District of Columbia
Yes, It Matters
Sharon L. Dunmore, Coordinator of the Categorical Programs for District of Columbia Public Schools, recently informed a Home School Legal Defense Association member family that “annual notice is required.” This is not correct. Under D.C. Code Annotated § 31-405, a teacher giving private instruction must report the name, address, etc., of each child enrolling in a private instruction program. Once a notice has been filed for a particular child, no additional notices are necessary, unless the private instruction program ceases.
HSLDA drew this to Ms. Dunmore’s attention. She told us to “stop hammering on things that don’t matter.” She did, however, concede that home school parents are not obliged to file more than one notice for each child, and that she did not intend to pursue parents who did not file annual notices for every child.
It is regrettable and alarming that a government official in a position of authority believes that it does not matter when parents are burdened with requirements not authorized by law. Our children must be carefully taught about our rights as citizens so they can effectively combat such attitudes. — Scott A. Woodruff
