| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 9/1/2006 2:23:05 PM Home School Legal Defense Association New York--NYC Dept. of Ed. to Reorganize Homeschool Reporting |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== September 1, 2006 New York--NYC Dept. of Ed. to Reorganize Homeschool Reporting Dear HSLDA members and friends: We have just learned that the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) is working to reorganize the way that parents report their homeschool programs within the City. Currently, homeschool families submit their documentation to their Regional Learning Support Center. The goal of the NYC DOE is to consolidate all homeschool reporting to one central office under the leadership of the Office of Attendance. Previously, each Region was responsible for maintaining these records. The Region would generally appoint a "Homeschool Coordinator" who was to reply to any notice of intent that was received from a homeschooling family and keep up with the various documents required under Section 100.10 of the Commissioner's Regulations. After hearing that changes were in the works, HSLDA contacted the Director of the Office of Attendance, Lilian Garelick to find out what going on. Ms. Garelick has confirmed that the Office of Attendance is in the process of requesting all of the homeschool documentation for families within the City. If you live within the geographical boundary of the NYC DOE you can expect to receive a letter explaining the transition to one central office within the next few days. HSLDA has raised several concerns to Ms. Garelick regarding this reorganization. One of our greatest concerns is that the various Regions and/or the Office of Attendance will lose paperwork and innocent homeschool families who have complied with the law will be threatened with education neglect. Another concern is timing of the transition. While most families have already submitted their Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) form, others have not. Some families, like those in Region 7, have not even received a homeschool packet with an IHIP form or the regulations. Finally, there is some concern that not everyone will hear about the reorganization and will continue to submit their documentation to their Regional office. Ms. Garelick has assured us that she and her staff will do all that they can to minimize these potential problems. Ms. Garelick has indicated her willingness to have HSLDA contact her personally whenever there is a problem with a specific family or Region. We will continue to closely monitor this situation to ensure that each of our member families, and others homeschooling in the City, are not threatened or prevented from homeschooling their children at home. HSLDA'S RECOMMENDATION Until you receive written verification of this change and the contact information of the office to submit your remaining homeschool documentation to, we suggest that you continue to report to your Regional office. Once you receive this letter, you can submit your remaining documentation to the central office. While you can continue to submit your documents to the Region/District of residence as required under Section 100.10, the Regional office will simply forward your documents to the central office. It may increase the likelihood that your documentation will be lost. Keep copies of your notice of intent, IHIP, quarterly reports, and annual assessment as you submit them. HSLDA will work hard to put pressure on the new central office to ensure that nothing is lost in this transition. However, some may slip through the cracks. We will aggressively defend any member family that is anyway threatened by either the Regional office or the Office of Attendance for any documentation they lose. Should you have any difficulties with your homeschool records during this transition please contact HSLDA and your local NY LEAH representative. BACKGROUND In the past there have been problems with various Regions losing paperwork and threatening families with educational neglect. Some of the Regions have been more knowledgeable and prompt in following the regulations, while others have not. In fact, we found out about the decision to reorganize all of the homeschool reporting to one central office after families in Region 7 had not received any response from their notice of intent and attempted to contact the Regional office in late August. Each Region supervises the various schools within its geographical boundaries. There are a total of 10 Regions and two specialized districts for special education and alternative schools. For more information about the various Regions visit http://schools.nyc.gov/OurSchools/default.htm . If you are not yet a member of HSLDA and would like to help us fight for greater parental rights and homeschool freedom in New York please visit http://www.hslda.org/join/apply.asp . Sincerely, Thomas J. (Tj) Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Who are the nation's best lobbyists? We don't know that this has ever been determined; but we do know that HSLDA's National Center for Home Education is the only national organization lobbying on behalf of homeschoolers on Capitol Hill. 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