Hamilton County ESC serves families and children directly through our Home Education / Home Schooling support for Finneytown, Northwest, and Oak Hills, We also serve families through our Early Learning Program and Head Start programs and Pathways programs.
On this page you will find information pertinent to parents and guardians in the following areas:
- Student Data Privacy
- Home Education / Home Schooling Support
- Home School Assessment / Iowa Test of Basic Skills
- Early Childhood and Head Start
Information for all Parents/Guardians concerning Student Data Privacy
In Ohio, student data privacy agreements are legal contracts between schools and technology providers that help protect your child’s personal information. These agreements ensure that student data—like names, grades, and contact details—is only used for educational purposes, cannot be sold or misused, and is securely deleted when no longer needed. Schools are also required to notify parents about which companies have access to student data and how it’s being used. These protections are part of Ohio’s commitment to keeping students safe in today’s digital learning environment.
Click to view Hamilton County ESC’s Student Data Privacy Agreements
Information for Home Education / Home Schooling Support
Hamilton County ESC provides Home Education / Home Schooling notification support for the following school districts: Finneytown, Northwest, and Oak Hills. For any school district not listed, please contact the school district directly.
Expectations of Parent/Guardian
According to ORC 3321.042 of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, parents must provide written notification to the superintendent of the school district, no later than the first week of September or within seven days of withdrawing their child from public school.
The form can be found at New ORC 3321.042 Ohio Exemption Form.
The notification must include the required components which are:
- parent’s name and address
- child’s name
- an assurance that the child will receive education in the subject areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies
Expectations of School District
According to ORC 3321.042 of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the school district superintendent will provide a written acknowledgement of receipt of the notice to the parent or guardian not later than fourteen calendar days after receiving the notice.
For more information to assist you in this process, please visit https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3321.042.
Current superintendents of the districts we serve are:
- Northwest Local Schools: Darrel Yater
- Oak Hills Local Schools: Jeff Brandt
- Finneytown Local Schools: Laurie Banks
Step-by-step process
| 1. Determine Your District | Identify if your child falls under/resides in Finneytown, Northwest, or Oak Hills school districts. |
| 2. Prepare Written Notification | Complete the notification form, including: – parent’s name and address – child’s name – assurance of education in required subjects |
| 3. Submit Notification | Send the notification to the district superintendent by the first week of September or within 7 days of withdraw. |
| 4. Await Acknowledgment | The district superintendent will acknowledge receipt of your notification within 14 calendar days. |
| 5. Review and Confirm | Hamilton County ESC will review your notification for accuracy and contact you regarding its status. |
| 6. Receive Annual Reminder | At the end of each school year, expect a reminder from Hamilton County ESC to submit a new notification. |
For questions or assistance, contact Hamilton County ESC or visit Ohio Revised Code ORC 3321.042.
Colissa Irving, Homeschool Liaison
513.674.4418
homeschool@hcesc.org
Homeschool Assessment: Iowa Test of Basic Skills
Hamilton County ESC offers the online Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) Form E Complete Battery as an assessment tool for homeschool families at the end of the school year. The ITBS is a nationally normed assessment that measures student achievement and growth, aiding educators and families in gauging mastery of core learning standards and determining college and career readiness. Students will be evaluated in vocabulary, reading, mathematics, science, and social studies.
The cost is $50 for the first student, with a reduced fee of $30 for additional students within the same family. This option is available for all school districts.
You will need to register for the grade level that your child completed in the 2025-2026 school year. Students must attend all dates listed for their grade to complete testing.
- Kindergarten – May 13 and 14 (12:30 – 3:00)
- Grades 1 & 2 – May 18 and 19 (12:30 – 3:00)
- Grades 3, 4, & 5 – May 13 and 14 (8:30 – 11:30)
- Grades 6, 7, & 9 – May 18 and 19 (8:30 – 11:30)
- Grades 9, 10, & 11 – May 20 (one day only – full day)
Colissa Irving, Homeschool Liaison
513.674.4418
homeschool@hcesc.org
Information for parents/guardians of children in our Early Childhood and Head Start programs
Wellness Policy for Children
Good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well-being of children. Furthermore, research suggests that there is a positive correlation between a student’s health and well-being and his/her ability to learn. Schools can play an important role in the developmental process by which students establish their health and nutrition habits by providing nutritious meals and snacks through the schools’ meal programs, by supporting the development of good eating habits, and by promoting increased physical activity both in and out of school.
Hamilton County ESC has set goals in an effort to enable students to establish good health and nutrition habits. Read our HCESC Wellness Policy.