Free Republic

This coming Monday, September 29, homeschool parents will be able to pick up a complimentary tall size (12 fl. oz.) cup of Pike Place Roast from Starbucks. This promotion is part of Starbucks “Great Start for Great Teachers” promotion, and is now open to all teachers. HSLDA intervened when we were alerted that homeschool parents were not included in the promotion. We are pleased that Starbucks is recognizing the contribution of homeschool parents by extending their program to us. In order to pick up your free cup of Pike Place Roast you will need to present evidence that you are...

A judge in California has ended juvenile court jurisdiction over two children in a family case that prompted an appeals court at one point to declare that parents had no right to homeschool their children in the state. The opinion in the Rachel L. case when WND broke the story in February rocked the foundations of homeschooling in the state and across the nation, because of its implications that without such rights, parents could be liable for civil and criminal penalties simply for teaching their own children at home. It especially outraged those who opposed California's mandated advocacy for homosexual...

On Wednesday, June 18, a district court in the German state of Hesse sentenced Jurgen and Rosemary Dudek each to three months in prison simply because they homeschool their seven children. HSLDA condemns this court ruling in the strongest possible terms. Good parents who love and care for their children should never be sentenced to prison for doing what is best for their children. Germany is a Western nation and should know better. HSLDA will be helping the Dudeks with their appeals, but German courts have so far consistently ruled against homeschoolers. More information will be forthcoming as this story...

Subway apologizes for homeschool snub.

From HSLDA -- Action Requested: 1) Attend the House Education Committee hearing on S.B. 337, which will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at 10:30 a.m., in Legislative Office Building 207. CheNH and other pro-homeschooling representatives will be attending the hearing as well. When you arrive, please sign up to oppose the bill. Signing in does not obligate you to testify; however, if you would like to testify, you may. A talking points memo will be distributed in the next few days to assist you in preparing for your testimony. 2) Call or email the members of the House Education...

National and California home-schooling advocates are banding together to fight a state court ruling they say could essentially outlaw the practice of allowing parents to teach their children at home. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and the Home School Association of California (HSC) say the court decision, which said home-schooling parents must have a valid state teaching license and they have no constitutional right to home-school, takes aim at the education programs many families use to get exemption from the public school system. "We're kind of in shock," said Mike Smith, HSLDA president. The Los Angeles-based case began...

Weekdays in the Perry household start like those in any other. The kids brush their teeth, dress, grab a quick breakfast. Then, they make their way to school — at the dining room table. *snip* The Perrys are part of a growing home-school movement. In 1999, according to federal statistics, there were 850,000 home-schooled children in the United States. In 2003, that number rose to 1.1 million. Some estimates put the figure today as high as 2.4 million. *snip* Education authorities say they worry that, because home-schooled students aren't required to take statewide achievement tests in many states, including Missouri...

A Missouri mom who was facing an investigation after school officials complained she was homeschooling two of her children has been cleared for now, but lawyers say they will be watching the situation there closely. WND earlier reported on the case against Anita Nicoli, which was closed as a result of a meeting she and her lawyer had with a representative of the government's social services agency in Moberly, officials said, but statements the juvenile officer made during the meeting are triggering additional concern. "We are concerned, based on statements during that meeting, that officials may be arbitrarily launching investigations...

Once again, homeschoolers across the country are facing the threat of daytime curfews. Within the last year, city councils in California, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas have considered such curfews. Daytime curfews are unnecessary for good order. They are often touted as a way to reduce truancy and juvenile crime, but there is little or no evidence to support this. The impact on law-abiding youth, however, is undisputed: restricting a young person’s freedom to move about during the day creates an atmosphere of fear reminiscent of totalitarian states, and often leads to harassment of homeschoolers. Daytime curfews can be...

A three-judge panel of the California Court of Appeal has determined parents in that state have no legal right to home school. A Christian attorney in Sacramento says unless the ruling is reversed, literally thousands of students in the Golden State will be subject to criminal sanctions. (click here for special webcast starting at 2 p.m. CST) California Justice H. Walter Croskey has stated in an opinion that "parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order...

