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ACROSS THE STATES

NORTH CAROLINA

Unauthorized homeschool closings

According to reports from Home School Legal Defense Association member families, the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) has been terminating some homeschools without legal authority to do so. Under state law, a homeschool is required to notify DNPE upon termination of the school. Unfortunately, in some cases DNPE has taken the initiative to terminate a homeschool without receiving such notification. In one case involving an HSLDA member family, the family had moved to a new address within the state. When correspondence from DNPE was returned to its office as being undeliverable, DNPE erroneously terminated the homeschool. In a more recent example, a Charlotte family contacted DNPE to find out why they had not received an annual inspection by mail packet. They were advised that their homeschool had been terminated, but DNPE could give them no reason for having done so. The Charlotte family was advised by DNPE that such terminations "happen from time to time." In order to reinstate their homeschool, the family was required to complete a new notice of intent form and submit it to DNPE.

Homeschooling families should be able to rely upon the initial filing of their notice of intent with DNPE for the continued existence of their school, until the parents notify DNPE otherwise. The obvious danger of DNPE's termination of homeschools without proper notification from the parents is that local school district officials, social workers, and police officers may try to contact DNPE to verify a family's compliance with the compulsory attendance laws but be unable to do so. Given the difficulty encountered by some families with DNPE's termination of their school, it may be prudent for parents operating homeschools to contact DNPE and obtain verification that their school has not been terminated.

— by Dewitt T. Black