| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/6/2003 2:45:26 PM Home School Legal Defense Association New Mexico--Department of Education Seeks Information Not Required by Law |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- February 6, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, As many of you remember, the Christian Association of Parent Educators of New Mexico (CAPE-NM) worked hard last spring to come to an agreement with the New Mexico Department of Education regarding the state's homeschool policies. The state Department of Education has a "homeschool database" which includes the name and birth date of each homeschooled child, even though state law no longer requires parents to send in this information. Dr. Michael Kaplan, Director of the Alternative Education Unit, has taken the position that failure to include student name and date of birth information will result in the rejection of the notice of intent form. For more background information on this matter visit our web site at: www.hslda.org/courtreport/v18n3/v18n3nm.asp AND www.hslda.org/courtreport/v18n5/v18n5nm.asp Last fall, several HSLDA member families received letters from the Department of Education, warning them that they would be reported to their local school district for truancy enforcement unless they provided additional information. HSLDA was able to help these families and no district actually prosecuted any HSLDA members. Now, the Department has begun to send out new notices to a larger group of families. The Department's letter states, "Failure to return this information will result in our notification to the school district that you are NOT in compliance with the Compulsory School Attendance Act." To date, HSLDA has been able to explain to each local school district that the Department has no authority to reject a notice of intent that provides all the information required by law. Since state law does not require parents to provide the student name or date of birth, we are happy to help local school districts understand that a valid notice of intent does not need student name or date of birth information. If you have received a letter from the Department of Education, or know someone else who has, please contact us at legale@hslda.org. It only takes one bad precedent to harm all homeschoolers, but by working hard and working together, homeschoolers can preserve the blessings of liberty. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
