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Keep Praying for the California Homeschooling CaseFrom the Homeschool Legal Defense Association:
On Monday, June 23, 2008, HSLDA founder Mike Farris argued in defense of homeschooling in the California Court of Appeal in the now-infamous Rachel L. case. In February, this same court had ruled that homeschooling is illegal in California. The court later vacated its own decision in response to a request for rehearing filed by attorney for the father, Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation, with substantial assistance by Farris and other attorneys at HSLDA. Farris argued as a friend of the court on behalf of HSLDA's 15,000 member families in California, as well as Focus on the Family, and Private and Home Educators of California.
Farris was joined in his defense of homeschooling by lawyers representing the Attorney General and Governor of California, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, California’s three largest homeschooling groups (California Homeschool Network, Homeschool Association of California and Christian Home Educators of California), Pacific Justice Institute on behalf of Sunland Christian School, and Alliance Defense Fund lawyer Jeff Shafer, on behalf of the family.
“The weight of legal and scholarly authority presented to this court in defense of homeschooling is unprecedented,” said Farris, who has argued dozens of similar cases since founding HSLDA 25 years ago.
In addition to those who presented oral argument, friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the right of parents to homeschool were submitted by Pacific Legal Foundation, National Legal Foundation, Sutherland Institute, Liberty Counsel on behalf of 13 members of Congress, Gifted Homeschoolers Forum, et al, Seventh Day Adventist Church State Council, Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence (prepared by noted law professors David Llewellyn, John Eastman, and Erwin Chemerinsky), American Center for Law and Justice and The Western Center for Law and Policy.
Farris is guardedly optimistic that the three-judge panel will not repeat its earlier error, but he covets your prayers. “The homeschooling movement has been successful not because of the work of lawyers but because the Lord has blessed it,” noted Farris. “We must always remember Proverbs 21:1—‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever he wishes.’ ”
A decision is expected within a few weeks.
Sincerely,
J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President
Posted on June 26, 2008, 9:10 am
New Virtual Learning Academy
A new school has opened up to serve homeschool families world-wide.
Homeschool Facts is very excited to announce that the International Virtual Learning Academy, a California Private school, is now accepting students from throughout the U.S. and Internationally.
IVLA offers both a standard California High School Diploma as well as a College Preparation Diploma.
This school provides both individual Online courses as well as a full standards based curriculum.
All courses are deeply rooted in the National Academic Content Standards, and developed by nationally certified teachers.
IVLA's learning platform allows for active parent involvement in their child's education.
Currently IVLA offers over 90+ Online Courses for grades 2-12.
Homeschool Facts is very impressed with the low cost of the private school tuition, and the high quality of customer service the school provides.
For more information click here: International Virtual Learning Academy
Posted on May 8, 2008, 8:22 am
Polygamists Cause Questions Regarding Home School Laws
When it rains, it poors. Right on the heals of the California Court debacle declaring homeschooling illegal, the discover of a cult related to the convicted polygamist Warren Jeffs has raised questions about homeschool laws in Texas.
Texas rates very high on it's freedom to homeschool laws. It is unfortunate that officials look to incidents like these to undermine the entire legality of parents constitutional rights to provide for the education of their children.
This story can be read in it's entirety at: Texas Home School Coaltion
Posted on April 11, 2008, 8:00 am
Nevada's Governor proclaims Home Education Awareness Week
Governor Jim Gibbons has proclaimed the week of March 31 - April 5 as Nevada Home Education Week.
This recognition of the contribution of homeschoolers to the state and to the nation is especially significant for Nevada homeschoolers. In it's last session, the state legislature moved the state's homeschool laws from being one of the most restrictive, to being one of the most liberal homeschool states in the Nation.
Homeschool Facts is proud of the efforts of homeschool families throughout the state for their tireless efforts in increasing public and political awareness and removing long-held stigmas about homeschooling.
Way to Go Nevada Homeschoolers. To read the whole proclamation: CLICK HERE
Posted on April 8, 2008, 9:35 pm
Special Bulletin: Homeschool Ruling Vacated; Court Will Reconsider
Pacific Justice Institute has just received word that the court ruling which declared most forms of homeschooling unlawful in California has been vacated. This means the Rachel L. decision, which has sparked a nationwide uproar, will not go into effect as it is currently written. The Second District Court of Appeal has instead decided to re-hear the case, with a new round of briefings due in late April. It would likely take the court several additional months to schedule oral argument and issue another decision.
