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What triggers a visit from public school officials?
Homeschooling families filing a private school affidavit often express concern over divulging their street address as the location of their private school. Because they don’t want a public school official showing up at their door, these parents want to know if they can list a post office box or some other address.
However, the affidavit makes it clear that a post office box is not sufficient-the California Department of Education requires a street address for the school. Because the affidavit is filed under penalty of perjury, it is extremely unwise to list any address unconnected with your private school.
Home School Legal Defense Association wants to assure you that disclosing the location of your private school does not automatically trigger a visit from a local public school official-in fact, it is fairly rare for school officials to show up on the doorstep of private schools. Nor should you be concerned about public school officials demanding entry into your home or removing your children. Public schools do not have that authority.
So what usually triggers a visit? A report of truancy. If the school district gets a report that a child is not attending school, then a child welfare and attendance officer will visit the child’s home to determine where the child is attending school. You are more likely to be visited by a public school official because your child was reported as truant, than because you filed a private school affidavit.
If you do receive a visit from an official questioning your child’s school attendance, you can tell the officer the name of your school and explain that you have filed a private school affidavit. You can even give him a copy of the affidavit. If he has other questions, ask for his business card and tell him you need to review the questions with your attorney.
— by J. Michael Smith
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