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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/20/2007 10:36:36 AM Home School Legal Defense Association New Hampshire: Calls Needed to Stop Expansion of State Control Over Homeschools! |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== March 20, 2007 New Hampshire: Calls Needed to Stop Expansion of State Control Over Homeschools! Dear HSLDA members and friends, On Thursday, March 15, the New Hampshire Senate voted 17 to 7 to pass Senate Bill 18. This bill would raise the age of compulsory attendance from 16 to 18, and create an "alternative learning plan," which would allow kids over the age of 16 to satisfy the compulsory attendance requirement without remaining in public school. Raising the age of compulsory attendance will not help New Hampshire high school students; rather, it will likely raise taxes and potentially create new unfavorable regulations for homeschoolers in New Hampshire. This bill will now be referred to the House Education Committee. While the New Hampshire House overwhelmingly rejected this legislation last year, many new representatives who are not familiar with this bill's flaws are now serving in the House. It is critical that you contact members of the House Education Committee and encourage them to recommend this legislation as Inexpedient To Legislate ("ITL"). It is also important that your legislator hear from you and others on this topic. This bill will pass unless there is a public outcry against it. ACTION REQUESTED Please contact as many members of the House Education Committee (listed below) as possible and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 18. In your own words, give them the following message: "Please recommend Senate Bill 18 as Inexpedient To Legislate ("ITL"). This bill is unnecessary, and even harmful to families, as it takes away parental decision-making authority and wastes taxpayer money." This bill affects all students, so it is not necessary to identify yourself as a homeschooler. House Education Committee - (603) 271 3334 Rep. Emma L. Rous (D), Chair Phone: (603) 868-7030 Rep. J. Timothy Dunn (D), Vice Chair Phone: (603) 357-7993 Rep. Charles B. Yeaton (D) Phone: (603) 736-9087 Rep. Claudette R. Jean (D) Phone: (603) 883-3824 Rep. Claire D. Clarke (D) Phone: (603) 796-2268 Rep. Kimberley S. Casey (D) Phone: (603) 772-8506 Rep. Barbara E. Shaw (D) Phone: (603) 626-4681 Rep. Scott A. Merrick (D) Phone: (603) 788-4311 Rep. Kimberly C. Shaw (D), Clerk Phone: (603) 882-2845 Rep. Judith E. Day (D) Phone: (603) 964-1816 Rep. James M. O'Neil (D) Phone: (603) 424-3059 Rep. Judith T. Reever (D) Phone: (603) 524-2644 Rep. Sharon M. Carson (R) Phone: (603) 434-2489 Rep. Paul Ingbretson (R) Phone: (603) 989-3092 Rep. David W. Hess (R) Phone: (603) 485-9027 Rep. William J. Remick (R) Phone: (603)788-2444 Rep. Nancy F. Stiles (R) Phone: (603) 926-6467 Rep. Karen K. McRae (R) Phone: (603) 497-2186 Rep. Elenore Casey Crane (R) Phone: (603) 881-9048 Rep. Pamela G. Price (R) Phone: (603) 888-4774 BACKGROUND Senate Bill 18 exempts from compulsory attendance those who have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, including a GED and a letter or certificate documenting completion of a home education program at the high school level. While the bill, if passed with the amendment, would allow homeschoolers in New Hampshire to certify high school completion prior to age 18, we are recommending that members contact their representatives and ask them to reject the bill in its entirety. > Raising the compulsory attendance age from 16 to 18 would subject New Hampshire home educators to the requirements of the homeschool statute two years later than now required. (You do not need to share this reason with your legislators.) > Raising the compulsory attendance age erodes the authority of parents who are in the best position to determine when their child's formal education should end. > 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. > Raising the compulsory attendance age would restrict parents' freedom to decide if their 16-year-old is ready for college or the workforce. (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 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 schools. When California raised the upper age limit 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 on behalf of all New Hampshire parents! Michael P. Donnelly, Esq. HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How many of your friends would pay your legal fees? 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