Today's announcement by the court that it will re-hear the case reinforces PJI's position that homeschooling families should continue their current programs without fear of governmental interference. PJI will be actively involved in the upcoming briefs and will continue to post updates and special bulletins on this vital issue.
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, "We are pleased that the Court of Appeal has decided to re-hear the Rachel L. case, and we are hopeful that the fundamental rights of these parents, our clients Sunland Christian School, and the tens of thousands of homeschooling families in California will be honored. Homeschooling parents should be treated as heroes - not hunted down or harassed by their own government."
Posted on March 26, 2008, 8:31 pm
Homeschool Facts adds new Homeschool Forum
MyHomeschoolSpace.com. Homeschool Facts has added a new feature especially for homeschoolers. Check out the new Homeschool Forum. Suggest new forum topics, share your homeschool experiences, welcome new forum members.
Homeschool Facts continues to bring the best communication networks together for homeschool families world-wide. This new forum is designed to be a safe place where homeschool families can share their experiences with other homeschoolers.
Posted on March 21, 2008, 7:26 am
Support needed for CA Homeschool Resolution
In addition to the HSLDA online petition to depublish the LA court ruling on homeschooling, there is a resolution being sponsored in the California State Assembly by Assembly Member Joel Anderson to denounce the Anti-homeschool Appellate Court Decision.
For more Information and instructions on what you can do to support this resolution CLICK HERE
Posted on March 12, 2008, 5:03 pm
HSLDA Organizes Petition opposing CA Court Rulilng
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has organized an online petition for people to sign in opposition to the recent court ruling on parent's rights to homeschool.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE PETITION
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THE CALIFORNIA HOMESCHOOL COURT CASE
Posted on March 11, 2008, 3:48 pm
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Support Homeschoolers
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell announced today that the California Department of Education has completed a legal review of the February 28 California Court of Appeal ruling regarding home schooling.
Click Here to Read the Entire Statement
Posted on March 11, 2008, 3:40 pm
From the Center for Education Reform
The California Court of Appeals recently dropped a bomb on home-schooling families, saying that parents have no legal right to teach their children - a preposterous notion reminiscent of the Wisconsin case against virtual schools in which the teachers' union argued that parents (doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.) were too "inexperienced" to teach their children.
To no one's surprise, the California teachers' union is "happy" that the court now classifies parents who home school their students as criminals: "'We always think students should be taught by credentialed teachers, no matter what the setting,' Mr. Porter preened."
California's gubernator has vowed to protect parents' right to home school their children in the wake of this irrational decision. Here's hoping this wacky ruling is swiftly set right.
Posted on March 11, 2008, 1:28 pm
California Governor Blasts Homeschool Decision
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized a state appeals ruling related to homeschooling and pledged action on his part March 7 if it is not overturned.
The comments by the Republican governor referenced a decision that has sent shockwaves throughout the homeschooling community, not only in California but across the nation. The unanimous 3-0 ruling by the court found that "parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children." It is being appealed to the California Supreme Court.
"Every California child deserves a quality education and parents should have the right to decide what's best for their children," Schwarzenegger said. "Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will."
To read the full article from the Baptist Press, CLICK HERE
Posted on March 10, 2008, 6:41 pm
Making the news in California ... From the BPNews: LOS ANGELES (BP)
In a decision that has alarmed the homeschooling community nationwide, a California appeals court has ruled parents have no constitutional right to homeschool their children and that those parents who do must be credentialed teachers.
The decision was issued Feb. 28 but wasn't picked up by national media until March 6. The court case arose in juvenile court and the parties had court-appointed attorneys, meaning that even some of the nation's leading homeschooling organizations, such as the Home School Legal Defense Association, didn't know about the case until the ruling was issued.
But despite that fact it flew under the radar, it could have broad implications on the state's estimated 166,000 homeschool students -- and set a dangerous precedent for other such students nationwide. The decision is particularly troublesome, pro-family leaders say, because California's public schools have some of the more liberal laws in the nation regarding the teaching about sexuality and homosexuality. More than five years ago Focus on the Family's James Dobson said if he had children in California's public schools, he would pull them out.
Justice H. Walter Croskey wrote the ruling for the three-judge panel, which was unanimous in its decision.
