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| Date: From: Subject: | 7/21/2004 4:41:58 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Ohio--Frequently Asked Questions at the Beginning of the Public School Year |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== July 21, 2004 Ohio--Frequently Asked Questions at the Beginning of the Public School Year Dear HSLDA members and friends: HSLDA has nearly 4,000 member families in Ohio, and the start of each new school year brings us countless "frequently asked questions." Summer is a good time to consider the requirements and options provided by Ohio law in order to start the new school year on the right foot. This e-mail addresses a few of the most common questions HSLDA receives before the start of a new school year. First, each family that has operated a homeschool under Ohio's homeschool regulations must provide results of an end-of-the-year assessment along with your notice of intent to homeschool for the succeeding year. There is no particular deadline for turning in this paperwork (although many school districts try to arbitrarily set their own deadlines), but it is important to deliver the assessment and notice of intent to the school officials before the start of the public school year. While it is not technically a violation of the law to turn in this paperwork after the public school year begins, it does tend to cause significant problems. More and more Ohio families are being asked to enroll in "cyberschools" or other publicly funded programs. While HSLDA respects the right of each parent to do what is right for their own child, we do not believe the homeschool movement is helped when homeschooling families give up their independence for a publicly funded, publicly controlled educational program. An HSLDA member family that enrolls their children in such a program will lose their HSLDA membership as a result. While we can defend your fundamental right to direct the education of your children in your own home, we cannot defend your entitlement to publicly funded educational services. Families with strong religious objections to government control of education may want to consider the possibility of forming a "non-chartered, non-tax supported school," also known as an "08 school." These unaccredited private schools have been a part of Ohio's set of educational options for many years, and were the primary means for parents with bachelor's degrees to teach their own children at home before Ohio's homeschool regulations were passed in the late 1980's. The school districts are unfamiliar with this option, so we encourage families to consult with HSLDA before starting an 08 school. We strongly advise parents to make sure they have "truly held religious beliefs," as required by Ohio Administrative Code 3301-35-08, before initiating an 08 school. We are especially concerned about rumors of parents who are using 08 schools simply to gain access to publicly funded college courses. The State Board of Education authorized 08 schools to make sure that sincere religious objectors could always exercise their religious freedom in Ohio. Schools that want to receive publicly funded benefits will need to accept the "strings" that come with government dollars. Individuals who want to claim the freedom offered by an 08 school and still claim the "freebies" from the state of Ohio jeopardize the entire 08 school option. This is not to say that it is unlawful for 08 schools to receive publicly funded benefits. The Ohio legislature has set aside one million dollars to make it possible for students enrolled in 08 schools to attend college through the Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program. Both HSLDA and the Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO) encourage families to avoid such publicly funded programs where possible, however. Sincerely, Scott W. Somerville, Esq. HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How many of your friends would pay your legal fees? As a member of HSLDA, you have 75,000 families standing with you to protect and advance homeschool freedoms in the United States and foreign countries. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1106 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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