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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/24/2005 1:30:42 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Pennsylvania--Calls Needed to Oppose Legislation Lowering Compulsory Attendance |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== June 24, 2005 Pennsylvania--Calls Needed to Oppose Legislation Lowering Compulsory Attendance Age Dear HSLDA members and friends: Bad news! House Bill 377 received final approval by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday of this week by a vote of 102 to 97. It has now been referred to the Senate Education Committee for consideration. This bill would lower the compulsory attendance age in Pennsylvania from eight to six for school districts of the first class. House Bill 377 now has the momentum for quick passage by the Senate. Your calls are needed to stop this bad bill before it becomes law. Since Philadelphia is the only school district of the first class in Pennsylvania at this time, it is the only school district that would be affected by this legislation. However, we are concerned that the next step the General Assembly will take is expanding this compulsory attendance requirement to all school districts in Pennsylvania. There is a qualified exemption in the bill for homeschooling parents whose children are between ages six and eight, in that they would not have to comply with the home education statute until their children reach the current compulsory attendance age of eight. However, these parents would still have to notify the local school district that they intend to provide their child's education between ages six and eight. How the state would determine that a parent is providing this education is yet to be determined. The House Education Committee amended this bill to exempt from compulsory attendance children under 17 who have completed the graduation requirements of a home education program. While this amendment was favorable to homeschoolers, the primary purpose of the bill remains unacceptable. HSLDA opposes any legislation lowering the compulsory attendance age because it further erodes parental rights in making decisions which affect the educational preparedness of their children. ACTION REQUESTED: 1. Please contact as many members of the Senate Education Committee as possible and your own state senator with this message: "Please vote against House Bill 377. This bill restricts a parent's right to choose when a child is ready for formal education. This bill will also waste taxpayer dollars, since there is nothing to indicate that early schooling results in any educational advantage for the child." Members of the Committee are as follows: James J. Rhoades, Chair - (717) 787-2637 Jane M. Earll, Vice Chair - (717) 787-8927 Raphael J. Musto, Minority Chair - (717) 787-7105 Patrick M. Browne - (717) 787-1349 Jeffrey E. Piccola - (717) 787-6801 Dominic F. Pileggi - (717) 787-4712 Robert M. Tomlinson - (717) 787-5072 Vincent J. Hughes - (717) 787-7112 Gerald J. LaValle - (717) 787-3076 Constance H. Williams - (717) 787-5544 You can find the name and telephone number of your state senator by using HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at http://capwiz.com/hslda/state/main/?state=PA&view=stateofficials#1 2. Please forward this e-mail to every family you know who is not a member of HSLDA and urge them to contact members of the Committee and their own state senator with this same message. BACKGROUND: Many education experts have concluded that beginning a child's formal education too early may actually result in burnout and poor scholastic performance later. Lowering the compulsory attendance age erodes the authority of parents who are in the best position to determine when their child's formal education should begin. The bill would restrict parents' freedom to decide if their children are ready for school. Another significant impact of expanding the compulsory attendance age would be an inevitable tax increase to pay for more classroom space and teachers to accommodate the additional students compelled to attend public school. To view the text of this bill, please go to http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB0377P1492.HTM For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=2051. Please call today! Sincerely, Dewitt T. Black, III HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> There may be a shortage of the flu vaccine, but there's no shortage of legal protection for homeschoolers. HSLDA is 80,000 families standing together for the right of each family to teach their children at home. You don't have to stand alone against those who think homeschoolers should be regulated and controlled. Joining a team of home educators who will stick with you may be just what the doctor ordered for your homeschool . . . and your peace of mind. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1934 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
