| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/24/2003 4:22:39 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Missouri--School District Wants to Count Homeschoolers With Disabilities |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- April 24, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Some homeschool families in Missouri's West Plains area have received a letter from Linda McAdams, the West Plains R-7 Director of Special Services, asking for help in identifying children with disabilities who are not in public school. The letter dated April 21, 2003, says, "If you are aware of a child... who has a disability or suspect that a child... has a disability... please contact the district if this child is not currently attending the public school." The letter asks the recipient to submit the name of the child, name and address of the parent, date of birth and age of the child, and the child's actual or suspected disability. The letter states that the district "is required by law to conduct this census by May 1...." When I contacted Ms. McAdams, she said she understood that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) required school systems to conduct a census of handicapped children twice a year, in December and May. I contacted two representatives of DESE and reviewed their website, however, and found that only a single census in December is required. When I explained this to her, and after her own independent confirmation, she promptly agreed to either stop the spring census altogether or clearly indicate that it is not required by state law She also agreed, to send a letter of clarification to families who received the April 21 letter explaining that no state law required the school system to conduct the May census. We appreciate her willingness to set things straight. Citizens are under no obligation to cooperate with efforts such as this to gather private information about other citizens. We recommend that families who receive a letter such as this to simply disregard it. Privacy is precious in a world of ever-growing government databases, and should be protected as fully as possible. We encourage HSLDA members in Missouri to contact us if they receive any similar requests from their school district. Sincerely, Scott A. Woodruff 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
