| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 5/2/2003 12:55:05 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Maryland--Baltimore Adds Unauthorized Requirements |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- May 1, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Many homeschoolers received a letter from the Baltimore City Public School System that makes several demands not authorized under Maryland regulations. 1) First, the letter states: "It is mandated by Maryland State Law COMAR 13A.10.01 that parents who home-school their child/children must register annually." This is not correct. Regulations require homeschoolers to file a notice, but it is not a "registration." Furthermore, the notice need only be filed once. Regulation 13A.10.01.01.B(2) says that the notice must be filed "before the beginning of a home instruction program." A home instruction program, obviously, only has one beginning. Under changes to the regulations that we expect will be enacted this summer, this rule is even clearer. 2) Second, the school system's letter states, "Please fill out the enclosed notification form and return it to us as soon as possible, but not later than May 9, 2003." If you have submitted a notice of intent in a previous year, you do not need to submit another one, either under the current or coming regulations. In addition, May 9 is the wrong deadline. The initial notice of intent is due 15 days before the homeschool program begins. Under the coming regulations, the annual verification is due to the school system or your umbrella before the school year begins. 3) Third, the school system's letter states, "If we do not receive an updated notification form, your homeschooling status will be cancelled and your child/children will be returned to a public or private school." An "updated notification form" is not required under the current or coming regulations. A school system does not have power to "cancel" your homeschool program, or order you to return your children to public or private school. Regulation 13A.10.01.04 forbids a local school system from adding requirements for home instruction. The purpose of this regulation is to protect families from local school systems that try to take matters into their own hands. Since the letter from the Baltimore Public School System adds new requirements, it is in violation of this regulation. Freedom is precious. You can help protect freedom for all homeschoolers by disregarding the letter and its unauthorized requirements. When homeschoolers choose to comply with unauthorized demands, it creates an atmosphere in which school systems expect all others to comply. It encourages them to become more aggressive toward those who refuse to acquiesce. If enough homeschoolers comply, it encourages school systems to believe that this is the new standard, and then press for new regulations to "bring into line" those who continue refuse. To protect freedom, it is imperative that we use it, and encourage others to do so, as well. Please let us know at once if you receive any communication from the system suggesting that they intend to enforce unauthorized requirements. We stand ready to defend our members in the face of any effort to violate their right to homeschool. Sincerely, 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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