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LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
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ACROSS THE STATES
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Vigilance preserves privacy
Ohio homeschoolers seem to know their rights better than their supervising public school officials do. In Fostoria, school officials sent paperwork to homeschool families that violated federal privacy laws.
Ohio regulations permit school officials to request certain kinds of information from homeschool families, including the name and birth date of each child. State law does not specifically authorize school officials to request a child's Social Security number, and federal law prohibits such a request unless the government specifically indicates that compliance is optional and explains why a request for otherwise private information is being made.
Home School Legal Defense Association has notified Fostoria Community Schools that they are currently in violation of the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, and we will be monitoring their future compliance with federal law. HSLDA thanks the vigilant member family in Fostoria who helped protect privacy rights in Ohio by bringing this matter to our attention.
— by Scott W. Somerville
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