"California courts have held that under provisions in the Education Code, parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children," Croskey wrote.
California law, the court ruled, requires that children be enrolled and attend a public or private school or be "tutored by a person holding a valid state teaching credential for the grade being taught." Parents who fail to follow the state law could face criminal penalties.
"Because parents have a legal duty to see to their children's schooling within the provisions of these laws, parents who fail to do so may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program," the court wrote. "Additionally, the parents are subject to being ordered to enroll their children in an appropriate school or education program and provide proof of enrollment to the court, and willful failure to comply with such an order may be punished by a fine for civil contempt."
The court's ruling overturned a lower court decision that had ruled parents do indeed have a constitutional right to homeschool their children. The appeals court's decision is being appealed to the California Supreme Court.
The case involved an unidentified family that had homeschooled its eight children. One of the children reported physical and emotional abuse by the father, leading to an investigation by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and eventually to the court case. Focus on the Family issued a statement saying that the court should have limited the decision to the specific situation but instead "overreached" and applied it to all homeschooling situations.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), a legal organization that defends homeschoolers, said the court made a mistake by relying on a California court ruling from 1953.
"If the opinion is followed then California will have the most regressive law in the nation and homeschooling will be effectively banned because the only legal way to homeschool will be for the parent to hold a teaching certificate," the association said. "Parents should not have to attend a four year college education program just to teach their own children. California is now on the path to being the only state to deny the vast majority of homeschooling parents their fundamental right to teach their own children at home."
HSLDA is gathering petitions to ask the California Supreme Court to "de-publish" the opinion. If the opinion is de-published it would have no authority, the organization said. The petition can be signed at the association's website, www.hslda.org.
Another legal organization, the California-based Pacific Justice Institute, called the scope of the decision "breathtaking."
"It not only attacks traditional home schooling, but also calls into question home schooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private schools," Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, said in a statement. "If not reversed, the parents of the more than 166,000 students currently receiving an education at home will be subject to criminal sanctions."
The HomeSchool Association of California posted a statement on its website recommending that California parents "not change anything they are doing," "support the groups who are handling this" and "don't panic."
"It is quite possible that we can reach a result that limits the impact of this case and makes legislation unnecessary," the statement said.
R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., said on his blog that the decision "demands the attention of all parents."
"[I]f parents have no constitutional right to educate their own children, what other aspects of the parent's choices for their own children lack protection?" he asked. "This question reaches far beyond educational decisions."
Michael Foust is an assistant editor for Baptist Press.
Posted on March 7, 2008, 7:01 pm
Nevada Homeschool Conference
2008 Nevada Home Educators Conference
and Curriculum Fair
May 16 - 17, 2008
Friday 2 - 7pm and Saturday 7:30 - 6:00pm
Reno-Sparks Convention Center
4590 South Virginia St., Reno
www.homeeducatorsoffaith.org
Friday 2 - 7pm and Saturday 7:30 - 6:00pm
Reno-Sparks Convention Center
4590 South Virginia St., Reno
Posted on February 17, 2008, 7:37 am
Teen fights back from cancer
I'd like to share a story from a homeschool family that has struggled through much adversity. This story was posted in the Tennessean about Joshua, a cancer survivor.
Read about Joshua and his family by clicking: Teen Fights Back Against Cancer.
After you read this story, please consider helping this family by helping to create a miracle
Homeschool Facts is asking you to help this homeschool family out. Through all the struggles this family has gone through, Theresa has kept faith in her God and has been a blessing to many around her.
You can read about this remarkable family at: www.IamAtPeaceWithDestiny.com
As Theresa has been saying for years: Expect a miracle.
Posted on December 17, 2007, 11:10 am
Virginia: Washington County refuses to stop misleading homeschool families
Washington County Refuses to Stop Misleading Families.
A Homeschooler in Washington County Virginia recently received a letter demanding that her notice of intent be filed by August 1. The letter was from the Director of Academic Operations for Washington County Public Schools in Abingdon, Virginia. She sought assistance from HSLDA for help. HSLDA attempted to intervene with the school district. explaining the district's errors:
* a notice of intent is due August 15
* The district's letter said that the school system's form must be used.
- This is incorrect. No form is needed at all
* The "required" form had the family say, "I am requesting authorization" to homeschool.
- Families do not need to request authorization. They simply need to provide notice.
* The form asked for the birth date of the children.
