| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 8/18/2004 5:01:09 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Don't Change a System which Works for Homeschoolers |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== HSLDA is asking you to take action on this Alert from Roy Hanson and Jim Davis of Family Protection Ministries (FPM). It is being issued in California jointly by FPM and HSLDA. We have worked closely with FPM to develop both the language and the strategy for this alert. *********************** Roy Hanson's HELP Tree ALERT August 18, 2004 Private and Home Educators of California *********************** Bill: SB 6 (as drafted 7/16/04 for Conference Committee on Master Plan for Education) - Department of Education Reorganization Author: State Senator Dede Alpert Position: Strongly OPPOSE Status: SB 6 could be voted on by the Legislature anytime between now and Aug. 27. Summary of Concerns: SB 6 could disrupt and possibly destroy the good working relationship private schools and homeschoolers have established with the State Department of Education. This would likely affect official statements on the legality of homeschooling and the filing of the annual Private School Affidavits. ***** ***** ***** ***** Information Included In This E-mail: A. Action Items B. Background Information C. Reason for Opposition ***** ***** ***** ***** A. Action Items: 1. CALL your own State Senator and Assemblymember and ask them to "Please vote NO on SB 6. The current organization of public education authority and responsibilities is working well." You can find your state legislators, their phone numbers, addresses, and other contact information by entering your 9 digit ZIP code or physical address in our Legislative Toolbox ( http://www.hslda.org/toolbox ). If you are unable to locate your legislator using our web site, you will need to call your county elections, voter registration, or registrar of voters office. ***** ***** ***** ***** Notes: * Call as a concerned parent and citizen. This bill affects all families with young children. * For these calls, you can use the Reason for Opposition stated below, but this is not necessary. * Because e-mails are easily ignored, calls are significantly more effective. * KEEP this Alert as a reference for future HELP Tree Alerts. * Reprint or forward this to your friends, church, school, and group. * Pray for a proper outcome. ***** ***** ***** ***** B. Background Information: SB 6 transfers all "fiscal, programmatic, and policy authority for education at the state level" from the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Education to the Governor's appointed Secretary of Education. SB 6 also significantly reduces the authority and responsibilities of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. All private schools, including home-based private schools, in California are required to file an affidavit every year with the Department of Education under the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The responsibility for receiving those affidavits would be moved to the Governor's Office. The new Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O'Connell, and the new head of his legal office, have made positive statements about homeschooling and have developed very helpful policies, especially regarding homeschoolers establishing a private school and filing the affidavit. These positive policies are in sharp contrast to the negative position taken by the previous Superintendent of Public Instruction and her legal staff. We could lose the gains for which we have worked so hard. The changes proposed by SB 6 could be disruptive and detrimental to us. ***** ***** ***** ***** C. Reason for Opposition that your legislator would understand: SB 6 subverts the balance of power concerning education. SB 6 would place all "fiscal, programmatic, and policy authority" in the hands of an appointed official in the Governor's Office. Education is our state's most costly and extensive public program; authority and responsibility for it should continue to reside with the publicly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction. ***** ***** ***** ***** Family Protection Ministries (FPM) is coordinating work at the capitol in Sacramento through meetings with legislators and other parties, and testifying in committee hearings. We are providing written testimony to all of the committee members. We ask our members to coordinate all verbal testimony at any hearing through Roy and Jim by calling them at 916-786-3523. This is necessary to ensure that adequate time is available for testimony from key witnesses. FPM will be at any and all hearings on this bill as they routinely testify on any legislation that might be of concern to the private homeschool community. We and FPM jointly continue to monitor this and all other legislation of significance to private homeschoolers in California. ***** ***** ***** ***** Roy Hanson's Home Educators Legislative Phone Tree Private & Home Educators of California P.O. Box 730 Lincoln, CA 95648-0730 Fax: (916) 415-9470 HELP Tree Director P.O. Box 100 Somerset, CA 95684-0100 Fax: (530) 622-4717 ******************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Paid an attorney lately? Legal consultation can easily cost you upwards of $100 an hour. For the same fee, why not have a lawyer on call for you 24/7? More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1098 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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If this is an invalid email 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 email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
