February 25, 2009
School District Creates False Evaluation Deadline
One of our Alachua County member families, who had already filed their annual evaluation, called us when they were contacted by county officials. Alachua County sent the family a letter, dated December 1, which stated that they had not received the family’s annual evaluation for home education programs. Included in the letter was a memo which stated evaluation results must be submitted no later than July 31 of each year.
Not only had the family already submitted their evaluation, but there is no such deadline established by state law for submitting the annual evaluation!
HSLDA Senior Counsel Chris Klicka sent a letter to the county stating that the family had proof that they had already sent their evaluation (included in the letter was a certified receipt showing the evaluation had been sent). Klicka also explained that Florida law does not require a deadline for submitting the evaluation as long as it is sent in within one year of a homeschool family’s anniversary date of original notification.
The county, having proof of the evaluation having been already sent, as well as having been shown the law, which clearly has no specific deadline for submitting the evaluation, never contacted the family again.
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