| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/10/2006 10:41:32 AM Home School Legal Defense Association South Dakota--Proposal Turns Homeschoolers into Public School Students |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== February 10, 2006 Dear HSLDA members and friends, Calls are needed immediately to defeat House Bill 1160. This bill hurts taxpayers and turns homeschoolers into public school students. The bill initially had significant support. However, some South Dakota Representatives are beginning to realize this bill would be an expensive fiscal burden for taxpayers. H.B. 1160 is the funding portion of a two-bill plan. The full plan creates a program in which students receive most of their public instruction on-line while they are at home, but the local public school is in full control. The goal of the legislation is to create a public-school-at-home program. Parent-directed home education cost taxpayers nothing, which helps keep taxes lower for everyone. This bill, however, would force taxpayers to pay for every homeschool student who joins the public school-at-home program. The plan would create a program that resembles homeschooling, but the public school would be in control of the child's education, parental rights would be marginalized, and the homeschool student would become a public school student. Action Requested: Please call you state representative immediately. Your message can be as simple as: "Please vote no on H.B. 1160. It's an example of government overspending. It forces the taxpayer to overpay for an inexpensive home-based education." To find contact information for your representative, use our legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox . Background: 1. The other bill that is part of the package to create this plan is H.B. 1236. We have already explained why this bill should be opposed. If someone tells you H.B. 1160 has nothing to do with virtual schools, explain to them that this bill will fund the virtual schools created under H.B. 1236. H.B. 1160 has a superficial appearance of reasonableness because it calls for funding in proportion to the number of classes a student signs up for. However, the proportionality is based on the full per-pupil cost of a student at a brick-and-mortar school, not the far lower cost of educating a student whose "school" is in the home. 2. HSLDA recently surveyed six full-service on-line high school programs which included books, computer programs, a full course load, test grading and transcript service, and full access to teachers. The average cost was about $2,000. H.B. 1160 would fund the plan at more than twice that level. 3. In other states where public-school-at-home programs have been created, the schools have heavily or exclusively recruited among homeschool families to fill their program. Therefore, private homeschooling, which was previously free to the taxpayer, becomes expensive taxpayer funded public school in the home. 4. In Alaska, parent-directed home education has nearly ceased to exist because of public-school-at-home programs. In fact, approximately 80% of homeschoolers are now government homeschoolers. The main homeschool conventions are government run and the largest homeschool newsletter is government produced. Of course, the speakers and newsletter are not allowed to mention God or Christianity. 5. Public-school-at-home programs initially lure homeschool families by the promise of certain "freebies" such as free curriculum and laptop computers. Also, your children will no longer be considered private homeschool students, but rather public school students. This means you waive certain parental rights and agree to homeschool according to the public school's rules. In other states with similar "virtual" charter school programs, HSLDA has observed that more and more regulations are gradually placed on the homeschooler each year. Please read the articles on virtual charter schools on our web site http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/C/CharterSchools.asp . Thank you for standing with us for freedom. Sincerely, Scott A. Woodruff HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> What's the shortest distance between two homeschoolers? HSLDA's elert service! When threats to homeschool freedoms arise, you want to be able to respond. We make it possible. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1101 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
