| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 5/17/2004 3:22:12 PM Home School Legal Defense Association District of Columbia--More Efficient Misinformation |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== May 17, 2004 District of Columbia--More Efficient Misinformation Dear HSLDA members and friends: The District of Columbia repealed all regulations that applied to homeschools in 1991, but every year since 1991 there's been a large amount of misinformation. HSLDA members have steadfastly refused to comply with so-called "requirements" that have no basis in law. While HSLDA attorneys have had many long and interesting phone conversations with attorneys for the District, no homeschool family has ever been prosecuted pursuant to requirements that don't exist. Unfortunately, the District is now getting more efficient at trying to impose non-existent rules. On May 5, 2004, the "Local Educational Agency Office of Grant Programs" sent out a form letter to every homeschool family they had listed in their database. This letter informed them that they are "required to submit evidence of attendance and educational achievement of each child who received home instruction during school year 2003-2004." The packet included a statement to be signed, under oath, which certified, among other things, that the family understands that "until such time as approval of homeschooling is granted in writing " the child is to remain in some other educational program. HSLDA attorney Scott Somerville contacted Dr. Wilma Bonner, Executive Director of the Local Educational Agency Office of Grant Programs, which has now assumed responsibility for monitoring homeschools. Dr. Bonner was surprised to discover that the District of Columbia rescinded all homeschool regulations in 1991. She explained that she had sent out the forms that were currently in use in the District, but admitted that the District had never tried to enforce the compulsory attendance law against families that objected to the use of these forms. The conversation ended pleasantly. Dr. Bonner did indicate that she may consider seeking new regulations for homeschoolers. We need all DC homeschoolers to prepare for the possibility of proposed regulations. Please forward this message to any DC homeschoolers you may know, as well as friends of homeschooling. Please encourage people to sign up for HSLDA's free e-lert service at http://www.hslda.org/elert/ If you know families that have received Dr. Bonner's mailing who are not HSLDA members, please encourage them to consider joining HSLDA at this time. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "We must all hang together, or we shall most assuredly all hang separately." Sincerely, Scott Somerville HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Can you call your attorney at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning? Our members can get in touch with their attorney even after business hours, when they have a legal emergency. Wouldn't you like this level of protection? More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
