Legal / Legislative Updates

HAWAII

Kapolei Tries to Enroll Homeschoolers

The Morgan family (name changed to protect family’s privacy) recently notified the Kapolei Middle School of their decision to homeschool their son. The family received an ensuing note from the registrar asking them to fill out several forms “to complete the homeschool registration process.” The requested forms included a student enrollment form, a personal data form, and a record release form. The Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) Form 4140-Exceptions to Compulsory Education was also sent to the family.

Among other things, the forms requested the ethnicity of the student, names of other children in the home, the name of the family doctor, and the parents’ educational level.

Since Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are members of Home School Legal Defense Association, they quickly contacted us for help. After learning that they had submitted all of the required information in their earlier notice, HSLDA Staff Attorney Thomas Schmidt contacted the Kapolei registrar.

Schmidt explained to the registrar that Hawaii law only requires the child’s name, birth date, grade level, address, and telephone number. This information can be submitted in a letter signed by the parents or on Form 4140.*

The registrar was also under the false impression that he was required to “register” homeschooled students in the school’s database, enrolling them in the public school for one day and then classifying them as homeschooled students the next. Schmidt informed the school official that this was not required and was contrary to DOE policy.

After learning this, the registrar dropped the requests for additional information and accepted the Morgan family’s letter.

— by Thomas J. Schmidt