HSLDA News	December 10, 2001

Vermont Commissioners of Education Listen to Home Schoolers

On December 5, 2001, the outgoing Commissioner of Education David Wolk and incoming Commissioner Ray McNulty met with about 30 home schoolers, including Home School Legal Defense Association Attorney Scott Woodruff and representatives of Christian Home Educators of Vermont and Vermont Association of Home Educators, to discuss a proposal to create a Home School Advisory Commission (HSAC). About 27 home schoolers opposed creation of the HSAC, and about three supported it (but not in the form proposed to the State Board of Education [SBE] last week).

In the face of this nearly unanimous opposition, Wolk and McNulty said they would recommend that the SBE not adopt the proposal. There was general support instead for creating or maintaining less formal avenues of communication between home schoolers, the commissioner, and the department of education.

"We are delighted with this outcome," Woodruff said. "Even more importantly, we are encouraged that incoming Commissioner McNulty, whose term begins Monday, listened attentively to the comments of home schoolers and seemed sympathetic to their concerns."

Other Resources

12/5/2001 Vermont--Commissioners Drop Support for HSAC Proposal

11/28/2001 Vermont--Home School Advisory Commission Vote Delayed