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| Date: From: Subject: | 8/24/2011 2:54:23 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Maryland--Prince George's County Over- Regulates Homeschoolers |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Maryland--Prince George's County Over-Regulates Homeschoolers Dear Maryland HSLDA Members: Prince George's (PG) County's homeschool policy places some unique and unlawful requirements on homeschool families. COMAR 13A.10.01.01.F ("Regulation F") forbids school systems from imposing any requirements in addition to those listed in the state regulations. Entitled "Administrative Procedure: Homeschooling," the PG policy goes beyond appropriate boundaries and violates Regulation F in several ways. WHO INITIATES THE PORTFOLIO REVIEW--Section VI.B. of the PG policy says "the parent ... is responsible for contacting the Home Schooling Specialist to schedule a date and time" for a portfolio review. There is no such requirement in the state regulations, and the county school system cannot impose it on their own. The regulations only require parents to "permit" the review--not initiate it. It is therefore up to the school system to communicate in some appropriate manner with families if they want to review a child's portfolio. MANDATED HALT OF HOMESCHOOLING--Homeschooling under the state regulations means that if you do not "consent" to the state regulations, you must enroll your child in public or private school. However, the PG policy (IV.F.) mandates that if you don't consent to PG County's own requirements, you must enroll your child in public or private school. The county cannot usurp the place of the state and demand that you fulfill the county's own requirements or stop homeschooling. REGISTRATION: A FIGMENT OF THEIR IMAGINATION--State regulations do not require homeschoolers to "register." Families simply submit a notice. But the PG policy says families must "register" and their notification must be "processed." The policy says families will be sent a letter "verifying completed registration"(see section V.) This is not a mere matter of semantics. A "registration" can only be completed after a bureaucrat takes some specific action. The citizen is dependent on the government for registration to be accomplished. On the other hand, a "notice" can be successfully completed without the action of any bureaucrat. Maryland state regulations have been crafted so that families are not dependent on any government agent in order to lawfully initiate their homeschool program. PG County's effort to morph the simple "notice" into a "registration" is inappropriate. "DISCUSSION" OF NOTICE REQUIRED?--Section IV.B. of the PG policy opens with, "After discussing the requirements of Home Schooling with the parent ..., the parent ... will complete and forward..." the notification form. This seems to imply that the county is mandating that parents have a discussion with them before filing their notice. No such requirement is contained in state regulations, and it cannot be imposed by PG County schools. CONCLUSION--Whether or not you live in PG County, don't hesitate to call us if you believe your school system is treating your family in a way that violates state homeschool regulations. Sincerely, Scott A. Woodruff 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! 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