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LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
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ACROSS THE STATES
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HSLDA resolves truancy charges
Home School Legal Defense Association recently assisted a Newberry family that was charged with truancy after withdrawing their son from public school to homeschool him. The child's mother followed the public school's procedure for withdrawal of the student and received a withdrawal slip signed by the school guidance counselor. Unfortunately, due to an administrative error, the student's subsequent absences from public school were considered to be unexcused. When contacted by a school official about her son's absences, the mother furnished a copy of the withdrawal slip. However, the school attendance officer proceeded to file truancy charges in family court.
HSLDA Senior Counsel Dewitt Black contacted the attendance officer by telephone, providing him with another copy of the withdrawal slip along with verification that the student was now enrolled in a homeschool association in compliance with South Carolina's compulsory attendance law. After reviewing this documentation, the attendance officer had the truancy charges dismissed.
Even though parents may clearly be in compliance with their state's homeschool law and their local public school's withdrawal procedure, they may still be charged with truancy and find that the assistance of an attorney is necessary.
— by Dewitt T. Black
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