Every family who is home educating exempt students is sent a declaration twice a year (in about March and Oct), covering the periods Jan-June and July-Dec, to sign and return, along with forms in which they state whether they wish to receive the supervision allowance. But what about those families who gained an exemption during a 6 month period?
Note: for 2023 further updates and info, please see THIS article.
Previously, it worked like this:
If an exemption start date was before the print-run date of all the declarations, the new student's declaration would be included in the normal mail out If it was gained after the print run, then either the period of time from start date to end of period would be included in the subsequent declaration, or Resourcing might send out a late declaration for the part period.
However, recently they changed this. Now, in theory, it's supposed to work like this:
When a regional office grants an exemption, they are supposed to send out part-period declaration forms to the family for the period from the start date of the exemption to the end of the cycle. Subsequent full-cycle declarations will be sent by Resourcing.
But, the wheels seem to have seriously fallen off this process over the last 6-12 months! Some regional offices have sent out some declarations, but lots and lots seem not to have been sent. I'm not entirely sure regional staff even know they're supposed to have been doing this! That said, with the huge increase in applications since Sept last year, most regional offices have been seriously struggling to keep up with applications alone, and so many things have "fallen through the cracks."
March 2023 update to the above: the declarations for the first half of this year are in the post to families. They include information which states that if the exemption was granted AFTER 2nd Feb 2023 (when the print run was done) then you should contact your regional office
So, what if a part period declaration was not sent out? Will those dates just be added to the next one?
No, they will not. If you are missing a part-period declaration, you need to contact your regional office, or more efficiently, Resourcing division directly. Their email is Resourcing@education.govt.nz. Quote your family reference number, and ask for the missed declaration. They will email it to you, for you to sign and return. Once completed, any supervision allowance payment will be loaded on the system and paid out in their next available payment run cycle (they do these approximately fortnightly-monthly depending on what payments they are making, but the schedule needs to be full before they do a run so sometimes it's longer).
If you don't follow up and ask for this, it will remain outstanding for that part period, and you'll still need to ask for it next time around. So may as well just get it done.
This is also the process to follow any time you happen to have not received a declaration. Also, don't forget to keep the Ministry up to date with your mailing address, as they send the regular declarations out by post.
Note: for 2023 further updates and info, please see THIS article.
Previously, it worked like this:
If an exemption start date was before the print-run date of all the declarations, the new student's declaration would be included in the normal mail out If it was gained after the print run, then either the period of time from start date to end of period would be included in the subsequent declaration, or Resourcing might send out a late declaration for the part period.
However, recently they changed this. Now, in theory, it's supposed to work like this:
When a regional office grants an exemption, they are supposed to send out part-period declaration forms to the family for the period from the start date of the exemption to the end of the cycle. Subsequent full-cycle declarations will be sent by Resourcing.
But, the wheels seem to have seriously fallen off this process over the last 6-12 months! Some regional offices have sent out some declarations, but lots and lots seem not to have been sent. I'm not entirely sure regional staff even know they're supposed to have been doing this! That said, with the huge increase in applications since Sept last year, most regional offices have been seriously struggling to keep up with applications alone, and so many things have "fallen through the cracks."
March 2023 update to the above: the declarations for the first half of this year are in the post to families. They include information which states that if the exemption was granted AFTER 2nd Feb 2023 (when the print run was done) then you should contact your regional office
So, what if a part period declaration was not sent out? Will those dates just be added to the next one?
No, they will not. If you are missing a part-period declaration, you need to contact your regional office, or more efficiently, Resourcing division directly. Their email is Resourcing@education.govt.nz. Quote your family reference number, and ask for the missed declaration. They will email it to you, for you to sign and return. Once completed, any supervision allowance payment will be loaded on the system and paid out in their next available payment run cycle (they do these approximately fortnightly-monthly depending on what payments they are making, but the schedule needs to be full before they do a run so sometimes it's longer).
If you don't follow up and ask for this, it will remain outstanding for that part period, and you'll still need to ask for it next time around. So may as well just get it done.
This is also the process to follow any time you happen to have not received a declaration. Also, don't forget to keep the Ministry up to date with your mailing address, as they send the regular declarations out by post.
Payments and what happens if you don't return the declaration.
Once you sign and return the declaration, you are eligible for the supervision allowance payment. The annual amounts are as follows - they are paid in two installments in about June and late November:
- first child $743.00
- second child $632.00
- third child $521.00
- subsequent children $372.00
The 6 monthly declarations are the main way that the Ministry follows up to ensure you're still home educating "as regularly and well." It is a simple form with just a couple of questions and tick boxes. Legally, they can't require you to submit these, so the allowance is the "carrot" for you to do so - if you don't return the declaration you can't get the allowance.
However, if you don't return it, then they will follow up in other ways to ensure "as regularly and well." This will begin with a reminder. If you still don't send in the form, they may follow up with a phone call/email/letter asking for an update on your homeschooling programme. This can potentially lead to an ERO review, and if that is not satisfactory, the exemptions can be revoked. I don't say that to scare you - just to let you know that it's easier to simply sign and return the declarations. Don't consider them "optional" or "only if I want the allowance." You can read more about how homeschooling programmes are monitored HERE.
However, if you don't return it, then they will follow up in other ways to ensure "as regularly and well." This will begin with a reminder. If you still don't send in the form, they may follow up with a phone call/email/letter asking for an update on your homeschooling programme. This can potentially lead to an ERO review, and if that is not satisfactory, the exemptions can be revoked. I don't say that to scare you - just to let you know that it's easier to simply sign and return the declarations. Don't consider them "optional" or "only if I want the allowance." You can read more about how homeschooling programmes are monitored HERE.
Where to send the declaration
Usually, the Ministry includes a return envelope with the declarations. But sometimes a few get missed as the folk in Resourcing are stuffing the thousands of envelopes. So the address, in case you need it, is:
Ministry of Education
Resourcing Contact Centre
PO Box 1666
Wellington 6140
Email Resourcing@education.govt.nz
Ministry of Education
Resourcing Contact Centre
PO Box 1666
Wellington 6140
Email Resourcing@education.govt.nz
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