Newfoundland School Withdrawal Letter: What to Write and When to Send It
Parents pulling their children from school in Newfoundland often ask whether they need a formal letter to the school, or whether Form 312A covers everything. The short answer: Form 312A is the legal requirement; the letter to the school is separate and serves a different purpose. Both matter, and you want both.
Here is what each document does, what to put in the letter, and when to send it.
Two Documents, Two Different Audiences
Form 312A goes to the regional Home Schooling Coordinator through NLSchools; Francophone families should use the applicable Conseil scolaire francophone provincial (CSFP) process. It is the provincial application to home educate. Your child cannot legally stop attending school until the Director of Education or a designated Superintendent issues formal approval after the coordinator's review. Nothing you write to the principal changes that.
The withdrawal letter goes to the school principal. It is professional notification that you are exercising your approved right to home educate. You send it after Form 312A is approved — not before, and not instead of it.
Sending the letter to the principal before formal approval creates a problem: the school may mark your child absent once they stop showing up, because legally they are still enrolled and required to attend. Always get approval first.
What the Letter Should Include
Keep the withdrawal letter short and factual. You do not need to justify your decision or explain your homeschool plans in detail. The letter does not ask the principal to approve your program. The regional coordinator reviews the application, while formal approval is issued by the Director of Education or a designated Superintendent.
A complete letter covers:
1. Your child's details Full name, date of birth, grade, and homeroom teacher. This ensures the letter reaches the right records administrator.
2. Your intent A single clear sentence: you are withdrawing your child from [school name] to pursue home education, effective [date].
3. The approval reference Mention that the Director of Education or a designated Superintendent has issued formal approval under the Schools Act, 1997, following review by the [Eastern/Central/Western/Labrador] regional Home Schooling Coordinator. Include the coordinator's name or a reference number, if you have one, so the school can match the approval to its records.
4. Records request Ask the school to explain its records-access process for obtaining copies of your child's cumulative record, report cards, and any IEP or assessment documents. Request copies rather than transfer of the original cumulative file.
5. Date and signature Sign with your full name and include your contact phone number or email in case the school has records questions.
What Not to Include
Do not include your full homeschool curriculum plans, teaching schedule, or a defence of your reasons for homeschooling. The principal does not need this information and providing it can open the door to unsolicited feedback or delays while they "review" your plans.
Do not threaten legal action or quote legislation unless there is already a problem. Most NL school staff process these withdrawals routinely and professionally. A confrontational letter creates friction where none exists.
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Sample Structure
Here is the structure — not word-for-word copy, but the order and content that makes a clean, effective letter:
[Your Name] [Your Address] [Date]
[Principal's Name] [School Name and Address]
Dear [Principal's Name],
I am writing to notify you that I am withdrawing [Child's Full Name], currently in Grade [X] in [Teacher's Name]'s class, from [School Name], effective [Date].
The Director of Education or a designated Superintendent has issued formal approval for us to home educate under the Schools Act, 1997, following review by the [Regional] regional Home Schooling Coordinator.
Please advise me of the records-access process for obtaining copies of [Child's Name]'s cumulative records, report cards, and any special education documentation. My contact information is above.
Thank you for your assistance during our time at [School Name].
Sincerely, [Your Signature] [Your Printed Name]
This runs to about 150 words. That is the right length. Anything longer creates room for misunderstanding.
Sending the Letter
Email is acceptable and creates a dated digital record. Follow up with a printed copy delivered to the school office if you want an additional paper trail — ask the office to date-stamp a copy for your records when you drop it off.
Keep your copies permanently. If there is ever a question about when your child's enrolment ended, these records protect you.
After the Letter Goes In
Once formal approval is in place and the school processes the notice, the student remains listed at the zoned school under provincial record-keeping rules and is assigned attendance code "H" (Home schooled). The student is no longer required to attend.
From there, your ongoing responsibility is to meet the progress-reporting and assessment requirements, including Form 312B and work samples according to the applicable schedule.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Legal Withdrawal Blueprint includes a ready-to-send letter template, the Form 312A walkthrough, and guidance on what to do if the school pushes back on the withdrawal.
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