| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/3/2003 1:58:47 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Texas--Lowering Compulsory School Attendance Age |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- February 3, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Senator Judith Zaffirini is back. Once again, this senator is trying to impose mandatory kindergarten on all families in Texas. Her recently introduced legislation, Senate Bill 30, lowers the compulsory attendance age from six years old to five, and makes kindergarten mandatory in certain situations. S.B. 30 was referred to the Senate Education Committee on January 27. Your calls are needed to make sure that this bill goes no further. ACTION REQUESTED Please call as many members of the SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE listed below as you can (as well as the bill's sponsor) and give them this message: "Please vote against S.B. 30. This bill is unnecessary, restricts parental choice, and wastes taxpayers money." Senate Education Committee: Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair, (512) 463-0108 Senator Royce West, Vice Chair, (512) 463-0123 Senator Kip Averitt, (512) 463-0122 Senator Kyle Janek, (512) 463-0117 Senator Steve Ogden, (512) 463-0105 Senator Todd Staples, (512) 463-0103 Senator Leticia Van de Putte, (512) 463-0126 Senator Tommy Williams, (512) 463-0104 Sponsor: Senator Judith Zaffirini, (512) 463-0121 BACKGROUND Changing the compulsory attendance age would subject Texas home educators to the requirements of a compulsory attendance law one year earlier. Many education experts have concluded that beginning a child's formal education too early may actually result in burn out and poor scholastic performance later. In addition, lowering the compulsory attendance age erodes the authority of parents who are in the best position to determine when their child's formal education should begin. Another significant impact of expanding the compulsory attendance age would be the inevitable tax increase to pay for more classroom space and more teachers to accommodate the additional students. This point may be most significant this year in light of the fact that there is a budget deficit and many of the legislators will be reluctant to increase government programs such as this one. Check the HSLDA website for updates on S.B. 30 at: http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/State/tx/2003/TXSB30/default.asp For a more detailed analysis of mandatory kindergarten, read our memo at: http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000028.asp Thank you for standing with us for freedom in Texas! Very truly yours, Chris Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel {{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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
