Perhaps through enough restrictive legislation and intensive oversight, the OSSE can bring homeschoolers down to their staggering level of accomplishment.
Posted on 07/29/2008 2:58:35 PM PDT by Sopater
For the first time in over 15 years, a United States jurisdiction has enacted laws that significantly increase restrictions on homeschooling freedom!
This past Wednesday, the D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) approved the State Superintendent of Education’s June 27 draft of the home education regulations. After some discussion, the SBOE voted 5 to 1 in favor of the superintendent’s regulations.
Only Board Member William Lockridge voted “no.” When giving his reasons, he exposed the unbridled discretion the Superintendent would now have over homeschoolers. Lockridge likened the new power of the Superintendent over parents as a type of “socialism.”
These regulations were objected to by many—the Board recorded receiving over 2,800 emails, 400 phone calls, and written comments in opposition.
This was the third public session held to discuss these regulations. In the first session, over 120 homeschoolers attended and over 30 testified including lengthy presentations by Chris Klicka, Mike Donnelly, and Scott Woodruff of HSLDA. That resulted in the removal of the worst requirement: home visits by D.C. school officials.
However, in spite of testimony presented by Ethan Reedy, President of D.C. Home Educators Association, and Chris Klicka of HSLDA, the Board passed the new restrictive regulations. It was clear the Board already had its mind made up. (Klicka’s written testimony can be reviewed online here).
HSLDA had even delivered a letter signed by 10 congressmen on the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform encouraging them to “work with HSLDA to ensure that the proposed changes in the city’s rules … will not have an adverse impact on homeschooling families in the District.” All to no avail.
Among other things, the new regulations require annual notification of a parent’s intent to homeschool on a future form developed by OSSE (Office of the State Superintendent of Education), maintenance of a portfolio of schoolwork, and up to two annual portfolio reviews by the OSSE to determine whether a homeschool program, in OSSE’s opinion, is providing “regular, thorough instruction” in the required subjects. No guidelines are provided by the Board giving the OSSE arbitrary discretion to implement these provisions.
To read the new regulations, click here.
HSLDA is working on an analysis to guide our D.C. members in their response to this development. Please stay tuned for further information as OSSE’s deadline for notification (August 15) approaches.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
/johnny
Indoctrination would mean the kids in DC schools would actually have to pay attention.
Instead they just care about weed and their thugs and who they’re gonna “git with” this weekend.
And having been a high school age student some 20 years ago in the DC area, it is amazing that their track record of regular education is not shaming them regularly.
I was lucky enough to have parents who sent my brother and I to private schools at that critical time in our education. Thanks Mom and Dad for the sacrifice.
Ping
Pennsylvania is not friendly to homeschooling. They require a portfolio to be submitted to the local school district every year; you have to hire a professional evaluator to interview and examine the homeschooled student; you have to keep a detailed log showing 900 hours; and you have to provide proof of medical exams and dental exams and hearing checks and vaccinations, or bring the child to the school nurse for all these things.
And yes, even the private physician now insists on a private consultation with the child, no parents allowed to hear what is said.
The atmosphere is such that discretion is the better part of valor. You keep your head down, jump the hoops as demanded and pay those HSLDA dues just in case.
This ping list is for articles of interest to homeschoolers. DaveLoneRanger has asked me to take over the management of this list. I hold both the Homeschool Ping List and the Another Reason to Homeschool Ping List. Please freepmail me to let me know if you would like to be added or removed from either list, or both.What else can you expect from a place that flaunts the Constitution when it comes to the Second Amendment?
I guess they think it doesn’t apply to them.
Does that mean that homeschoolers don't have to do any better than the public school system?
That's a free pass.
What would the doctor do if the child refused? Force them? Do the kids have a say in that?
I've talked to my kids about the private physician interviews and told them what they're about and that if they want me present, they need to tell the doctor that themselves. So far they've declined any private interviews.
Permission to do nothing, I guess.
You keep your head down, jump the hoops as demanded and pay those HSLDA dues just in case.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
HSLDA irritates me. They nibble around the edges instead of working to completely eliminate all government school interference.
I think HSLDA is dedicated to keeping the system on homeschooling the way it is. It is a question of permanent job protection for them.
When did D.C. become a State? So much for the U.S. Constitution.
You have sound reasoning, as always; still, when you need a lawyer and you don’t have time to teach one how to think about homeschooling and how to represent you, HSLDA can be very useful.
I think of them as witch doctors for when a demon attacks. Your regular GP doesn’t even believe in demons. The witch doctor has a wagon full of effective exorcism tools. He doesn’t even need to open a bag in some cases, he just says “Begone!” and they be gone. :)
Most of the time all it takes is a phone call or letter from then and the government school demons evaporate.
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