- This is not required under law. A birth date is a vital part of one's identity. To reduce the risk of identity theft, it should not be given out unless required under law or for other compelling reasons.
* The form had the family say, "I wish to be recognized as eligible to provide home instruction."
- Families are not required to be "recognized as eligible." They simply need to file their notice.
* The form asked the family to "agree to comply with applicable policies and procedures."
- Families are not required to agree to this. The form did not even specify which "policies and procedures" the school system wanted the family to follow!
Even when HSLDA Attorney Woodruff wrote a detailed letter to the public school official explaining how the letter and form made demands and assertions he is not empowered to make under state law. The official agreed to change the letter to reflect a due date of August 15, but refused to make any other changes. The letter and form will continue to mislead families.
Posted on September 4, 2007, 9:26 pm
Nevada: New Homeschool Bill has Far-reaching Effects
New Homeschool Bill has Far-Reaching Effects
After 17 years of existence, the Northern and Southern Homeschool Advisory Councils were disbanded by the State Board of Education. This action further emphasizes that the public school system has no authority over homeschooling since the recent passage of S.B. 404, Nevada's new homeschooling bill. Homeschool council members volunteered thousands of hours since the 1990s, trying to fend off Department of Education restrictions and increase freedom. They kept a constant vigil, protecting the rights of all homeschoolers in Nevada. Those in leadership on the councils were very aware that the councils could be disbanded if S.B. 404 were to pass the legislature, and many council members volunteered at the legislature to ensure passage. Outgoing presidents of the councils, Carl Lucas on the Northern Council and Kime King Patraw on the Southern Council, have considered it an honor and a privilege to have served homeschoolers in Nevada on their respective councils. As they go, they call upon all homeschool parents to remain vigilant and informed on their parental rights and homeschool issues. History shows that the states that have good homeschool laws have to fight to keep them, and that complacency among homeschoolers is their worst enemy.
From the HSLDA weekly update
Posted on September 4, 2007, 9:24 pm
Homeschool Facts adds two new features:
Contributing Authors:
Homeschool Facts has added a new feature, Contributing Authors. To see what other homeschoolers are saying, Click HERE:
Just ask Angie:
Homeschool Facts has added a featured homeschooler who would like to field and answer any questions. To ask Angie a question, click HERE.
Posted on September 3, 2007, 3:50 pm
Virginia Legislative Update
This from the HEAV Homeschool Hotline
Your Notice of Intent is due August 15. When preparing your form or letter, be alert to additional requirements for your "description of curriculum." The law has not changed, but there is some confusion about what to include for a "description of curriculum."
Virginia Beach evaluator Sarah Olbris, HEAV, and HSLDA attorney Scott Woodruff met with representatives of Virginia Beach City Public Schools and a city attorney on Wednesday to resolve excessive requirements for a "curriculum description" as well as other issues. The outcome for Virginia Beach homeschoolers was positive; however, until this is resolved with the Department of Education, we may see additional requirements imposed in many more school districts.
Virginia Beach Changes Its Requirements!
Virginia Beach homeschoolers can now send in a "description of curriculum" consistent with the requirements of the homeschool law. Parents can submit a list of subjects to be taught and textbook titles (or materials/methods in lieu of textbook titles) in order to comply with the law.
Background
In 2007, Virginia Beach homeschoolers received a letter from Denise White, Coordinator of Student Services for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, indicating she would no longer accept a list of books as a description of curriculum. Virginia Beach was one of two school divisions requiring a description of curriculum that went beyond the requirements of the Virginia Code. Last fall Greene County Public Schools also asked for a more detailed description.
And the law says...
The law requires a homeschooling parent who complies with §22.1-254.1 and files a Notice of Intent form (or writes a letter) to submit a curriculum description. Exception: Those using option #3, an approved correspondence course, are not required to provide a description of curriculum.
§22.1-254.1 (B). Any parent who elects to provide home instruction in lieu of school attendance shall annually notify the division superintendent in August of his intention to so instruct the child and provide a description of the curriculum to be followed for the coming year and evidence of having met one of the criteria for providing home instruction as required by subsection A. Effective July 1, 2000, parents electing to provide home instruction shall provide such annual notice no later than August 15.
Both Virginia Beach and Greene County incorrectly asked for a "course description" instead of a "curriculum description.
What's the difference?
