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Last fall, Burlington County College in Pemberton, New Jersey, changed its policy and began to require homeschool students applying for enrollment to obtain a signature from a public school official.

State law does not require homeschool families to file any notice with the public schools. This new requirement, therefore, had the potential to create significant obstacles.

Attorney Scott Woodruff of the Home School Legal Defense Association and Mark August of the Education Network of Christian Home-schoolers of New Jersey jointly wrote a letter to Dr. Robert Messina, president of Burlington County College. They explained that this new policy created significant difficulty for homeschool families and asked him to revise it.

Shortly thereafter, we received a reply from Dr. Charles Tantillo, Vice President of Student Services at Burlington County College. He explained that the college's policies and forms have been modified. He said that homeschoolers would no longer need to obtain a signature from a public school official. The signature of a parent confirming that the child is being homeschooled will now be sufficient. He also apologized for the situation.

We deeply appreciate Burlington County College's sensitivity to the needs of homeschool families.

We also commend the homeschool students who have attended Burlington County College. It's obvious that because of your track record there, the college wants more homeschoolers.