HSLDA News	June 22, 2001

Government Grab for Young Children

A Washington, DC City Council member is attempting to force parents to comply with compulsory attendance laws for children as young as three years old.

Council member Kevin Chavous has introduced DC Bill 14-261, which would require a child to be enrolled in some kind of school setting if the child turns three on or before December 31. Thus, even some two-year-olds would be subject to DC's compulsory attendance law.

HSLDA vigorously opposes this attempt to set a precedent for the rest of the nation. We believe that parents should have the right to determine the age their children are ready to begin formal education. We are also very concerned about the significant costs associated with sending tens of thousands three- and four-year-olds to school.

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