Legal Framework

Bill 144

On November 9, 2017, the National Assembly adopted Bill 144, An Act to amend the Education Act and other legislative provisions concerning mainly free educational services and compulsory school attendance (2017, c. 23).

The main purpose of Bill 144 is to extend the scope of the right to free educational services and strengthen measures to ensure compliance with compulsory school attendance.

Bill 144 makes several amendments to the Education Act (CQLR, c. I-13.3) and, in particular, contains provisions related to children exempted from compulsory school attendance because they are receiving appropriate homeschooling. It also establishes the conditions on which such an exemption is granted, as well as the government’s duty to determine regulatory standards for homeschooling.

Homeschooling Regulation

The Homeschooling Regulation (CQLR, c. I-13.3, s. 15, 1st par., subpar. 4 and s. 448.1) was enacted and published in the Gazette officiel du Québec on June 13, 2018.

The Homeschooling Regulation sets out certain conditions and procedures that must be followed for a student to be excused from compulsory school attendance in order to receive homeschooling. It also stipulates how the Minister is to monitor homeschooling and how the school board that has jurisdiction is to support the student.

The Homeschooling Regulation came into effect on July 1, 2018.