SPECIAL REPORT

National Center Hosts 2003 Summit

HSLDA and National Center President Mike Smith (left) awarded Congressman Mark Kennedy (right) of Minnesota the Home School Freedom Award for his work on privacy issues in the 107th Congress. Mr. Kennedy described federal efforts to extend privacy protections to homeschool records held by government schools.

National Center Manager of Federal Policy and Research Caleb Kershner pointed out highlights in the Summit packets.

Representative Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado, a former homeschooling mom, gave a firsthand account of how effective homeschoolers can be in influencing policy.

HSLDA Senior Counsel Christopher Kilcka updated leaders on child abuse regulatory reform and homeschool friendly amendments to the Higher Education Act.

Neil Bradley, executive director of the House of Representatives Study Committee, detailed issues worked on by conservatives in the U.S. House.

Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona unequivocally voiced his view that no form of education surpasses homeschooling.

Dr. Cassie Bevan, senior policy advisor to Majority Leader Tom Delay, addressed issues surrounding child abuse, and, in particular, new legislation requiring social workers to inform parents at the door of the allegations against them and to be trained in 4th Amendment constitutional law. These new requirements are largely due to the work of HSLDA's Christopher Klicka who testified before Congress and helped draft the provisions.