| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/8/2013 3:46:30 PM Mike Donnelly--HSLDA Action Needed on Legislation Threatening Homeschool Freedom and Parental Rights |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== URGENT - Let the Children out! Action Needed on Legislation Threatening Homeschool Freedom and Parental Rights Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, SB 359 would expand early childhood education programs to include full-day compulsory programs. SB 359 is a step toward lowering the compulsory school attendance age and increasing government involvement in a child's early education. It is important to establish the principle that parents can get out of early education programs even if they have enrolled in them. Today in West Virginia, a child enrolled in an early education program is subject to compulsory attendance upon enrollment. HSLDA opposes expanding compulsory school attendance ages like this because parents, not the government, should be making the final educational decisions for their children. Valid research has also demonstrated that programs like these are not effective and add significant costs to the taxpayer without providing meaningful results. The Senate Education Committee recessed before considering SB 359, allowing the bill to be rewritten over the weekend. We are asking you to take action to contact members of the Senate Education Committee to adopt the Carmichael amendment. This proposed amendment would make it clear that parents should be able to withdraw their children from early education programs if they feel the child should no longer be enrolled. HSLDA has worked with John Carey to draft language that would accomplish this. The language is based on a Minnesota law that allows parents to withdraw their children from school until age 7 if they feel they are not ready. The Carmichael amendment would accomplish this specifically for children ages 4 and 5 enrolled in early education programs. This would mean that parents who wanted to homeschool their children would not have to submit a notice of intent and then have to comply with the homeschool law for children ages 4 and 5. ACTION REQUESTED Please contact the members of the Senate Education Committee and give them the following messages in your own words: "I am asking you to amend SB 359 to allow parents to withdraw their children aged 4 or 5 from early childhood education programs. Although early childhood education programs are costly, with little benefits, I feel it is important that any parent who enrolls his or her child in such a program be explicitly authorized to withdraw that child if they feel he is not ready. Parents, not the government, should be the final decision makers about a child's education. Amending this bill to recognize this fact is critical. Please vote for the Carmichael amendment to SB 359 so parents can withdraw their children from early education programs. Thank you!" The contact information for the Senate Education Committee is: Senator Robert H. Plymale (Chair) Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7937 E-mail: robert.plymale@wvsenate.gov Senator Erik Wells Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7841 E-mail: erik.wells@wvsenate.gov Senator Robert D. Beach Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7919 E-mail: bob.beach@wvsenate.gov Senator H. Truman Chafin Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7808 E-mail: truman.chafin@wvsenate.gov Senator Larry J. Edgell Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7827 E-mail: larry.edgell@wvsenate.gov Senator Daniel J. Hall Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7807 E-mail: daniel.hall@wvsenate.gov Senator William R. Laird IV Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7849 E-mail: william.laird@wvsenate.gov Senator Ron Stollings Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7939 E-mail: ron.stollings@frontier.com Senator Gregory A. Tucker Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7906 E-mail: greg.tucker@wvsenate.gov Senator John R. Unger II Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7933 E-mail: john.unger@wvsenate.gov Senator Clark S. Barnes Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7973 E-mail: clark.barnes@wvsenate.gov Senator Donna J. Boley Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7905 E-mail: donnaboley@suddenlink.net Senator Mitch Carmichael Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7855 E-mail: Mitch.Carmichael@wvsenate.gov Senator Bill Cole Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7843 E-mail: bill.cole@wvsenate.gov Thank you for all you do in defense of freedom for families in the great state of West Virginia! Very truly yours, Michael P. Donnelly, Esq. HSLDA Staff Attorney P.S. We greatly value you and your support--it is a privilege to serve you! If you or someone you know is not a member of HSLDA, will you consider taking a moment today to join or recommend us? Your support for our work enables us to defend individual families threatened by government officials and protect homeschooling freedom for all. Join now: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17508 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Will your children's inheritance retain its value? If you pass on a legacy of freedom, your children and their children's children will thank you. But freedom is never secure; it must always be guarded. Membership with HSLDA is an investment in the future that can be passed on to future generations of families wanting to teach their children at home. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1944 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
