Wyoming
Declaration Form Explained
Many Wyoming home schoolers will receive a letter this year from their school district describing the availability of funds under a number of federal entitlements. Public schools receive federal funding for several programs (Title I, Title II, etc.) which they are obliged to share with eligible private schools. Every public school is required to annually contact all local private schools to see if they want to participate in these programs. In a number of states, including Wyoming, home schools receive this form letter because they are considered part of the private education sector. Usually, the form requests a response indicating whether school “will” or “will not” participate. In some states, this is called a “Declaration of Participation.”
Home School Legal Defense Association does not recommend that home schoolers pursue participation in these programs, and it is questionable whether a home school would even meet federal program qualifications.
While the public school is required to contact all the private schools in its jurisdiction, the private school’s response is not mandatory. Many home schoolers ignore these forms. That is acceptable. On the other hand, simply indicating in the appropriate place “will not participate” and sending it back poses no threat to a home school program.
Because home schoolers routinely ignore the form, some school districts have sent these forms via certified mail. The certified mail receipt simply demonstrates that the public school has made an attempt to alert private schools to available funds. — J. Michael Smith
