| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
< BACK TO ARCHIVE |
| Date: From: Subject: | 9/19/2008 2:26:58 PM Home School Legal Defense Association California--Your Freedoms Still Need Protection |
|
====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== California--Your Freedoms Still Need Protection Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: By now you have probably heard that the California Court of Appeals reversed itself on August 8, 2008, ruling that homeschooling, under the private school exemption, is legal. The court reversed its previous decision handed down on February 28, which found that only state certified teachers could legally homeschool in California. Family Protection Ministries (FPM), Roy Hanson, Jim Davis, and Nathan Pierce, legislative lobbyists on your part, played a key role in the victory. Their lobbying efforts and organizational talents were essential in bringing success to the homeschoolers in California through this recent case. Before I give the details on how they did it, it is important for you to know that they worked almost around the clock from the date of the original decision in February, until the ultimate victory on August 8. As a result, their resources have been depleted and we, as the homeschooling community in California, need to replenish their treasury to ensure their continued lobbying efforts on your behalf. They work full-time to represent homeschooling before the Legislature. Their work will be more critical now than ever before. Let me explain two areas of activity by FPM that brought about victory on behalf of homeschoolers in California. In the 1998 California legislative session, Roy and Jim were able to get language attached to a law (The Montoya Act). This law requires all private school employees to be subject to background checks and requires fingerprints to be submitted to the Department of Justice. Roy and Jim got the following language inserted in the statute that required these background checks: "This section shall not apply to a parent or legal guardian working exclusively with his or her own child." Their motivation was to solidify the argument that homeschools could legally operate as private schools in California. The KEY reason for our victory in the Court of Appeals' August reversal of its earlier bad decision was the finding by the court that the legislative history of this amendment to the Montoya Act confirmed the Legislature's apparent intent to accommodate homeschooling parents through the private school provision. Secondly, after the adverse decision came down in February, there were well-meaning members of the California Legislature who expressed their plans to fix the bad homeschool case decision by introducing legislation. Through Roy, Jim and Nathan's tireless efforts, they were able to convince legislators that this was premature and unwise. In order to satisfy the frustration of some of those who wanted to fix the problem legislatively, they worked with a legislator who wanted to write a proposed resolution supporting homeschooling, condemning the decision, and asking that it be reversed. This resolution was introduced in the Legislature. Roy, Jim and Nathan of FPM coordinated a unified effort by all the statewide homeschool organizations to join in supporting the pro-homeschooling resolution and opposing all homeschool legislation, which would change the law. As a result of their actions, no legislation was introduced and now we have a clear-cut court decision in California confirming the legality of homeschooling via the private school exemption. FPM's success is only possible because of relationships developed over many years with key officials in every branch of government. We simply cannot thank FPM enough for what they have done for homeschooling in the past, and now just recently, to preserve our freedoms. However, there is a major problem lurking that mandates that we support FPM financially now! The court decision alluded to a lack of definitive ability to regulate homeschooling by the state and suggested that the Legislature might want to look at fixing this problem with new legislation. FPM's role is more important now than ever before. They must be fully equipped with the resources necessary to monitor legislation that could detrimentally affect homeschooling in California and be able to mount an attack against any attempt to legislate homeschooling. We know that any proposed legislation will mean more regulations and LESS freedom than we currently have. Therefore, I am asking you to give sacrificially and generously today to FPM to ensure that we maintain our current level of freedom to homeschool in California. FPM needs both new regular monthly support and one-time gifts. I know many of you have given to FPM in the past, and I thank you. Your investment in this ministry continues to pay off with the preservation of your freedom. Out of gratitude for what they have done in the past to preserve our freedom, and based upon the continued necessity for their existence in the future, please consider forwarding this request to other homeschoolers. Those who give $40 or more each calendar year will receive FPM's newsletter on a complimentary basis. Make your tax-deductible gift payable to FPM, and mail it today to: Family Protection Ministries P.O. Box 730 Lincoln, CA 95648-0730 Thank you for your consideration of FPM's urgent need as they work diligently to protect our freedoms. God Bless, Mike Smith President, HSLDA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> For as little as 27 cents a day... There's not much you can get for 27 cents a day. Why not put your money toward peace of mind for yourself, your family, and their future? More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1110 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
