| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 5/6/2004 4:52:09 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Arizona--Write to Your Regents! |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== May 6, 2004 Arizona--Write to Your Regents! Dear HSLDA members and friends: We sent out an elert about a week ago asking for your action in influencing the Arizona State Board of Regents to keep its policies more homeschool friendly ( http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=1511 ). Policies 2-101 and 2-102 would hurt homeschoolers by changing the automatic admissions to Arizona state universities from test scores to class ranking. HSLDA believes the Arizona Board of Regents should change its direction on guaranteed admissions before any homeschoolers suffer from their new policy. We are pleased with the way HSLDA members have communicated their concerns to the Regents. Here is one example of an especially effective letter from a concerned family: ------------------------------- Dear Judy Garza and the Arizona Board of Regents, I understand that The Board of Regents plans to change the rule relating to automatic admissions for those with certain tests scores in 2006 to guarantee automatic admission to the top 25% of each graduating class, with no automatic admission based on test scores. This hurts homeschoolers, since Arizona does not recognize any particular class rank for homeschool graduates. As a homeschooling mother, with two daughters now in college, I was elated when "Bethany's Law" passed in 1998 which gave homeschooler access to the Regents' Scholarship with 90th percentile scores on the ACT or SAT. It seemed that Arizona was going to the forefront in recognizing that home-educated students needed to be included in the benefits and opportunities shared by the public and private school students, and that they needed an alternative to the class rank system. I was very proud of our state for making that stand, and envisioned tremendous benefit back to the universities through the contributions that homeschoolers could make. Now, it seems the progress toward equity will disappear if automatic admission will no longer be based on test scores. I urge you to amend Policy 2-101 and Policy 2-102 to ensure equal rights for homeschoolers. If the reason for the proposed change is to include more minorities and students from poorer school districts, let me assure you that there are many minority and low income students entering the ranks of homeschoolers. The vast majority of these students are taken out of the public system as parents desire to ensure that they get a good education. We have a homeschool resource center in Central Phoenix, in the Creighton district area. While we draw students from around the valley, we plan to do an outreach in our immediate area to help find other homeschooling families and provide services and resources for them. Our goal is to equip families for a successful homeschool journey, and we do that through parent training, classes for students, testing and providing access to curriculum. We currently have a diverse group of ethnic and economic backgrounds represented among our families, and our clientele include such as a single mom on disability from Avondale. She and her daughter ride the bus in each week for classes with us since the local school setting is very rough. We also had a boy from a gang neighborhood near Indian School and 23rd Avenue who would walk to classes 4 miles one way, so he could continue his education in some very desperate circumstances. Some pregnant girls have called me to see how they could continue their education at home so they could make something of themselves for their child. Mrs. Garza and board members, if it weren't for the option of home education, some of these students would not have the opportunity of getting out of their circumstances to try to improve themselves. Those who work hard and have a level of self-motivation that is awesome to encounter deserve an equal chance at a college education through the vehicle of acceptable test scores. Thank you for your consideration. Please let me know if I may be of further assistance. Blessings, Holly C. ------------------------------- Thanks to every family who has e-mailed their input. Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Scott W. Somerville HSLDA Staff Attorney {{JoinAd}} ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
