Across the States
Tight Budgets Translate into Better Laws for Homeschoolers
A longtime supporter of homeschoolers, Minnesota State Senator Gen Olsen and State Representative Marsha Swails have coauthored groundbreaking legislation that, if passed, will make Minnesota even friendlier to homeschoolers.
Minnesota Association of Christian Home Education board member, attorney and legislative liaison John Tuma, worked with Senator Olsen and Representative Swails to draft Senate File 846 and House File 1037, the “Homeschool Mandates Reduction Act.”
The mandates reduction bill would require that families notify school authorities of their intention to homeschool only when they start homeschooling or if they move. Parents would no longer have to obtain a superintendent’s signature for work permits or driver’s education. The bill would also reduce the amount of paperwork all homeschooling families have to provide and would eliminate an archaic provision that allows superintendents to make an on-site visit.
Tuma praised Home School Legal Defense Association as a partner in developing the legislation. “With Mike Donnelly’s help, we have been able to craft a comprehensive piece of legislation that will make Minnesota’s homeschool law even better. We’re so pleased to have a strong partnership with HSLDA.”
With budgets tightening at every level, the Minnesota Department of Education is looking for ways to save money and effort. The mandates reduction bill will help them
with that objective by allowing only
schools with more than 15 students to
participate in the nonpublic schools’ assistance program, which provides up to $77
per student for in-kind material support (mostly books) from public schools. As it funnels hundreds of thousands of dollars in available funds from the public school budgets, the program creates lots of paperwork and strings attached for homeschoolers. It also creates a major drag on public school officials who manage the paperwork.
Tuma pointed out that homeschoolers may have to step up to help those who rely on the aid. “We should be helping other homeschoolers in need,” he said. “Instead of a government program, we should extend a helping hand.” As an example, he cited the Home School Foundation, which has a number of programs to help homeschooling families in need.
On Monday, March 2, 2009 at MACHE’s Homeschool Day at the Capitol, Senator Olsen told the standing-room-only crowd looking down into the rotunda from all three levels that she was proud of them.
“I stand here today as a public school teacher, with no children of my own,” she said, “to tell you how proud I am of your commitment to your children.”
— by Michael P. Donnelly
