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Erroneous Curriculum Request Withdrawn
After sending in adequate test scores for her son and daughter, Home School Legal Defense Association member Judith Meyer was shocked to receive a letter from the director of student services of Ohio County Schools stating that the scores were insufficient and asking Meyer to submit “supplemental curriculum” to bring the children “up to proficiency level.”
Meyer called HSLDA for help, and staff attorney Scott Woodruff wrote a letter to the director. He explained that it did not matter that the children scored below the 50th percentile on individual subtests, because only the composite score matters according to West Virginia homeschool law. The composite scores for both
children were at or above the 50th percentile. Woodruff requested that the director send a correction letter to all families who had received remediation letters in error, explaining that the year-end assessments were adequate and nothing further needed to be submitted.
The director called Woodruff shortly thereafter and confirmed that letters of correction had been sent. She added that she had personally apologized to Judith Meyer and went on to say that she was new to the job and still learning how the various parts of the homeschool law work together.
Woodruff explained that even if the composite scores for the children had been below the 50th percentile, they would not have needed to submit “supplemental curriculum.” While the law requires a remediation program in that case, it does not require families to submit the remedial program to school officials for approval.
When someone is new to homeschooling, whether as a new homeschooling parent or as an official with new responsibilities, there is an adjustment period in becoming familiar with home education laws. This official has set an excellent example by taking responsibility for unintended errors and striving for improvement.
— by Scott A. Woodruff
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