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From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
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Kansas--Action Needed to Stop
Expansion of State Control Over Children!
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,
Calls are needed THIS AFTERNOON to stop a bill that would take away
the right of parents to decide if their 6-year-old children are ready
to go to school.
Senate Bill 399 would make every child 6 years of age subject to
compulsory school attendance. That means that homeschool students will
be subject to state control one full additional year. The bill
establishes a new level of state control over 6-year-olds and
undermines parental authority to make decisions on an individual
basis. Compulsory attendance starts at age 7 now.
Studies show that some children fail because they are forced into
school too young. And sometimes they never recover. Rather than
forcing a clumsy and expensive one-size-fits-all approach,
parents--and parents alone--should have the right to decide whether a
5-year-old is mature enough emotionally, physically and socially to
start school. Studies have also shown that the academic benefits of
starting school earlier disappear after the child has been in school a
few more years.
ACTION REQUESTED
Please call senators immediately. You may use our Legislative Toolbox
at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to find your senator or call any
senator of your choice. The vote will be this afternoon. Ask them to
oppose House File 2106.
Give them this message in your own words:
"Please vote against Senate Bill 399. Not all 6-year-olds are ready
for school. Only parents can make that decision. Studies show that the
benefits of starting school early are temporary. The costs of this
bill outweigh the benefits."
You do not need to mention that you are a homeschooler, since it
affects all Kansas families.
Kansas State Senators:
Area code is 785.
Allen, Barbara R-08 122E 296-7353
Apple, Pat R-12 242E 296-7380
Barnett, Jim R-17 120S 296-7384
Barone, Jim D-13 181E 296-7370
Betts, Donald D-29 404N 296-7387
Brownlee, Karin R-23 121E 296-7358
Bruce, Terry R-34 141E 296-7300
Brungardt, Pete R-24 522S 296-7390
Donovan, Les R-27 261E 296-7385
Emler, Jay Scott R-35 449N 296-7354
Francisco, Marci D-02 422S 296-7364
Gilstrap, Mark D-05 181E 296-7357
Goodwin, Greta D-32 162E 296-7381
Haley, David D-04 403N 296-7376
Hensley, Anthony D-19 347N 296-3245
Huelskamp, Tim R-38 262E 296-7359
Jordan, Nick R-10 221E 296-7362
Journey, Phil R-26 221E 296-7367
Kelly, Laura D-18 401S 296-7365
Lee, Janis D-36 162E 296-7366
Lynn, Julia R-09 402S 296-7382
McGinn, Carolyn R-31 222E 296-7377
Morris, Stephen R-39 371E 296-2419
Ostmeyer, Ralph R-40 262E 296-7399
Palmer, Peggy R-16 523S 296-7388
Petersen, Mike R-28 242E 296-7355
Pine, Roger R-03 142E 296-7372
Pyle, Dennis R-01 120S 296-7379
Reitz, Roger R-22 261E 296-7360
Schmidt, Derek R-15 392E 296-2497
Schmidt, Vicki R-20 142E 296-7374
Schodorf, Jean R-25 241E 296-7391
Steineger, Chris D-06 181E 296-7375
Taddiken, Mark R-21 222E 296-7371
Teichman, Ruth R-33 241E 296-7394
Umbarger, Dwayne R-14 120S 296-7389
Vratil, John R-11 281E 296-7361
Wagle, Susan R-30 221E 296-7386
Wilson, Dennis R-37 141E 296-7383
Wysong, David R-07 141E 296-7369
BACKGROUND
> According to the 2005 NAEP, test scores of children from states
which have low compulsory school attendance ages (5-6) did not score
any higher than children from the other states, and in some subjects
their average was actually lower.
> Many education experts have concluded that beginning a child's
formal education too early may actually result in burnout and poor
scholastic performance later.
> A report published February 6, 2007 by the Goldwater Institute
examines Stanford 9 test scores and finds Arizona kindergarten
programs initially improve learning but have no measurable impact on
reading, math, or language arts test scores by fifth grade.
The data show that students in schools with all-day kindergarten
programs have statistically significant higher 3rd-grade test scores,
but there is no impact on 5th-grade scores. This finding is consistent
with previous research. Forcing children into school early delivers
short-term benefits at best.
> Another significant impact of expanding the mandatory schooling is
the inevitable tax increase to pay for more classroom space and
teachers to accommodate the additional students compelledto 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 for standing with us for freedom.
Sincerely yours,
Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney
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-> How many of your friends would pay your legal fees?
As a member of HSLDA, you have 80,000 families standing with you
to protect and advance homeschool freedoms in the United States
and foreign countries.
More reasons to join HSLDA...
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1106
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Fax: (540) 338-2733
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