LOS ANGELES, March 5, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Thousands of homeschoolers in California are left in legal limbo by an appeals court ruling that homeschooling is not a legal option in the state and that a family who has homeschooled all their children for years must enrol their two youngest in state or private schools. Justice H. Walter Croskey in a written opinion said, "California courts have held that under provisions in the Education Code, parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children."The sweeping February 29th ruling says that California law requires "persons between the ages of...

As many of you know, the Second Appellate District Court of Los Angeles handed down a very bad decision regarding a case involving a homeschool family. Home School Legal Defense Association was not involved with this case, and the family are not members, which is why we only heard about this case when the opinion was released on February 28, 2008. Since legal cases have many facets, and we are starting from scratch, it takes time to investigate and fully absorb all the facts which led up to a particular decision. We are in the middle of that process, but...

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: How would you like to save up to $2,000 on your state income taxes each year for your homeschool expenses? Or, how would you like to have scholarships available to homeschoolers for their educational costs? If either of these sounds like a good idea, take a moment to put a call or email in January 24 or early January 25 to the members of Virginia House Finance Subcommittee 3. The subcommittee will meet tomorrow, January 25 at 7:30 a.m. We urge you to call and email to support House Bill 1164 and HouseBill 420. House...

Huckabee Not the Best for Homeschoolers This is something new for me. For the last 22 years, my family has served the homeschooling movement without ever uttering a single word (in print OR behind the scenes) regarding national or state politics. But now that one particular candidate-former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee-is experiencing a surge in popularity that the mainstream press attributes to the homeschool movement, I feel the need to say a few words. Acccording to a December 17 Washington Post story, "It was the endorsement by prominent national home-school advocate Michael Farris that helped propel Huckabee to a surprising...

Home Schoolers Lose Ground with New Law The enactment of House Bill 1724 on April 5, 1999, gives Arkansas the unique distinction of becoming the first state in the nation to add restrictions to its existing home school law. Sponsored by Representative Jim Magnus (R-55), a home schooling father from Little Rock, the new law, among other things, establishes notification deadlines and imposes a 14-day waiting period before parents are allowed to withdraw their children from public school to begin home schooling mid-semester. Why Was H.B. 1724 Introduced? The public school lobby had been working overtime to convince the...

The Home School Legal Defense Association and evangelical leader Michael Farris have endorsed Mike Huckabee. I believe this to be a mistake. I cannot support Mike Huckabee for the reasons listed below. I implore you to weigh the facts objectively and come to a conclusion besides one fueled by popular opinion. Please try to take on the mentality of objectivity and at the very least, do it so you know what you are supporting. This election is too important to make uninformed decisions. - Huckabee supported the SCHIP bill that Bush vetoed twice. This bill was the Democrat’s attempt at...

A homeschooling mom who fled her Carbon County, Utah, home because of a judge's threat to take away her children if they were not enrolled in the local public school district is preparing to answer the counts that accuse her of failing to submit last year's homeschool paperwork. Officials with the Home School Legal Defense Association have confirmed they will work on the case involving homeschooling mom Denise Mafi. The Home School Legal Defense Association, in association with prominent Utah attorney, Frank Mylar, has agreed to represent homeschooling mom, Denise Mafi, in her upcoming truancy prosecution in Utah's Carbon County...

Dear HSLDA, I told you so.

OPEN LETTER TO DR. MICHAEL FARRIS AND THE HOME SCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION Dear Dr. Farris, Michael Smith, and the HSLDA, My name is **** ******* and I am an 18 year old home educated student from *************. I have been home schooled my entire educational career, and am preparing to graduate this coming May. During my time as a home schooler I have been impressed with your organization and its tireless work to defend home schooling. I know your organization to be a true friend to families who want to have the ability to raise their children in their...

Please pass along. OPEN LETTER TO DR. MICHAEL FARRIS AND THE HOME SCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION Dear Dr. Farris, Michael Smith, and the HSLDA, My name is *SK Johnson and I am an 18 year old home educated student from *************. I have been home schooled my entire educational career, and am preparing to graduate this coming May. During my time as a home schooler I have been impressed with your organization and its tireless work to defend home schooling. I know your organization to be a true friend to families who want to have the ability to raise their...