Dear Nonpublic School Operator
    A central Michigan family recently found themselves in an awkward position. After they withdrew their children from public school, they received a letter from the state department of education addressed to “Dear Nonpublic School Operator.” The letter suggested that they must fill out the enclosed Nonpublic School Membership Report form and return it to the department. The family mistakenly filled it out and returned it. When they received a follow-up letter asking for the qualifications of the teachers in the home school and what subjects they taught, they realized that something had gone amiss.
    Because the family had filled out and returned the Nonpublic School Membership Report form, the department of education had begun to treat them as a “nonpublic school.” Under Michigan law, nonpublic schools must file certain information with the local public school superintendent or intermediate superintendent at the beginning of each year. Additionally, the department of education is authorized to demand certain additional information including the courses of study and the qualifications of the teachers.
    Home School Legal Defense Association attorney Scott Woodruff wrote a letter to the department of education, informing them that the family did not wish to be treated as a nonpublic school and requesting that their names be removed from the list of nonpublic schools. The department of education honored this request and no longer expects the family to make annual filings or submit information concerning courses of study or teacher qualifications.
    Michigan Code section 380.1561(3) describes three ways a home school can operate: under subsection (a), under subsection (f), or under both (a) and (f). A home school operating under subsection (a) is considered a nonpublic school. A home school operating under subsection (f) is not. Many families prefer to be treated as a subsection (f) school so they are not obligated to send information to state or local officials. HSLDA members who have filed a Nonpublic School Membership Report form may contact our office for assistance in removing their name from the state’s nonpublic school list.