Legal / Legislative Updates

MASSACHUSETTS

Only a Phone Call Away

Although Massachusetts is one of only two states that still grant local school officials “approval authority” over homeschoolers, difficulties with these officials are usually overcome without incident. Leaving a school system, however, can be a little more nerve-wracking than simply obtaining approval to homeschool—especially for first-time homeschoolers.

When the Grant family (name changed to protect privacy) contacted Home School Legal Defense Association, they explained to Staff Attorney Michael Donnelly that they had recently moved into the commonwealth from another state where they had homeschooled for a short time. For a variety of reasons, the family initially enrolled their young children in a Massachusetts public school but then decided that the environment was not what they wanted.

However, the Grants encountered resistance from the school principal when they decided to homeschool. Another local homeschooling family referred them to HSLDA, and Donnelly agreed to assist them. Donnelly’s legal assistant, Dan Beasley, then helped the Grants to fill out the forms required to notify the school superintendent of their homeschool.* A cover letter sent with the forms outlined the law and asked the superintendent to request that the principal stop harassing the family. Within a few weeks, the family received an approval letter and has not been bothered by the principal since.

After receiving the approval letter, Mr. Grant called Donnelly to express his thanks. “I really appreciated your help through this unfamiliar and somewhat intimidating process,” he said. “In the state where I’m from, all we had to do was send in one form. You and Dan were so helpful and available to answer my questions and help keep things in perspective. I’m looking forward to a long membership with HSLDA!”

— by Michael P. Donnelly