| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/20/2005 5:49:12 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Nebraska--Confusion at the Department of Education |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Nebraska--Confusion at the Department of Education Dear HSLDA members and friends: We have been receiving a number of calls from families who have received the latest Department of Education paperwork. There seems to be some confusion regarding the new law governing six-year-old students. Legislative Bill 868 amended the compulsory attendance law by raising the age from 16 to 18 (but providing an option for homeschoolers to graduate early), and lowering the age from 7 to 6 (while permitting homeschoolers to opt out of this requirement with a sworn statement). Unfortunately, the Department of Education initially interpreted this change to require parents of six-year-olds to send all paperwork to their local school district. This is not accurate. The law requires parents of children who will turn 6 by January 1 to file paperwork with either the state Department of Education or their local school district. If parents prefer to file that paperwork with the state, they should provide the standard Rule 12 or Rule 13 paperwork as they would for any of their other homeschooled children. If parents would rather avoid this complicated filing, they may submit a simpler statement, signed under penalties of perjury, to their local district. Either option is valid; it is the parent's choice. The affidavit for a local school district is available from HSLDA's website here: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=2394 Parents who file with the state Department of Education must use the Department's forms, available here: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=2395 Beth Bolte, of the Nebraska Department of Education, has assured us she will not return any Rule 12 or Rule 13 paperwork filed on behalf of a child who will turn 6 by January 1. Therefore, despite any earlier communication or statements to the contrary which may appear on the Department's website, there should be no real difficulty in implementing the law. HSLDA takes no position as to whether it is better to file with the Department or with a local school district. Some parents prefer to avoid making themselves personally known to school officials in their own community, while others would rather use the simpler form and file closer to home. The choice is up to each individual family, and we are unaware of any negative effects either choice might have on the greater homeschool community. Sincerely, Scott W. Somerville, Esq. HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> What do you look like when you get out of bed? It's hard to look our best all the time. HSLDA works to present homeschooling in an engaging, dynamic, and informative light to the public news media. 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