Kansas
Udall Files Referrals on All Home Schoolers
Kansas home schoolers have more freedom than most other home school families in the nation, but also significantly more risk. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the little town of Udall. School official Grady Sewell has referred every home schooler he knows of to the local prosecutor. Although many Kansas school officials have been known to do this out of ignorance, Mr. Sewell has made it very clear that he believes home schooling should not be permitted, and refuses to recognize it at all. HSLDA Attorney Scott Somerville spoke to Mr. Sewell before any referrals were made, explained the legal basis for home schooling, and asked Mr. Sewell to please include this information when and if he made any referrals to the prosecutor. The referral form that Mr. Sewell uses has a large blank section for the truant officer to record “any other information” that might be relevant to a child’s non-attendance. Attorney Somerville explained that this section allows for information on any family who registers with the Kansas State Department of Education as a non-accredited, non-public school, providing assurances that they are in compliance with the law, and giving the name and phone number of an attorney to answer any questions.
When Mr. Sewell sent criminal referrals on five families, he intentionally left the “any other information” field of this form completely blank. Our member families in Udall are working closely together with HSLDA to determine whether Mr. Sewell’s callous indifference to home schoolers’ rights merits legal action. Although no Udall families have been dragged into court as defendants, they might find themselves in court as plaintiffs if the district is intentionally violating civil rights.
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Kansas
Admitted to statehood:
January 29, 1861
Origin of name:
Sioux for “south wind people.”
Motto:
Ad Astra per Aspera—To the stars through difficulties.
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