A curriculum description vs. a course description: What's the difference? As presented by Scott Woodruff to Virginia Beach officials, a curriculum description includes all the courses or subjects included in a plan of study. According to Merriam-Webster'
However, a course description includes content details of a particular subject. The law requires a "description of curriculum," not a course description. In a meeting with the Department of Education late last year, HEAV, HSLDA, and VaHomeschoolers appealed to the DOE to correct the inaccurate example in their handbook. So far, they have not corrected the error. We have scheduled another discussion next week.
State law does not require parents to teach any particular course content other than for option 4 (a), which includes the SOLs. The superintendent has no authority to judge the content of a course other than for option 4 (a); therefore, it is unnecessary for parents to prepare such a document and for superintendents to review the document.
Be Alert for Excessive Requests
Because of the inaccurate information published by the DOE, watch for requests for a description of curriculum that would include a broad overview of what the parent plans to teach with each course. We encourage parents to comply with the law and continue to provide a description of curriculum that includes the name of the subjects taught and the textbook titles. Do not supply more than the law requires. It could lead to additional requirements and oversight.
Reminders!
The deadline for your Notice of Intent form or letter notifying your superintendent that you intend to homeschool is Wednesday, August 15! We recommend you keep a photocopy of your form or letter and send it "return-receipt" to verify it has been received.
There is no deadline for religious exemption. If you send a letter to the school board, again, keep a copy of the letter and send it "return-receipt.
Certified teachers who comply with the certified tutor statute, §22.1-254 (A), do not have to submit proof of teacher certification each year as long as the certification is up-to-date. When your certification expires and you are re-certified, submit the new documentation for the superintendent'
Yvonne Bunn, HEAV Director of Government Affairs
Home Educators Association of Virginia
e-mail: legislative@
phone: 804-278-9200
web: http://www.heav.
Posted on August 3, 2007, 6:18 am
New Homeschool Law Passed in Nevada
From Frank Schnorbus, Nevada Homeschool Network Chair:
We are happy to report that our Governor signed a whole new homeschool law here in Nevada, making it one of the best in the nation. HSLDA has info on it, but you can also get detailed information from www.NevadaHomeschoolNetwork.com. Go to Law/Regulation Info, then click on June 2007 Homeschool Memo (in the 3rd paragraph).
Posted on June 20, 2007, 10:06 pm
Colleges, universities more welcoming of homeschooled students
Like many high school students, Tara Hart of Marseilles worries about getting into college.
But her worries have less to do with her grade-point average -- she's got a 4.0 -- and more to do with whether her transcripts will be accepted, since she's been homeschooled for all of her educational career.
At Hart's insistence, her mother, Pat Blackledge, enrolled her in American School, an umbrella school geared to homeschooling families. American School supplies the textbooks and handles formal transcripts and a diploma, but Blackledge still is Hart's teacher.
Hart is part of a growing number of students who are taught at home rather than in a traditional classroom. The U.S. Department of Education reports that 1.1 million, or 2.2 percent of all students in the nation, are homeschooled.
And where colleges and universities once questioned how to accommodate homeschooled students -- and sometimes even shunned them -- institutions of higher learning now are increasingly more welcoming when their admission applications arrive.
In 2000, 52 percent of all colleges in the country had a formal evaluation policy for applications from homeschoolers, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Four years later, the number jumped to 83 percent. During that time, 45 percent of colleges reported receiving more applications from homeschoolers.
Tracy Morris, director of admissions at Illinois Valley Community College, said community colleges often are an ideal place for homeschooled students to begin their college careers since anyone age 16 or older can enroll through a fairly simple application process. "IVCC is an open admissions institution," she said. "A home education diploma or GED is not required for admission. Transcripts are also not necessary for admission." Students must fill out an application form, obtain a letter from the school district where the student resides that indicates the student is homeschooled and take either the ACT or IVCC's placement tests. Morris added that some homeschooling families use IVCC to teach higher level courses, like calculus, as part of their high school curriculum rather than trying to wade through that subject at home. Hart said she will begin supplementing her homeschool education with one IVCC course beginning this fall, having received special permission to enroll at the college as a 15-year-old following an interview process.
While nervous about starting college courses, Hart feels she's up to the challenge. People often assume homeschoolers are sheltered and shy, but Hart already has broadened her educational experience by visiting Japan as a foreign exchange student and she continues to work on her Japanese as part of her home curriculum. "She's probably not a typical homeschooler," said Blackledge. "She gets out a lot. She's very active in 4-H and volunteering, that kind of stuff."
