| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/18/2011 3:54:37 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Washington: Your Calls Needed to Help Pass SB5142 |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Washington: Your Calls Needed to Help Pass SB5142 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: We need your help to get Senate Bill 5142 out of the House Education Committee. The Committee has schedule an executive work session on the bill for March 24, and we would like to see the bill passed out with a favorable recommendation. Senate Bill 5142 clarifies that alternative learning experience (ALE) programs are public school programs and that a student enrolled full-time in an ALE program is a full-time public school student. The bill prohibits these ALE programs from promoting themselves as homeschool programs and requires them to provide honest information about what they are. Currently some ALE programs in Washington promote themselves as home-based education because they allow much of the actual instruction to be provided by parents. This has led some parents in these programs to assume that they are homeschooling their children. However, under state law an ALE program is considered an extension of public school. Everything with these programs, from the instruction time required to the curriculum used, is not up to the parents but is up to public school officials. While many of these ALE programs are friendly to homeschoolers, if a student is enrolled full-time in the program, the student is a public school student. Senate Bill 5142 does not change what ALE programs are; they have always been public school programs. However, the bill does require ALE programs to be clearer in what they tell parents. Since this bill provides more information to allow parents to make an informed decision, we support this bill. Please contact the House Education Committee members listed below to urge them to support this bill. If you are able to contact all of the members before March 24, that would help ensure that this bill passes out of the committee. ACTION REQUESTED: 1) Please call and email the House Education Committee members listed below and give them this message in your own words: "Please vote in favor of Senate Bill 5142. This bill helps ensure that parents are given all the information about alternative learning experience programs. Parents should be able to know whether their child is a full-time or part-time public school student. Thank you for supporting SB 5142." House Education Committee Members Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D) Chair Phone: (360) 786-7944 Email: sharontomiko.santos@leg.wa.gov Rep. Kristine Lytton (D) Vice Chair Phone: (360) 786-7800 Email: kristine.lytton@leg.wa.gov Rep. Bruce Dammeier (R) (ranking member) Phone: (360) 786-7948 Email: bruce.dammeier@leg.wa.gov Rep. Glenn Anderson (R) (asst. ranking member) Phone: (360) 786-7876 Email: glenn.anderson@leg.wa.gov Rep. John Ahern (R) Phone: (360) 786-7962 Email: john.ahern@leg.wa.gov Rep. Jan Angel (R) Phone: (360) 786-7964 Email: jan.angel@leg.wa.gov Rep. Andy Billig (D) Phone: (360) 786-7888 Email: andy.billig@leg.wa.gov Rep. Cathy Dahlquist(R) Phone: (360) 786-7846 Email: cathy.dahlquist@leg.wa.gov Rep. Susan Fagan (R) Phone: (360) 786-7942 Email: susan.fagan@leg.wa.gov Rep. Fred Finn (D) Phone: (360) 786-7902 Email: fred.finn@leg.wa.gov Rep. Kathy Haigh (D) Phone: (360) 786-7966 Email: kathy.haigh@leg.wa.gov Rep. Mark Hargrove (R) Phone: (360) 786-7918 Email: mark.hargrove@leg.wa.gov Rep. Sam Hunt (D) Phone: (360) 786-7992 Email: sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov Rep. Brad Klippert (R) Phone: (360) 786-7882 Email: brad.klippert@leg.wa.gov Rep. Joel Kretz (R) Phone: (360) 786-7988 Email: joel.kretz@leg.wa.gov Rep. Connie Ladenburg (D) Phone: (360) 786-7906 Email: connie.ladenburg@leg.wa.gov Rep. Marko Liias (D) Phone: (360) 786-7972 Email: marko.liias@leg.wa.gov Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D) Phone: (360) 786-7894 Email: marcie.maxwell@leg.wa.gov Rep. John McCoy (D) Phone: (360) 786-7864 Email: john.mccoy@leg.wa.gov Rep. Tim Probst (D) Phone: (360) 786-7994 Email: tim.probst@leg.wa.gov Rep. J.T. Wilcox (R) Phone: (360) 786-7912 Email: jt.wilcox@leg.wa.gov BACKGROUND: While HSLDA did not draft or introduce Senate Bill 5142, we have reviewed the bill and strongly support it. Senate Bill 5142 was introduced on January 17, 2011, and passed the Senate 48-0 on February 28. It is currently scheduled for an executive session in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 a.m. on March 24. If you are not yet a member of HSLDA and would like to help us fight for greater homeschool freedom in Washington please visit http://www.hslda.org/join/apply.asp . If you would like to be put on our free email list to receive vital e-lerts you may sign up at https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp?Process=Subscribe . Thank you for your part in fighting for freedom in Washington. Sincerely, Thomas Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How many acorns can a chipmunk hold in its cheeks? We don't know! But we do know that gathering little by little enables ordinary folks to prepare for hard times. That principle is behind HSLDA's payment plan: by paying a month at a time, families can receive an annual HSLDA membership. Meanwhile, they can feel secure as they homeschool and focus on other priorities -- their children. Don't go nuts trying to pay for membership all at once. Choose one of our convenient payment plans. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1937 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
