Category Archives: Homeschooling

Educational, Homeschooling, Legislation

Federal Government Moves Closer To Regulating Homeschooling Across The Country

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You read it here first. Homeschooling United has reported, extensively, on Race To The Top (RT3) and the government’s efforts to regulate and mandate your educational freedoms right out from under you. Now, World Net Daily (WND) reports how the federal government may have designs on controlling homeschooling educational freedom. Home School Legal Defense (HSLDA) issued a statement earlier this week encouraging you to contact your elected representatives because there is legislation in the hopper that may bring homeschooling under the same required regulation as its institutional school counterparts.

The concern is about Democrat-driven plans in the U.S. Senate to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, a massive federal program last reauthorized in 2001 as the No Child Left Behind Act.

The WND article also outlines clearly the feared outcomes of such legislation: the fear of loss of local, state and parental control, and pressure to succumb to nationally aligned curriculum and testing standards.

If you live in Missouri, you need to know the Common Core has been adopted by Missouri DESE. While legislation hasn’t pursued regulation for homeschooling, yet, the legislature does, year after year, continually introduce bills to increase the amount of compulsory school age required for children, across the board, which would also include homeschooling. Last session saw over 2000 pieces of legislation written and at least 130 bills related to education. None of the legislation in the last session was aimed at advancing local control of schools/education. Much of it was written to advance Educated Citizenry 2020, Missouri’s version of Race To The Top. While no education legislation was passed in 2011, the upcoming session is sure to see a hard push to accomplish agendas that failed in the legislature last spring.

 

Homeschooling, Legislation, parenting

Belleville, Illinois Still Pushing Daytime Curfew …

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… just under the radar and not out in the open. Seems any changes made after an overwhelming turnout of concerned citizens at last week’s city council meeting had no real effect on its members. Changes made to the charter were superficial and unsubstantial. Why does government, on any level, think they have the right to dictate to you how you raise your children? Read the following statement from HSLDA concerning the “changes” made by Belleville’s leadership to the daytime curfew issue.

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends in Belleville:

Following your awesome showing at the last Board of Aldermen meeting, the Chief of Police agreed to revise the proposed daytime curfew ordinance.
We have now had an opportunity to analyze his revisions. They are for the most part mere window dressing. They do not change the fundamental nature of the ordinance as a daytime curfew.
Scripture acknowledges the government’s role in making people fear to do wrong. But a daytime curfew makes people fear to do what is right.
HSLDA, Illinois Christian Home Educators, and local homeschool leaders will continue to work to protect the fundamental liberty of freedom of movement in Belleville.
Action Requested
NOTE:  Please take action only if you live in the Belleville area.
1.) Clear your calendar for the evening of July 5 at 7:00 p.m. The Board of Aldermen will bring up the ordinance for consideration at that time.
2.) If you have a personal line of communication with any aldermen, contact them personally and ask for their support in preventing a daytime curfew.
Background
The basic change in the revised ordinance is that the daytime curfew provisions were shifted from section 30-1-33 to section 30-1-44.
The revised ordinance deletes all references to homeschooling. While this is an appropriate change, the ordinance remains repugnant to fundamental freedom because it criminalizes the basic human right to move about during the daytime.
Daytime curfews tend to spawn litigation. If Belleville enacts a daytime curfew, another loser could be the taxpayer—who will be given the city’s legal bill to pay if a lawsuit follows some day.
Thank you for standing with us for freedom!
Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Senior Counsel
Homeschooling, Legislation

Belleville Illinois To Determine When Your Children Can Be Out In Public

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This evening, Belleville, Illinois City aldermen will determine when your children can be out in public. They will vote on an ordinance, tonight, that prohibits minors under age 17 from being present in any public place during the hours of 9:00 am to 2:30 pm. This ordinance makes it a criminal offense for minors and parents and regulates the activity of children on weekdays and at any establishment or public place during other evening hours except under certain specified conditions. What specified conditions?

HSLDA has detailed the specifics of the ordinance and requested action for Belleville residents, only.

My, my my! What lengths government will go to in order to have control of your children. Are they working in an under the table manner to aid in pulling homeschooled children into government controlled, public schools?

City leaders have outlined this as an attempt to get control of “unruly teens” and “irresponsible parents”. Perhaps it’s just another revenue booster since there will be hefty fines associated with the criminal offense, $250 for first time violators and $500 for each subsequent event. In any case, we are living in a different world if they get by with this one.

Homeschooling, Legislation

Homeschoolers! Public Schools Want You!

