| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/5/2003 2:05:18 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Wyoming--More Calls Needed to Stop the Illegal Testing of Homeschoolers |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- February 5, 2002 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Senator Kathryn Sessions has taken her case for homeschool regulation to the media. Instead of withdrawing her bill, she has redoubled her efforts to get it past. In the Casper Star Tribune, she insists that the federal No Child Left Behind Act only exempts homeschool students from taking the national assessment of educational progress. She claims that the U. S. Department of Education officials in Denver agree with her, and sent a letter to her fellow senators to make her case. HSLDA is confident that the Unites States Department of Education will agree with the homeschoolers in this escalating controversy, but it is critical that Wyoming citizens speak to their own legislators now. While it is helpful to have a federal law to protect us, our liberties ultimately depend on God's blessings and our efforts. We must act now! ACTION REQUESTED Please call the voter hotline at 866-996-8683. Ask the operator to give this message to your Senator, "Please support homeschool freedom and vote against SF 110, which violates the federal No Child Left Behind Act and will create unnecessary and costly burdens on parents." The operator may ask what county the caller is from. You can find out who your senator is by using our legislative toolbox at: www.hslda.org/toolbox BACKGROUND The No Child Left Behind Act requires each state to "demonstrate that the State has adopted challenging academic content standards and challenging student academic achievement standards that will be used by the state, its local educational agencies, and its schools." 20 U.S.C. sec.6311(b)(1)(A). The federal law then says, "The academic standards required by subparagraph (A) shall be the same academic standards that the State applies to all schools and children in the State." This federal law would seem to require private schools and homeschools to meet the same content and performance standards as public schools. For this reason, HSLDA asked for clear and specific protections for homeschoolers. Congress responded by including in the bill Section 7886, which says, "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect any private school that does not receive funds or services under this chapter, nor shall any student who attends a private school that does not receive funds or services under this chapter be required to participate in any assessment referenced in this chapter." 20 U.S.C. sec.7886(a). Homeschools are expressly protected under the next subsection, which states, "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect a homeschool, whether or not a homeschool is treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law, nor shall any student schooled at home be required to participate in any assessment referenced in this chapter." The state content and performance assessments required by 20 U.S.C. sec.6311(b) are part of chapter 70 of the No Child Left Behind Act. This reference to the state content and performance standards is sufficient to protect homeschoolers under the terms of 20 U.S.C. sec.7886(b). There is no question that Wyoming is developing new content and performance standards to bring it into compliance with federal law. Senator Sessions' efforts to force homeschoolers to take these new tests violate our constitutional liberties and federal law. For more information on this bill visit our web page at: http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/State/wy/2003/wysf110/default.asp By working hard, fast, and together, Wyoming homeschoolers should be able to persuade their elected representatives to "just say no" to new homeschool regulations. We encourage all homeschoolers and friends of educational freedom to urge their legislator to oppose SF 110. 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. 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