Hart said her ideal educational path would lead her to the University of Illinois, where she would like to study to become a psychologist. Morris said being homeschooled should not hold Hart back. Morris surveyed several state universities and found them accepting of homeschooled students, though how rigorous they make their entrance requirements varied. Some put more weight on standardized tests, others require a personal essay or statement and ask for more information about the courses taken at home. For other schools, however, a homeschool background makes little difference in the admission process.
"We require application, ACT score and transcript just as we would for any freshman applicant from a recognized high school," said a representative from Western Illinois University in an e-mail message to Morris. However, all of the schools Morris surveyed said if a student receives an associate degree from a community college first, providing high school transcripts and taking the ACT would no longer be an issue. "Applying there as a freshman is one ballgame and as a transfer student is another ballgame," Morris said of admission to a four-year university. "The truth is (with an associate degree) they never look at high school. It really works to the student's advantage. It's much easier that way."
The financial aid and scholarship process are identical for homeschooled and traditional students, meaning homeschooled students also have access to the dollars they may need to pay for their education.
"Colleges are far more familiar with the backgrounds of homeschoolers and their needs," said Ian Slatter, director of media relations for the Home School Legal Defense Association. "We have had fewer and fewer problems."
Blackledge said the changes at the collegiate level reflect the changes she sees in her daily life. While she used to have to "fly under the radar" about her decision to homeschool when she began teaching Hart at home, she's found people today are more accepting. "It's funny but when she was in kindergarten people would ask me if I knew what I was teaching her. I would say, 'I sure hope so.' The thing is you learn as they learn. People say, 'I don't remember algebra.' I didn't either, but it all comes back to you É You learn even more than what you knew before." The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Posted on June 14, 2007, 5:28 pm
Homeschoolers head into world
Laura Scott didn't care about a prom. She wasn't worried about extracurricular activities.
But waiting with 15 fellow students in royal blue caps and gowns, she was very excited about her graduation ceremony Friday night, particularly about the speaker -- her mother. "My mom definitely felt my education was very important," Scott, 18, said. Scott and the other graduates at Novi Christian Outreach Church are among a growing number of homeschoolers who want to cap their nontraditional education with a traditional graduation ceremony.
Scott's ceremony, though small, was just like those at local high schools, with spectators straining to see the graduates marching in, earnest speeches, popping cameras and, of course, diplomas. The only real difference was that there was no valedictorian. Instead, the parents spoke about their children. And there were plenty of teary eyes as the words "proud," "character," "hard-working" and, since this was a church-sponsored ceremony, "God" were uttered over and over when beaming parents handed shiny blue-jacketed diplomas to grinning grads. "I liked the personal touch," said Laura's mother, Pam Scott. "I was crying listening to some of the parents."
Marking a milestone: High school graduation ceremonies are watershed events in teenage life. And even though Scott and an estimated 40,000 students like her were educated at home instead of a traditional school, homeschooled students are starting to line up for graduation ceremonies and other customs such as caps and gowns, class rings and high school memory books. "It's tradition," said the Rev. Gary Elfner of Novi Christian Outreach Church. "It's absolutely not necessary, but oftentimes at milestones in your life, you have to have some kind of documentation."
Typically home school graduation ceremonies are held through a church -- about two-thirds of homeschooling families do so for religious reasons -- or an umbrella organization that helps with anything from networking to curriculum. Mary Anne Bastian of Brighton has homeschooled five children, and this year is in charge of the graduation ceremony for Michigan Catholic Home Educators. Twelve students wore caps and gowns and got a certificate Sunday. But the diploma comes from their parents. "They've earned it, just like a public school student has," Bastian said of the graduation ceremony. "It's a celebration of their accomplishments, and we are very proud of them."
No one knows exactly how many homeschoolers are out there because many states, including Michigan, do not require families to document homeschooled students. The Virginia-based Home School Legal Defense Association estimates there are about 40,000 homeschooled students in Michigan.
Contact PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI at 586-469-4681 or pwalsh@freepress.com.
