| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/24/2003 4:02:48 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Kentucky--Harlan County Demands Meetings With Homeschoolers |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- April 24, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Truant officers in Harlan County, Kentucky have begun to demand meetings with every homeschooler in the area. Harlan County has not explained why they are doing this, but local homeschoolers suspect it may be related to Harlan County's controversial proposal to consolidate the county's three high schools into one expensive new central high school. Each family that homeschools has a big impact on Harlan County, which has lost a greater percentage of its school enrollment over the last few years than any other county in Kentucky. The demands by truant officers are highly questionable but not necessarily illegal. Kentucky law requires homeschools to keep certain records, and "be open to inspection by Directors of Pupil Personnel and officials of the Department of Education" (KRS. sec.159.040). School officials have no authority to enter homeschools, however, since homes are protected by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Christian Home Educators of Kentucky and the Kentucky Home Education Association agree in their "Best Practices Document" that "the privacy of the home must be recognized and no visit inside the home may be conducted without the consent of an adult resident or a duly issued warrant." If Harlan County is exercising its right to inspect records in a lawful manner for a legitimate reason, Home School Legal Defense Association will advise its members to obey the law. If, however, Kentucky school officials think that "cracking down" on homeschoolers is an easy way boost public school enrollment, Harlan County homeschoolers plan to prove them wrong. We encourage all HSLDA members to consult with HSLDA if school officials demand a home visit or inspection of private educational records. While the law requires all Kentucky private schools, including homeschools, to be "open for inspection," it does not require them to submit to intimidation tactics. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
