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Random Audits for Homeschoolers?
HSLDA ^ | 5/24/2016 | HSLDA Staff

Posted on 05/24/2016 3:31:33 PM PDT by Sopater

Homeschool families in Clinton County, Kentucky, were surprised to see themselves mentioned in their local paper as a topic of discussion during the recent school board meeting. On May 18, the Clinton County News reported that local school officials intend to conduct random audits of area homeschool families this summer because they want to “ensure that all children in our county are getting a rigorous and effective education.”

Home School Legal Defense Association opposes any such audits as unconstitutional. We are also troubled by what appears to be the underlying motivation for this proposed meddling by school officials: money.

During the school board meeting the district did acknowledge the constitutional right of parents to teach their children at home. But they said they intend to audit homeschool programs to “ensure that all children in Clinton County have access to the best education possible.”

It appears that this scrutiny of homeschool programs in Clinton County is driven by two factors. According to the district, Clinton County has seen a 10–15 percent increase in homeschooling over the past few years. Dr. Julie York, the district’s director of pupil personnel (DPP), indicated that she believes this trend will continue and that “it is still the school district’s responsibility to make sure that the student is educated.”

Lost Revenue

The district’s finance director, Mike Reeves, also spoke at the May 8 school board meeting and estimated that the district will lose almost $300,00 in Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding. (Given that there are approximately 85 homeschool students in Clinton County, HSLDA estimates that the actual amount of SEEK funds that the district will not receive would be closer to $435,000.) While Kentucky spends approximately $9,316 per pupil from federal, state, and local funds, the Kentucky Department of Education estimates that Clinton County’s SEEK funds will be $5,118 per pupil for the 2016–2017 school year.

It is obvious that Clinton County sees the increase of homeschoolers as taking money away from the district, and this is likely a significant reason in officials’ desire to increase scrutiny of homeschool families. Interestingly, the Clinton County News reported that Dr. York “noted that there was something of a misnomer in that the funds that are received from the state are, in turn, spent on students.”

As soon as we learned of the article and the school board meeting, HSLDA Staff Attorney Tj Schmidt notified homeschool leaders and groups across the state.

A Challenging Law

Schmidt also wrote a letter to Dr. York pointing out that many years ago the Kentucky Directors of Pupil Personnel (KDPP) and several statewide homeschool leaders, including Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (CHEK), acknowledged the challenges of applying Kentucky law to individual homeschool families.

In Kentucky, parents who teach their child at home are operating a private school. As such, they are required to provide instruction in various subjects for at least 1,062 hours over a minimum of 170 days each school term. Parents also maintain attendance and scholarship records (i.e. report cards) for each child.

Under the Best Practices Document drawn up by the KDPP and homeschool leaders, as long as parents provide their notice that they are operating a private homeschool program within the first two weeks of the beginning of each school year (generally by the second week of August), they are presumed to be operating a bona fide school. No records should be demanded unless the school district has evidence that parents are not educating their children.

Schmidt reminded Dr. York of this state policy and pointed out that school officials cannot simply show up at a homeschool family’s home and demand records as they might of a more traditional private school. We hope that Clinton County will respect the Best Practices Document and will drop their intent to randomly audit homeschool families in the county.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: arth; education; frhf; homeschool; homeschoolaudit; hslda; kentucky
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To: Fhios

Random audits = end of course/grade exams?


61 posted on 05/24/2016 7:01:25 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican
I was pretty clear:

I support random audits, including teachers in public and private school and students in public and private schools to ensure they are meeting or exceeding academic standards. A final exam, a final grade, planned tests have already been compromised in public schools. Just read about the Atlanta GA problem. I think some teachers went to jail over that. Properly home schooled children will no doubt turn out better than if they were just thrown into the public grind. Why can't we press successful homeschooler techniques and curriculum on the public system. That's fighting back. Don't play defense.

62 posted on 05/24/2016 7:13:59 PM PDT by Fhios (Going Donald Trump is as close to going John Galt as we'll get.)
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To: Chickensoup

Just like HR6.

Every time someone goes after homeschoolers, they find out that for such a loose knit, independent minded group of people, they are a force to be reckoned with.


