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LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
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ACROSS THE STATES
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Problems in Park City
Although Utah is one of the four remaining states that permit school districts to "approve" homeschool programs, it has had very few problems over the last 10 years. Most school officials are willing to recognize the fundamental rights of parents, and so have been willing to "approve" any homeschool family upon a simple notice of intent to educate a child at home.
However, this year, Park City has decided to flex its muscles. Four Home School Legal Defense Association member families who sent in a simple notice of intent using HSLDA's standard form* were initially "rejected" by the Park City School Board.
Park City wants everyone to use its form, whether or not they actually complete it. School officials have suggested that our member families may simply leave any objectionable lines blank, as long as they use the city's form. The whole dispute seems to be over the piece of paper on which the information is written. Unfortunately, the difference between pieces of paper is the difference between an "approved" program and an ongoing threat of prosecution.
Fortunately, officials have not yet prosecuted any families, and are willing to allow local homeschoolers help redesign the city's form. Homeschoolers across Utah are watching the situation in Park City carefully. If a family can lose the right to homeschool in Utah just because they use the wrong piece of paper, every family's freedom is at risk. We will keep our Utah members informed about developments in Park City.
* See "A plethora of forms" to the right.
— Scott W. Somerville
HOME SCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION
