| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/19/2010 5:00:02 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Georgia -- Calls Needed to Stop Expansion of State Control over Education |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== February 19, 2010 Georgia -- Calls Needed to Stop Expansion of State Control over Education Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: Your calls and emails are needed to stop Senate Bill 132, which would raise the compulsory attendance age in Georgia from 16 to 17. This bill has already passed the Senate Education Committee and is now being considered by the full Senate. A vote on this bill is expected at any time. If this bill passes, parents will be required to comply with the compulsory attendance law for an additional year. This means that parents will be locked into another year of home instruction at a time when the child may wish to pursue other educational options or begin a vocation. As freedom-loving homeschoolers, we oppose any effort to expand the state's control over education in any form. This bill is moving quickly through the Georgia Assembly. Your senators need to hear from you today! Action Requested: 1. Please call and/or email your state senator with this message: "Please vote against Senate Bill 132 which would increase Georgia's compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 17. This bill restricts the right of parents to choose when a child may pursue other educational or work options. This bill will also waste taxpayer dollars, because requiring the attendance of students who are unwilling to remain in school beyond age 16 will have a disruptive effect on other students' learning." When contacting members of the Committee, there is no need to identify yourself as a homeschooler. This issue is broader than just homeschooling. You can find the name and telephone number of your state senator by going to the Georgia Legislature's website at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7708 . 2. Please forward this e-mail to every family you know who is not a member of HSLDA and urge them to contact their senator. Background: 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. It would restrict parents' freedom to decide if their 16-year-old is ready for college or the work force. Some 16-year-olds who are not academically inclined will benefit more from valuable work experience than from being forced to sit in a classroom. Georgia homeschool law requires parents to submit monthly attendance records to the local public school superintendent. Many school districts are unreasonable in their dealings with homeschooling families who are just a few days late in submitting the records, reporting them to social services or threatening truancy charges. Prolonging the attendance reporting for an additional year will only increase the likelihood of more legal problems for homeschoolers. To view the text of this bill, please go to http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7709 . For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7710 . Please call or email today! Sincerely, Dewitt T. Black, III HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Extreme makeovers are for extreme circumstances... Most homeschools don't need an extreme makeover, but there is something to be said for attention to detail and recognition of accomplishments. Watch the media and you'll soon see that not everyone wants home educators and homeschooling to look good. HSLDA works hard to shed light on the good work of home educators so it's obvious that we don't need someone "making-over" our homeschools. Join HSLDA and help us show the world that we're fine as we are . . . thank you! More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1943 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