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My Friends at Missouri Education Watchdog have published a commentary on how public schools are quietly, stealthily, and unobtrusively trying to lure homeschoolers into the ‘system’. Some very good info to think about. We have warned, here at Homeschooling United, to beware of the enticements of sports and virtual schools. Be ever vigilant in your research and decisions about your children’s participation in public education programs.

Homeschooling, Legislation

The People Are Not Safe From Last Minute Legislation Until The Fat Lady Sings

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The following education bills, in the Missouri House and Senate, are outlined and updated here as to their status as the 2010/2011 session has progressed. Some bills that advance Race To The Top/Educated Citizenry 2020 are included here as well as any that are related to the threat of undermining homeschooling freedom as we, at Homeschooling United, believe that RTTT/EC 2020 does threaten homeschooling. Please also understand that even though bills may not, as of this posting, look as if they may advance through, to the Governor’s desk, nothing is ever dead until the session closes. Very often bills are, at the last minutes of the session, lumped together in omnibus bills, grouped or added as amendments on unrelated legislation and passed under the radar. It is very important to keep a watchful eye on all legislation until the session closes.

HB179: Nasheed, Jamilah – CoSponsor: Curls, Shalonn Raises the compulsory school attendance age to 18 in all school districts unless the student has successfully completed 16 credits towards high school graduation. Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H) Bill currently not on a House calendar

HB393: Jones, Timothy: – CoSponsor: Dieckhaus, Scott Establishes the Parent Empowerment and Choice Act or the Parent Trigger Act which allows parents under certain circumstances to invoke interventions for a struggling school Public Hearing Completed. (H) Bill not currently on House calendar.

HB463: McNary, Cole – CoSponsor: Funderburk, Doug Changes the laws regarding virtual schools Public Hearing Completed (H). Bill not currently on House calendar

HB473: Jones, Tishaura – CoSponsor: Cookson, Steve Changes the laws regarding charter schools and establishes the Missouri Charter Public School Commission Perfected with Amendments (H). Bill not currently on House Calendar

HB476: Funderburk, Doug – CoSponsor: Parkinson, Mark Establishes the Students First Interscholastic Athletics Act which requires every high school age student to have the opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletics. Public Hearing Completed (H). Bill not currently on the House calendar

HB639: McNary, Cole – CoSponsor: Dieckhaus, Scott Requires each school district to establish a comprehensive program for student academic progression.  Public Hearing Completed (H). Bill not currently on House calendar.

HB 738: Nasheed Requires that students develop a personal plan of study by the eighth grade year; Reported Do Pass (Senate)

HB752: Torpey, Noel – CoSponsor: Lampe, Sara Changes the laws regarding the compulsory school attendance of certain students Elementary and Secondary Education (H). Elementary and Secondary Education Date: 4/20/2011 Time: 8:00AM Location: House Hearing Room 6

HB835: Lampe, Sara – CoSponsor: Newman, Stacey Requires a child in the St. Louis City School District, except for a child who is intending to be home schooled, to be enrolled in a public, private, parochial, or parish school by five years of age Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H). Bill not currently on house calendar

HJR10: Barnes, Jay – CoSponsor: Dieckhaus, Scott Proposes a constitutional amendment repealing the prohibition against state funds being used to support any religion or religious school and specifies that parents have the right to choose any school Public Hearing Completed (H). Bill not currently on House calendar

HB939: Dieckhaus, Scott– CoSponsor: Jones, Timothy Creates procedures for open enrollment of public school students across school district boundary lines Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H). Bill not currently on House calendar

HJR38: Barnes, Jay Proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to provide financial assistance to students to pay for elementary and secondary education at any accredited school they select Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H). Bill not currently on House calendar

SB 20: Wright-Jones Modifies the compulsory attendance age for the St. Louis City School District so that students must attend school from five years of age to eighteen years of age Bill not currently on Senate calendar

SB 21: Wright-Jones Requires kindergarten attendance at the start of the school year for children who turn age five at any time during the calendar year. Bill not currently on Senate calendar

SB 124: Keaveny Requires children in the St. Louis City School District to attend school at age five

There have been many, many bills added to the list of educational legislation since we last updated you on bill status. The session ends in mid May and all bills are up for grabs even though elected representation may claim the demise of any particular legislation. It’s a good idea to continue to monitor any and all legislation you are particularly concerned with, until the session is over, because it isn’t over until it’s over and the fat lady sings.


Educational, Homeschooling

Homeschoolers Taking Action Against The Threat Of Further Mandates In Missouri

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Missouri homeschooling freedoms are under a very stealth like attack by a variety of sweeping educational reforms introduced into the legislature in 2010/2011 and some lawmakers who have been less than forthcoming with their views about educational choice/freedom. Homeschoolers are trying to absolutely identify just who is and isn’t a champion of their freedoms. Some legislators are expressing an interest in putting methods into place that would require more scrutiny into the homeschooling family’s process. The following email was circulated in the St. Louis Region as a call to action, so to speak.


The following is from, Kathie Zuroweste, a homeschooling mom in the Franklin County area.  This is the third conservative legislator that has voiced similar concerns about homeschoolers this session.   As you may recall there have been other homeschoolers in the Franklin County area that have addressed this issue this session with different legislators.

Kathie has removed the legislator’s name, but she did want other homeschoolers outside her area to be aware of the fact that questions are being raised about how legislators can ensure that all homeschoolers are receiving a quality education.  She is also asking  for people to send her ideas on how she can respond to this legislator, and others, with similar concerns about what we are doing.

From Kathie Zuroweste:

This is for both Public School families and teachers and Home Educating families.
Would you please help me out in this mini poll?

I have included;
1-letter  The Educational Freedom Pledge
2 & 4 -letters   From Home Educator to MO Representative
3-letter   From MO Representative to Home Educator

We find this quite interesting and would like to let not only this Representative know how we feel, but the other Representatives and Senators as well.

Please forward your responses to:   kathiecurt@hotmail.com, also, please put “educ freedom pledge request” as the topic in the subject line so it is correctly routed.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Kathie Zuroweste kathiecurt@hotmail.com

p.s. read from the bottom to the top on the following posts, they are in order of most recent to first.

4 Dear Representative,

I am going to answer your question with a polling of both fellow home educators and public school parents and educators. I have already begun and I believeyou may find the results quite informative.  I will try and get that done this week.

Kathie

3 Dear Home Educator,

I have not been approached about signing this petition and while I am sitting on the House Floor listening to debate on redistricting I also sit right behind another Representative who is on this list and stated that it needs to be updated. With all that being said I do support the Home Schoolers and I think that we have talked about this before but I do have some concerns that there are some out there that do not provide the quality of education that the majority of home schoolers provide. I would like to know how you think we can make sure that children in this environment get a quality education?

2 Dear Representative,

I just received this and noticed that your name is not on here.Have you not been approached? Or is there a reason why not?I am interested in knowing.

Thanks,Home Educating Mother

1 From: * To: ;Subject: The Educational Freedom PledgeDate: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 22:57:03 -0500

Went to this site to read the oposing view and spotted this on the right hand side of their blog… note the section in red.

Homeschooling United | Parents standing united to protect their right to home educate

http://homeschoolingunited.wordpress.com:80/ The Educational Freedom PledgeI, _________________________________, hereby pledge, to the ___________________________ homeschool community, to support a parent’s right to freedom of educational choice for their children and their ability to exercise that right. In doing so, I also agree to oppose any federal, state or local mandates that impose regulation of educational standards, curriculum, testing and/or registration. Name and Date Copyright 2010 Homeschooling Unitied

The following legislators have pledged to uphold educational freedom

MISSOURI

Brian Nieves – State Senator, District 26
James W. Lembke – State Senator, District 1
Jane Cunningham – Senator, District 7
Chuck Purguson – State Senate, District 33
Tim Jones – State Representative, Dist 88
Scott Rupp – State Senate, District 2
Kurt Bahr – State Representative District 19
Kathie Conway – State Representative District 14
Gary B. Fuhr – State Representative District 97
Chuck Gatschenberger – State Representative District 13
Doug Funerburk – State Representative District 12
Rick Stream – Sate Representative District 94
Paul Curtman – Representative – District 105
Mark Parkinson – Representative – District 16
Anne Zerr – Representative – District 18

FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN MISSOURI

Ed Emery – District

Icet – District 86
Cynthia Davis – District 19
Joe Smith, – Dist 14

CANDIDATES IN THE 2010 ELECTIONS WHO SUPPORTED EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM

Dave Evans – Candidate State Representative District 19
Cynthia L. McGee – Candidate State Representative, Dist 109
Edward M. Crim – Candidate State Representative District 97
Curtis Farber – Candidate State Representative District 67
Richard Blowers – Candidate State Representative District 102
Jack Jackson – Candidate State Senate, District 26

FEDERAL CANDIDATES

Kristi Nichols – Candidate US Senate
Tony Laszacs – Candidate US Senate
Martin Baker – Candidate US Representative District 1
John Wayne Tucker – Candidate US Representative District 3

The following legislators have been asked, but declined to support the Educational Freedom Pledge:

MISSOURI

Don Gosen – Representative – 84th Dist.
Ryan Silvey – Representative – 38th district.
Kevin Wilson – Representative – 130th District.
Scott Dieckhaus – Representative – 109th District
Steven Tilley – Representative – 106 District

As an update, please add Rep. Jay Barnes (District 114) to the list of declined legislators.

Please contact Kathie at the above email address with your comments and concerns and, please comment here on this post. Homeschooling United would like to share the thoughts of homeschoolers across the state/country as we know this blog is read by many of the state legislators in Missouri as well as others nation wide.

Homeschooling, Legislation

Slow Return On Educational Freedom Support

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On March 8th the Educational Freedom Pledge was delivered to nearly 80 representatives in the Missouri House, and so far, as of this posting, Homeschooling United has not heard from any of the elected officials with dissent or support.

We would, however, like to welcome our newest supporter, Representative Anne Zerr. Please contact the representative and thank her for her support.

With the sweeping educational changes moving through the legislature this year, it is more important than ever for homeschoolers to know who will and will not stand for parental choice and educational autonomy. Many of the bills in the Missouri House and Senate support the Race To The Top initiative and/or set the stage for future erosion of homeschooling autonomy and freedom. Sliding in under the radar at the moment is HB476, a bill that would allow homeschoolers to participate pubic school sports teams. This bill, like so many others across the country will slowly lay the foundation to chip away at the current educational statutes that provide freedom from registration and/or mandates that require oversight by government officials.

Please contact the following legislators and urge them to support educational freedom.

Ira Anders, Randy Asbury, Joe Aull, Jason Barnes, Mike Bernskoetter, Linda Black, Rick Brattin, Cloria Brown, Susan Carlson, Chris Carter, Ron Casey, John Cauthorn, Mike Colona, Pat Conway, Steve Cookson, Sandy Crawford, Gary Cross, Shalonn Curls, Kevin Elmer, Joseph Fallert, Paul Fitzwater, Lyndall Fraker, Keith Frederick, Jeff Grisamore, Casey Guernsey, Marsha Haefner, Dave Hinson, Steve Hodges, Lincoln Hough, Jay Houghton, Jonas Hughes, Jacob Hummel, Delus Johnson, Caleb Jones, Jason Kander, Mike Kelley, Jeanne Kirkton, Andrew Koenig, Bart Korman, Michele Kratky, Sara Lampe, Bill Lant, Brent Lasater, Melissa Leach, Thomas Long, Nick Marshall, Karla May, John McCaherty, Tom McDonald, Kevin McManus, Cole McNary, Tim Meadows, Chris Molendrop, Genise Montecillo, Myron Neth, Stacey Newman, Jeanette Oxford, Donald Phillips, Paul Quinn, Craig Redmon, Bill Reiboldt, Todd Richardson, John Joseph Rizzo, Lyle Rowland, David Sater, Dave Schatz, Ron Schieber, Ed Scheiffer, Jill Schupp, Tom Shively, Clem Smith, Churie Spreng, Mary Still, Jay Swearingen, Mike Talboy, Mike Thomson, Rochelle Walton Gray, Steve Webb, Paul Wieland, Jake Zimmerman

Educational, Homeschooling, Legislation

Homeschoolers To Rally At The Capitol In Missouri

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On Tuesday, March 8th, Families For Home Education are holding a rally at the State Capitol in Missouri. There will be FHE reps and Lobbyists to speak about legislation and homeschooling in the Rotunda at noon.

Even if you are not a member of FHE, this may be a good day to take a trip, with your children, to the capitol. Legislators will be expecting to meet and greet the homeschool community on that day and it’s a great opportunity for you to get to know the people behind the push this year’s long list of educational legislation. If you have never been to the capitol, you should take the opportunity to introduce your children to the law making process.

Homeschooling, Legislation

Senator Ed Maloney Tables SB136

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Today, 97.1 Talk Radio’s, (and homeschooling mother) Dana Loesch spoke with Illinois Senator, Ed Maloney about the controversial legislation SB136 that requires private, home educators to register with the state.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwwye_dvWbI&feature=player_embedded#at=36]

Dana drove home, very well, points that have been raised before; homeschool students, as a larger demographic, are performing exceedingly well as compared to publicly schooled students. So, why the focus on such a small number that may be falling through the cracks when they have large, identifiable numbers, that are falling through the cracks? As a result of the push back from the community, the senator reported that SB136 will take a different shape in order to assure that all students are being addressed, academically, without intruding on the rights of those who are providing adequate education for their children.

Tabled legislation doesn’t mean dead legislation. Illinois citizens should continue to watch the status of this bill. It could be re-written or resurrected at any time during the legislative session.