| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/18/2007 4:12:50 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Louisiana--Calls needed on TOPS Bill |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== June 18, 2007 Louisiana--Calls needed on TOPS Bill Dear HSLDA members and friends: As we notified you last week, the TOPS bill, House Bill 634, unanimously passed the House and was sent to the Senate Education Committee. We just learned a short time ago that the bill is scheduled to be heard in the committee on Thursday. Please call the Education Committee members listed below and urge them to vote in favor of House Bill 634. House Bill 634 will make it possible for homeschool students to be eligible for TOPS aid if they score at least 1 point higher than the total required for public school students. While the bill would not completely remove the requirement the homeschool students score higher to be eligible for the same awards, this bill moves the TOPS eligibility requirements in the right direction. ACTION REQUESTED: Please contact Senate Education Committee members listed below and ask them to vote in favor of House Bill 634. It is better for you to give them a message in your own words but it could be something similar to: "Please vote in favor of House Bill 634. Currently homeschool students must score 2 points higher than public school students on the ACT in order to be eligible for TOPS. This is discriminatory and should be stopped." Senate Education Committee members Senator J. Chris Ullo (Chairman) Phone: (504) 361-6690 Email: websen@legis.state.la.us (general email) Senator Sharon Weston Broome (Vice-Chairman) Phone: (225) 359-9352 Email: lasen15@legis.state.la.us Senator Bill Cassidy Phone: (225) 925-2522 Email: Lasen16@legis.state.la.us Senator Joel T. Chaisson, II Phone: (985) 764-9911 Email: websen@legis.state.la.us (general email) Senator Willie L. Mount Phone: (337) 491-2016 Email: lasen27@legis.state.la.us Senator Julie Quinn Phone: (504) 219-4640 Email: quinnj@legis.state.la.us Senator Gerald J. Theunissen Phone: (337) 824-0376 Email: theunisg@legis.state.la.us BACKGROUND: The Louisiana state financial aid program, TOPS, is been open to homeschool students who have been enrolled in approved home study program since the end of their 10th grade year. However, in order for a homeschool graduate to receive any TOPS aid he or she must score at least 2 points higher on the ACT than the minimum score required for public school students. Currently the minimum ACT scores a public school student is required to receive to be eligible for TOPS are: (1) For a TOPS-Tech award--17 (2) For an Opportunity Award--20, (3) For a Performance Award--23, (4) For an Honors Award--27. While HSLDA generally opposes bills that would provide government benefits to homeschoolers we oppose discrimination against homeschoolers in the area of college entrance and scholarship opportunities. Since Louisiana already provides TOPS funding to students in homeschools HSLDA maintains that the 2 point difference between public school and homeschool students is discriminatory. We cannot stand by while Louisiana discriminates in such a blatant manner. All Louisiana homeschoolers need to stand together for freedom, whether they choose the private school or approved home study option. In our opinion, reducing or eliminating the 2 point penalty for approved home study programs would not create a significant risk of increased regulation for families who choose the private school option. If you are not yet a member of HSLDA and would like to help us fight for greater parental rights and homeschool freedom in Louisiana please visit http://www.hslda.org/join/apply.asp . Thank you for your part in fighting for freedom in Louisiana! Sincerely, Thomas J. Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> You can only do so much... No one can be everywhere at once. And you can't be at home, teaching your children, while monitoring your state's legislature. Through electronic legislative services, HSLDA is monitoring state legislation for you -- watching and listening carefully for any proposed laws that could erode your right to homeschool. Join HSLDA today-we'll watch out for your future. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1942 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
