RHODE ISLAND
More Trouble than Massachusetts!
Rhode Island and Massachusetts have very similar laws: in both states, home schooners are expected to have their programs individually approved by their school committees. Massachusetts has about six times more home schoolers than Rhode Island, so in past years, Massachusetts has had six time more legal contacts than Rhode Island. But this year, Rhode Island managed to defy the odds by having more serious conflicts than Massachusetts!
It is not that Rhode Island has gotten so much worse, but Massachusetts has gotten a good deal better over the last year. Massachusetts families have proactively gone to their school committees, asking them to revise their home school policies. Home schoolers also sued the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and won, putting all school districts on notice that home schoolers are here to stay (see report on pages 8-9). As a result, most school districts have taken a much more respectful approach to home schooling, and have been more willing to offer to change their policies instead of prosecuting the families in their districts. The Rhode Island Guild of Home Teachers (RIGHT) has taken steps to build a stronger state organization. They adopted a new constitution by unanimous vote on October 21, and hope to become a more effective presence in the state.
We at HSLDA strongly encourage vigorous local support groups and effective state organizations. As our founding fathers said, "We must all hang together, or we shall most assuredly hang separately." Rhode Islanders should be encouraged by the example of Massachusetts, and work together to start changing policies in their own districts!
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