Posted on June 14, 2007, 5:18 pm
Daughter's home school trial opens mom's eyes
The principal at our daughter's middle school was surprised. In late March I sat in his office explaining why our daughter wanted to home school for the rest of the year. He said that many parents who try home schooling do so in response to bad grades. In my daughter's case, it was simply that she felt that there was "too much drama" at school in seventh grade. Not a problem with her teachers, not the failings of school administrators, not her parents' religious objections to public schools. Just a desire by a smart child to take a break from an abrasive period of middle school girl culture for a couple of months.
It didn't hurt that her close friend had been forced by a knee injury to be home schooled for a few months and was enjoying it. I had always thought I couldn't support either of our children in home schooling, since I work full time. But our daughter persuaded us that she would be self-directed, make a plan of work for each week, take the standard algebra test at the end of the school year, and return to school in the fall. My husband and I appreciated her thoughtful advocacy and decided to support her initiative.
I asked the principal what was involved in making the arrangements. Basically, he said, you've just done it. Wisconsin law turns out to have been revised so that even an oral statement of intent can establish one as a home schooler. I'm not sure if I had expected a defensive reaction, but I certainly didn't expect his thoughtful and understanding response. He offered suggestions about how to enrich the experience and expressed his pleasure that she'll continue as a middle schooler next fall. In turn, because I have always supported public education, I was pleased that the school system sought to help a child tailor a program to suit her needs rather than punish her for stepping out of the norm.
There are many reasons to home school and a variety of home schooling cultures. For example, some Christian home schooling Web sites cite "maintaining a Christian world view free from temptation," offering a "biblically rich curriculum," reinforcing their family's values, even upholding good manners, as prime reasons to home school. Other home school families I know want to create a holistic learning experience, sidestep the most pernicious aspects of a commercial culture, or cultivate a set of values that is reinforced by smaller learning groups. Some seek an alternative to what they see as an increasingly regimented educational environment for students and teachers.
And not surprisingly, many home schooling parents figure that nobody understands their children's emotional, cognitive and creative capacities and needs as well as they do. Yes, there are frustrating moments as a home schooling parent, but it's also exciting. Our daughter plunged into exploring questions that came up in family conversation and writing up results. What's more fun than following one's curiosity? The private art classes have prompted an artistic flowering that I hadn't dared dream of, given the frustrating cuts to the arts in the schools required by the fiscal assaults on public education over the past several years. Our daughter did well on her algebra exams, so I guess that she built up her math skills. And she's taught herself how to bake meringues and sew a blouse. Has she finished reading "Vanity Fair"? Not yet, but Thackeray can be hard going.
There was a time when I might have ridiculed home schoolers as xenophobic. But our eight weeks of home schooling have given me pause. The amazing network of home school support groups, study groups, curriculum offerings, special classes and advocates reflects something better than just heads-in-the-sand. It reflects a deep parental commitment to enhance children's learning environments and make an investment in them personally.
I'm proud that Wisconsin has one of the nation's best home schooling laws, and I appreciate the recognition that in education, one size doesn't fit all, all the time. Margaret Krome of Madison writes a semimonthly column for The Capital Times. E-mail: mkrome@inxpress.net
Posted on June 14, 2007, 5:16 pm
Nevada: Call to Stop the Expansion of State Control over Your Children
May 22, 2007 Nevada: Call to Stop the Expansion of State Control over Your Children Dear Nevada HSLDA members and friends: S.B. 312 would increase state control over your children by expanding the compulsory school attendance age from 17 to 18 years. This means that all homeschoolers would be subject to the homeschool statute requirements for an additional year. This bill has already passed the Senate, as well as the Assembly Committee on Education. It could face a vote on the Assembly floor at any time. We need your calls to stop this dangerous legislation! REQUESTED ACTION Please call your assemblyman and give this message: "Please vote against S.B. 312. Please oppose any effort to raise the age of compulsory school attendance. It only serves as a waste of taxpayers' money; it would force unwilling, disruptive students into the classroom." You do not need to identify that you homeschool. To find contact information for your assemblyman, use our Legislative Toolbox by clicking here: http://capwiz.com/hslda/state/main/?state=NV&view=myofficials Reasons For Opposing Lower Compulsory Attendance Age: > Raising the compulsory attendance age from 17 to 18 would subject home educators to the requirements of the homeschool statute one year later than now required. (You do not need to share this reason with your legislators.) > Raising the compulsory attendance age will not reduce the dropout rate. In fact, the two states with the highest high school completion rates, Maryland at 94.5% and North Dakota at 94.7%, compel attendance only to age 16. The state with the lowest completion rate (Oregon: 75.4%) compels attendance to age 18. (Figures are for three-year averages, 1996 through 1998.) > Twenty-nine states only require attendance to age 16. Older children unwilling to learn can cause classroom disruptions and even violence, making learning harder for their classmates who truly want to learn. > It would restrict parents' freedom to decide if their 17-year-old is ready for college or the workforce. (Some 17-year-olds who are not academically inclined benefit more from valuable work experience than from being forced to sit in a classroom. > Another significant impact of expanding the compulsory attendance age would be an inevitable tax increase to pay for more classroom space and teachers to accommodate the additional students compelled to attend public schools. When California raised the upper age limit of compulsory attendance, unwilling students were so disruptive that new schools had to be built just to handle them and their behavior problems, all at the expense of the taxpayer.
