Legal / Legislative Updates

MICHIGAN

Family Accused of Truancy

The Wise family (name changed to protect family’s privacy) of Clinton County decided to teach their daughter at home midway through the 2006-2007 school year. As a matter of courtesy, they notified their school district before starting to homeschool.*

However, just a few months later, the school district sent the family a “notice of nonattendance” threatening truancy action. Ms. Wise again told the school that she was homeschooling, and the school told her that the threat was a mistake and would be resolved. But one week later, the family received another notice of nonattendance! Ms. Wise called the school district and learned that although she had told the school she would be homeschooling her daughter, the school did not believe her.

Home School Legal Defense Association Senior Counsel Christopher Klicka sent a letter to the school on the family’s behalf. He explained that homeschooling was legal in Michigan and that homeschooling families are presumed to be following the law unless there is credible evidence to the contrary. There was no credible evidence that the Wise family was not homeschooling according to the law. In fact, the family had researched to find the best type of education for their daughter, and she was doing very well in homeschooling.

Since receiving Klicka’s letter, the school district has not threatened the Wise family with any more truancy actions.

— by Christopher J. Klicka