| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 8/23/2002 4:56:45 PM Christopher J. Klicka, Esq., Senior Counsel of HSLDA HSLDA Meets with Director of Department of Defense Schools |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- August 23, 2002 Dear HSLDA Military Members and Friends, As part of Home School Legal Defense Association's ongoing efforts to facilitate good relations between the United States military and home schooling families involved with the military, HSLDA Senior Counsel Chris Klicka and National Center for Home Education Director Tom Washburne met with Dr. Tafoya, Director of the Department of Defense Education Activities (DODEA), earlier this spring. The April 8 meeting helped military officials better understand this highly effective educational alternative and resulted in several agreements that will enhance accurate implementation of a recent federal home school measure--House Resolution 830. At the end of 2001, Congress attached H.R. 830, drafted by HSLDA, as an amendment to the Defense Reauthorization Act. This language amended the Defense Dependent's Act of 1978 to allow home school students who were eligible for enrollment in a school of the overseas Defense Dependent's Education System to use auxiliary services of such schools. Up until this point, military home schoolers overseas were only allowed to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities if they actually enrolled their children in two or more classes in the DOD school. Most home schoolers did not want to be enrolled in the school, but simply wanted to participate in an occasional sport or extracurricular activity. H.R. 830 directed the military to allow home schoolers to participate in extracurricular activities without DOD enrollment. At the meeting, Chris Klicka gave a presentation describing the legalities of civilian and military home schooling throughout the U.S. and overseas. He also presented research demonstrating the academic and social achievement of home school students. Concerning the implementation of H.R. 830--the new "Equal Access Amendment" for the military, several points of agreement were reached at the meeting. - First, Director Tafoya concurred that H.R. 830 only applies to U.S. military and civilians working for the Department of Defense for at least one year or more. Any others are not covered and may participate only on a space-available basis and must pay for DODEA services. - Second, since there is a need for identification of eligible home school children, HSLDA and the director concurred that the identification of eligible home school children would be through simply submitting a copy of the orders that the civilian working for the military or the military member had received. To protect the privacy of the family, the copies of the orders would be destroyed at the end of the academic year and no permanent records would be kept. - Third, for security reasons, Director Tafoya agreed the military would be very careful to notify parents of home school children about various activities sponsored by the DODEA. Various methods of notification were discussed, such as notices on bulletin boards at the DODEA schools and postings on the websites that would direct contact to the military home school support group on the base. - Fourth, it was agreed that HSLDA would have an opportunity to review the DODEA's draft home schooling policy and also contribute to a memo answering a series of frequently asked questions to ensure a common understanding among all involved parties. HSLDA believes that the more the military understands home schoolers and respects their freedom, the better. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as needed. Sincerely, Christopher J. Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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