63 posted on 05/24/2016 7:19:58 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom

Politicians in my state let it be known that they have absolutely no interest in regulating home schooling.


64 posted on 05/24/2016 7:29:35 PM PDT by goldi
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To: goldi

That’s great. What state is that?


65 posted on 05/24/2016 7:30:18 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Buttons12

I home-schooled in Massachusetts & Pennsylvania — and surprisingly, Mass. was easier and less restrictive, by far!

Thankfully — I was given a recommendation to an on-board, home-school supportive and understanding “evaluator” in PA. — otherwise, it may have been a real struggle.


66 posted on 05/24/2016 7:31:33 PM PDT by twyn1
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To: Sopater

We need the Marxist system of mass indoctrination into stupidity ENDED....and a STAKE driven right through the black, putrid heart.....of their Satanic system to deliberately destroy and corrupt the minds of our children with Common Core/NCLB/Goals 2000 (all psychological warfare on the minds of children).

Evil satanic people are interfering with God-Given Natural Rights of PARENTS-—none of the States da*n business—WHO MADE THEM OUR MASTERS/OVERSEERS. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL—ALL OF IT!!!!!!!


67 posted on 05/24/2016 7:43:01 PM PDT by savagesusie (When Law ceases to be Just, it ceases to be Law. (Thomas A./Founders/John Marshall)/Nuremberg)
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To: metmom

New Jersey. People say it’s very easy to home school here.


68 posted on 05/24/2016 7:50:01 PM PDT by goldi
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To: goldi

I’m in the people’s republic of NY.

Regulated to death.


69 posted on 05/24/2016 7:54:24 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Ezekiel
The goverment bullies presume (project) that something nefarious is going on because it's *their* nature to cheat, scam, and perpetrate vile, unspeakable things.

Bingo
70 posted on 05/25/2016 10:32:23 AM PDT by Sopater (Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear; metmom

Hi Metmom,

A ping and a request from RushIsMyTeddyBear to be added to the FR Homeschool list.

Cheers!


71 posted on 05/25/2016 10:33:23 AM PDT by Sopater (Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
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To: Sopater

TY!


72 posted on 05/25/2016 10:35:55 AM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (<<<<<<< he no longer IS my 'teddy bear'.)
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To: miss marmelstein
Thanks for the info. But how swamped are they? These things must be dealt with quickly and most organizations - no matter how well-meant - put people on a long, long waiting list.

They have a designated hotline for various regions and they recommend that you call them if the social worker is at the door, and then hand the phone out the door to them. They are VERY quick to respond to issues.

They also offer a lifetime membership option that is around $1000 for those who plan to be homeschooling for more than 10 years into the future.
73 posted on 05/25/2016 10:36:51 AM PDT by Sopater (Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

Yup. You know your stuff.


74 posted on 05/25/2016 10:40:50 AM PDT by Sopater (Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
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To: Rebelbase
My home schooling friends tell me their kids complete the daily material in 3-4 hours each day.

And when my kids were in public school, with my wife helping the teachers, it was rare that there was even 3 solid hours of instruction in a day.
75 posted on 05/25/2016 10:41:59 AM PDT by Sopater (Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
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To: Fhios
I would like to see the school district get the funds for home schooled children, provided that they are used exclusively for academic expenses, up to and including reimbursing the parents for education material, special subject tutors and homeschooling events like coop museum visits and sports activity not run under the auspices of the actual school itself.

I would like to see the homeschoolers just be able to keep their money in the first place rather than first send it to the state & federal gov't and then hope and pray that perhaps, by some generous act of benevolence, a crumb of that bounty might mercifully be returned.
76 posted on 05/25/2016 10:44:41 AM PDT by Sopater (Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

Sure. Welcome aboard.


77 posted on 05/25/2016 11:59:16 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: goldi

NJ politicians tried to pass intrusive regulations a few times. We always organized quickly to fight it. :-)


78 posted on 05/25/2016 6:56:54 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes
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To: Tired of Taxes

I guess you gave Loretta Weinberg a run for her money.


79 posted on 05/26/2016 4:56:05 AM PDT by goldi
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To: goldi

LOL. Yes, we did. :-)


80 posted on 05/26/2016 11:15:39 AM PDT by Tired of Taxes
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