| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 7/16/2002 1:54:51 PM Scott W. Somerville, Esq., Staff Attorney of HSLDA Ohio--Privacy of Home School Records in Doubt |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, HSLDA has been contacted by home schoolers in a number of states, including Ohio, who complain that their local school district has given out their name and address to third parties. The most obvious examples come from "virtual" charter schools, which are actively recruiting home schoolers in a number of states. When a home school family gets a telephone call or letter from someone who is trying to sell them something, they have every right to complain. When that family discovers that their local school district gave out their name, address, and telephone number without authorization, it is time to do something about the problem. Ohio protects the confidentiality of personally identifiable information concerning any students attending a public school. Ohio Revised Code Section 3319.321(A). Although the law does not clearly protect home school privacy, it does not expressly authorize the release of home school information either. In the absence of express legislation, we advise our member families to clearly prohibit the release of any personally identifiable information, including "directory information" such as the student's name, address, telephone number, birth date, and so forth. I have discussed this matter with the Christian Home Educators of Ohio and the Ohio Home Educators Coalition. We all agree that Ohio home schoolers should take steps to protect their privacy. We have revised our "Notice of Intent" form to include the following statement: "Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 3319.321(B)(2)(a), we hereby inform the school board that no personally identifiable information, including directory information, should be released without our prior written consent." Every HSLDA member family can use our notice of intent forms on the HSLDA website. Here's how to get a form from the HSLDA web site: (1) Go to http://www.hslda.org . (2) Click "Members" at the top of the screen, to the right. (3) Enter your name and member number if this is the first time you've logged in as an HSLDA member. (4) Pick "Members" from the menu bar, and then "State Forms and Resources" from the drop down menu. (5) Select your state from the map. (6) All the forms will then be available. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If Ohio home schoolers take this small step to protect their privacy today, it will go a long way toward ensuring school districts across the state will protect home schoolers' privacy in the future. Very truly yours, Scott W. Somerville HSLDA Staff Attorney {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. Box 3000 Purcellville, Virginia 20134 Phone: (540) 338-5600 Fax: (540) 338-2733 E-mail: info@hslda.org Web: http://www.hslda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- How To Subscribe: - Subscribe to the HSLDA E-lert Service at our website: https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp?Process=Subscribe - Or send an e-mail with name and complete mailing address to: subscribe@hslda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscription Information: - You subscribed to the HSLDA E-lert Service as: {{Email}} - To unsubscribe from the HSLDA E-lert Service send an e-mail from the e-mail address you want to unsubscribe to: unsubscribe@hslda.org - To change your e-mail address or make other changes to your subscription, visit the HSLDA E-lert Service account web page at: https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTMASTERS: This message is being sent to the most recent address we have for our subscribers. If this is an invalid e-mail address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this e-mail address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any e-mail sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send e-mail to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also e-mail staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
