| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/20/2002 5:30:07 PM Scott A. Woodruff, Esq., Staff Attorney of HSLDA Maine--Application for Equivalent Instruction 2002-2003 |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, By now most of you have received your home schooling applications for the 2002-2003 school year from the Maine Department of Education. There are a few points HSLDA would like to address about these forms. There is a typographical error in the first sentence of the cover letter. The assessment that should be submitted is not for the 2000- 2001 year but the 2001-2002 year. The cover letter demands that you "specifically describe the assessment process that was utilized." Maine law does not require this and we recommend that you not submit this information. The cover letter states "Assessments received without this letter [the cover letter]" attached "will be returned." Paragraph "h" of the application makes the same demand. Maine law does not require you to send back this cover letter. Therefore we recommend against attaching a copy of the cover letter to your application. The first page of the application asks for background information. You do not need to disclose the date of birth, your telephone number, or whether or not the child was home schooled in the previous year. This information is not required under Maine law. At the top of the second page, we advise that you cross out the word "agree" and replace it with "intend." Under paragraph "d", curriculum, simply list the subjects you will be teaching. Be sure to include all required subjects. This will suffice for a program syllabus or curriculum outline. (Contrary to what the application states, you do NOT need to submit a COURSE syllabus.) Paragraph "e" asks for the textbooks and instructional materials you will use. Keep in mind the state has no power to approve or disapprove your choice of books. There is no right or wrong answer. You need not list all books and materials you plan to use, and you can change your mind any time you wish if you crossed out "agree" and inserted "intend" where noted. Paragraph "f" asks for both your quarterly and annual plan of assessment. The regulations require that you describe your plan for assessing your child four times per year. The assessments are not required to be quarterly. You are not required to submit a plan for annual assessment and we recommend that you do not. On page four of the application, the state asks you for the date you sent a copy of the application to your local superintendent. Maine law does not require you to submit this information. We recommend that you disregard it. We strongly recommend that you send the application via certified mail, with return receipt requested, and keep and file the receipt when it comes back to you. This will be crucial if we later need to prove the date of receipt for legal purposes. There is no specific deadline for submitting your application. I suggest you submit it before the first day your local public schools are in session. As if these unlawful demands following the oppressive rule changes were not enough, the commissioner has permitted those under his supervision to add insult to injury by sending an application for welfare ("MaineCare") to all Maine home schoolers! This is highly offensive and inexcusable. The coming 9 to 12 months may present many challenges for Maine homeschoolers. Please encourage homeschoolers you know to join HSLDA, Homeschoolers of Maine, and other home school organizations. This will maximize our effectiveness in protecting our liberties and redressing these wrongs. If you are an HSLDA member, please contact the legal department at HSLDA if you have any questions. Very truly yours, Scott A. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
