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| Date: From: Subject: | 9/7/2007 4:55:30 PM Home School Legal Defense Association New Hampshire--Please Call Governor to Clear Up Confusion |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== New Hampshire--Please Call Governor to Clear Up Confusion Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: There is new controversy regarding legislation that increases the New Hampshire compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18. In July, the New Hampshire Legislature passed House Bill 87 with modifications to "clarify" Senate Bill 18, which passed in June. Because of drafting errors, language in House Bill 87 makes the new compulsory attendance age effective on or about September 15, 2007. However, because of other language in the bill, enforcement power granted to truant officers is not effective until July 2009. Apparently, the Senate tried to fix this problem earlier this week, but all Senate Republicans voted against suspending Senate rules to allow a fix to be made. While truant officers at the school district level are not required to enforce the compulsory attendance age increase, other state agencies might be able to use the law in other proceedings such as educational neglect and other child welfare cases. Members of the Home Education Advisory Council (HEAC) will address this issue at their next scheduled meeting. We are asking you to call Governor John Lynch and your legislators to ask them to resolve the situation. ACTION REQUESTED Please call Governor John Lynch, as well as your senator and representative, and in your own words, give them the following message: "The compulsory school attendance age should not have been raised at all, but I have now learned that the new age (18) will be enforced this month rather than July 2009, as originally intended. Because of this, 16- and 17-year-olds who are now legally not attending school will be considered truant. I am asking Governor Lynch to issue an executive order specifying that no school district or state agency will have the authority to enforce or compel compulsory attendance to age 18 until July 2009." For legislator contact information, go to HSLDA's legislative toolbox at http://capwiz.com/hslda/home/ HSLDA is working with state homeschool leaders and public officials to determine if and how this situation can be resolved. We will keep you informed of this issue and will work to find a resolution that is in the best interests of New Hampshire homeschoolers. Thank you for all you do to preserve and protect homeschooling freedom in New Hampshire! BACKGROUND For more information and news reports on this issue, go to: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=4380 http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=4381 http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=4382 Raising the compulsory attendance age does not solve the problems that proponents point to as reasons to increase the compulsory age (primarily 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.) While the current law contains provisions that may address homeschoolers concerns, HSLDA opposes this legislation and hopes that it can be repealed before going into effect in 2009. 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. Furthermore, raising the age of compulsory attendance violates parental authority by placing school officials in a position of determine what is best for children. For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=4383 . Sincerely, Michael P. Donnelly HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Who's knocking on your door? When a social service worker arrives at your door, tension can run high. Wouldn't it be nice to get your lawyer on the phone, providing you with immediate step-by-step guidance? 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
