======================================================================
From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
======================================================================
February 2, 2007
New Hampshire--Calls Needed To Stop
Compulsory Attendance Age Increase to 18
Dear HSLDA members and friends:
Action is needed to stop a bill that would expand compulsory school
attendance to a student's 18th birthday. Senate Bill 268 has been
reintroduced as Senate Bill 18, and it is currently in the Education
Committee. Although no hearing has been scheduled, the members of the
committee need to hear from you.
Senate Bill 18 would subject homeschooled students to compulsory
attendance laws for two more years. This will require homeschooling
parents to submit a notice of intent an additional two years unless
they receive approval for an "alternate learning plan" from their
school district's superintendent. The bill also exempts students who
are enrolled in an accredited post-secondary education program and
provides for an appeal procedure to the school board if the
superintendent denies a parent's "alternative learning plan."
ACTION REQUESTED:
Please call members of the Senate Education Committee (listed below)
and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 18. This bill affects all
students, so it is not necessary to identify yourself as a
homeschooler.
Your message can be as simple as, "Please vote against Senate Bill 18,
which raises the compulsory attendance age from 16 to 18. This bill
is unnecessary. It takes away appropriate parental decision-making
authority and wastes taxpayer money."
You may also use our legislative toolbox at
http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to obtain contact information for your
representative.
Members of the Senate Education Committee:
Education Committee Phone Number is (603) 271-4151
Iris W. Estabrook (Chair)
Phone: (603) 868-5524
Email: iris.estabrook@leg.state.nh.us
Joseph A. Foster (Vice-Chair)
Phone: (603) 891-0307
Email: joseph.foster@leg.state.nh.us
Martha Fuller Clark
Phone: (603) 436-2464
Email: martha.fullerclark@leg.state.nh.us
Molly M. Kelly
Phone: (603) 352-5605
Email: molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us
Peter E. Bragdon
Phone: (603) 673-7135
Email: peter.bragdon@leg.state.nh.us
Robert J. Letourneau
Phone: (603) 434-1038
Email: robert.letourneau@leg.state.nh.us
BACKGROUND:
Raising the compulsory attendance age will not reduce the dropout
rate. In fact, the two states with the highest high school completion
rates, Maryland at 94.5% and North Dakota at 94.7%, compel attendance
only to age 16. The state with the lowest completion rate (Oregon:
75.4%) compels attendance to age 18. (Figures are three-year
averages, 1996 through 1998.)
Twenty-nine states only require attendance to age 16. Older children
unwilling to learn can cause classroom disruptions and even violence,
making learning harder for their classmates who truly want to learn.
It would restrict parents' freedom to decide if their 16-year-old is
ready for college or the work force. Some 16-year-olds who are not
academically inclined benefit more from valuable work experience than
from being forced to sit in a classroom.
Another significant impact would be an inevitable tax increase to pay
for more classroom space and teachers to accommodate the additional
students. When California raised the age of compulsory attendance,
unwilling students were so disruptive that new schools had to be built
just to handle them and their behavior problems, all at the expense of
the taxpayer.
For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our
memorandum at
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/E/Early_Education.asp .
Thank you for standing with us for freedom.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Donnelly, Esq.
HSLDA Staff Attorney
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-> How long are you in for?
Some families are facing what seems like a lifelong commitment to
homeschooling, with children at both ends of the spectrum -- some
graduating and some just reaching school age. If you're going to
be "in" for a while, consider a lifetime membership with HSLDA.
It's a good deal for families with more than 10 years of
homeschooling ahead.
More reasons to join HSLDA...
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1936
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of:
Home School Legal Defense Association
P.O. Box 3000
Purcellville, Virginia 20134
Phone: (540) 338-5600
Fax: (540) 338-2733
Email: info@hslda.org
Web: http://www.hslda.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How To Subscribe:
- Subscribe to the HSLDA E-lert Service at our website:
https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp?Process=Subscribe
- Or send an email with name and complete mailing address to:
subscribe@hslda.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscription Information:
- You subscribed to the HSLDA E-lert Service as:
##ToAddress##
- To unsubscribe from the HSLDA E-lert Service send an email from
the email address you want to unsubscribe to:
unsubscribe@hslda.org
- To change your email address or make other changes to your
subscription, visit the HSLDA E-lert Service account web page at:
https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp
----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTMASTERS: This message is being sent to the most recent address we
have for our subscribers. 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.
======================================================================
|
Printer Friendly Version
