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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/21/2003 4:02:17 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Maine--Committee Unanimously Approves LD 160 |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- February 21, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Yesterday, February 20, the Maine legislature's joint Education and Cultural Affairs committee unanimously voted "Ought to Pass as Amended" during its work session on LD 160. This is a tremendous step toward victory. We would like to thank the 500 homeschoolers who came to the state capital to support the bill at the public hearing on February 11, as well as the many others who made phone calls or sent letters. The bill will soon be presented to the full house and senate for approval. As amended, LD 160 would totally revamp Maine's homeschool law (without affecting non-approved private schools). The commissioner would no longer have power to "approve" a homeschool program. A family would file a simple notice within 10 days of the beginning of the homeschool program. The notice would include the name, signature, and address of the parent, the name and age of the child, the date home instruction will begin, and assurance that there will be 175 days of instruction in the required subjects. This notice would be sent to the Commissioner of Education, with a copy to the local superintendent. This simple notice would replace the complex and time-consuming four- page application homeschoolers are currently required to fill out. (One member of the committee noted during the work session that the application was so complex it would take a "Harvard graduate" to figure it out.) After filing this initial notice, each subsequent year on or before September 1, the family would file a letter with the commissioner, with a copy to the local superintendent. The family would enclose an assessment of progress (same options as are currently available) and a statement as to whether the family intends to continue the home instruction program. With "approval" eliminated, families would never be in a position of waiting and wondering if they were in compliance with the law because the department misplaced their paperwork, made inappropriate demands, sent inappropriate letters, or failed to communicate. We are currently representing many families who are in legal "limbo" because they courageously refused to give the Department information it demanded but to which it was not entitled. Improving a homeschool law is always the product of the hard work and cooperation of many people. A number of homeschool organizations were consulted as the bill was drafted. One organization in particular, Homeschoolers of Maine, has been an instrumental force in advancing the bill. Special credit goes to Senator Carol Weston, a primary sponsor of the bill, for her ceaseless, untiring, and highly effective work in support of this bill. As we wait for LD 160 to be presented to the full house and senate, please consider taking a moment and sending Senator Weston a letter telling her how much you appreciate her work on behalf of the homeschool community. For more information on LD 160 visit our web site at: http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/State/me/2003/MELD160/default.asp We will keep you posted as to this bill's progress. Very truly yours, Scott A. Woodruff HSLDA Staff Attorney {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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