUBSEQUENT YEARS
JANUARY and JUNE, where the student successfully completed the previous school year.
How often: twice yearly
Goes to: The zoned school administrator
After demonstrated academic success over a two-year period, the Superintendent or designate MAY reduce this to one comprehensive report at the end of the third year and thereafter. After two years of demonstrated academic success the Superintendent or designate may reduce this to a single comprehensive report at the end of the third year and in later years.
Assessments required by the Superintendent
Policy Directive 10: 'home schooled students will be required to complete assessments at various times as required by the Superintendent.'
Goes to: NLSchools
The words a reviewer uses
Newfoundland and Labrador provincial curriculum, or an alternate curriculum previously approved by the Department (EECD)
Outcome · General Outcome · Course Unit · curriculum outcomes
The part the paperwork does not cover
Filing on time is the easy half. The harder half is the year in between: showing what your child actually learned, in words the reviewer recognises, without turning your home into a school.
That is what this tool is for. You say what your child did, in a sentence. It maps that to the published standards we hold for Newfoundland and Labrador, which today are English (288 of 288), Mathematics (491 of 496), Science (464 of 535), Social Studies (168 of 193) and Physical Education (95 of 95). Those figures count the topics we carry for ages 5 to 12 that cite one of Newfoundland and Labrador's published standards. Then it builds the record you can hand over the day someone asks. See how it works.
Other places in Canada
Read at the source on 2026-08-28: the NLSchools Home Schooling policy PDF at nlschools.ca. Written approval from the Superintendent is required before starting and on application each school year (Schools Act, 1997 s.5(c) and s.7). Progress Reports and work samples go to the zoned school administrator: 'In the first year, the parent/guardian must submit three Home Schooling Progress Reports/work samples at the end of November, March and Mid-June'; after a successful first year it drops to January and June. One relief NOT on this page before today: where a student has demonstrated academic success over a two-year period, the Superintendent may reduce it to ONE comprehensive report at the end of the third year and in subsequent years.
Check it yourself: the authority's own page.