House Bill 270: Discontinues Public Assistance to Families Not in Compliance with the Compulsory Attendance Law

This bill would discontinue certain public assistance and benefits to families with compulsory-school-age children who are not in compliance with the compulsory attendance law. HSLDA does not believe that children should be denied needed assistance for food and other essentials because of their parents' noncompliance with the compulsory attendance law. Additionally, the parent of a child found to be in violation of the compulsory attendance law and subsequently enrolled in a home instruction program would have to prove "to the satisfaction of the school attendance officer and the county department of human services" that the program was legitimate and not to avoid loss of public assistance and benefits. This would empower attendance officers and social workers to determine the intent of homeschooling parents.