Posted on May 22, 2007, 10:34 pm
Schools Demand Approval of Year-End Test
Each year homeschool families receive letters from school officials offering to test their children at their local public school. This year has been no different. Some parents, however, have received letters warning that if they want to test their children outside of the public school they must get approved to do so. For instance, Home School Legal Defense Association member families in Mililani received a letter this year from the local elementary school. The letter stated that parents were required to contact the school within two weeks if they intended to use a privately administered test instead of bringing their children to the school to be tested. Under Hawaii law parents are required to provide an annual progress report to the local public school at the end of the school year. In grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 a child must be tested either by the Hawaii State Assessment or any test that is “comparable to the appropriate criterion or norm-referenced tests used by the department.” Parents only need to seek the approval of the school when they want to use a test that is not comparable. The Hawaii Administrative rules authorize the principal to approve other means of evaluation to meet the statewide testing program requirements.
Posted on May 1, 2007, 4:02 pm
Nevada - Homeschool Freedom Bill is Introduced
Nevadan homeschoolers are excited by S.B. 404, a homeschool bill that has been introduced by Senator Maurice E. Washington, chairman of the Committee on Human Resources and Education. This bill would eliminate nearly all of the current regulation homeschoolers face in Nevada.
The bill was written by Frank Schnorbus and Barbara Dragon, who are homeschool leaders and parents in Nevada. The bill states that parents who wish to homeschool their children must file a notice of intent with the superintendent of public instruction within 30 days of beginning the homeschool.
The parent must use a form developed by the department of education that includes only the name, age, and gender of the child; the name and address of the parents filing the notice; a statement signed by the parents declaring that they assume full responsibility for the education of their child; and an optional statement that the parents may sign, which would “expressly prohibit the release of any information contained in this document (the notice of intent).” Only upon written request could the superintendent then provide a copy of the signed notice to the local school district.
That is all the new law will require! This will make Nevada one of the best states in the country for homeschooling, if the bill is passed as expected. Furthermore, the new bill states that, “a school organization may not discriminate in any manner against a child who is homeschooled.” Also, the bill states that school districts shall allow homeschoolers to participate in all college entrance exams offered in the state, including the SAT and the ACT and the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test. Lastly, a religious freedom act that Klicka advocated and that was introduced this year was added in part to the end of the homeschool law. This section of the bill states, “no regulation or policy of the state board or any school district may infringe upon the right of parents to educate his child based on religious preference, unless it is essential to further compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means to further that governmental interest.” If this passes, this will be the first homeschool law with this religious freedom protection.
Nevada homeschoolers are encouraged to contact their legislative representatives to support S.B. 404.
Posted on April 11, 2007, 10:58 am
Homeschoolers are Welcomed by U.S. Marine Corps
In a recent announcement, the U.S. Marine Corps joined the U.S. Army in actively pursuing homeschooled students.
A recent statement from the Marine Corps Recruiting Command Public Affairs Chief makes it clear that homeschoolers are eligible to enlist in all military programs, the same as a graduate from public school.
Furthermore, the Marine Corps has given homeschooled enlistees Tier I status in its internal ranking. This ensures that homeschoolers will receive any applicable enlistment bonuses. The Home School Legal Defense Association has long advocated that homeschoolers are fully able to enlist in any military program, and saluted the United States Marine Corps for recognizing the achievements of homeschooled graduates.
For more information: http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/M/MarineRecruiting.asp
Posted on April 11, 2007, 10:53 am