Thanks for posting!!! This was going on right under my nose and I didn't even know it. Just shared it on facebook, too.
I hope there is enough vocal opposition to it that it doesn't pass. If it happens in one state, others will try to restrict our freedoms as well.
Am I wrong, or do most states require homeschooled students to register with their districts? I know our neighbors in IA do.
I don't know how many require registration. I do know that Texas doesn't, unless your child has already been enrolled (at least what I remember). I told the school that my son would not be coming back and why. They sent me a letter with basically a blessing--a great district. I have heard even in Texas that people try to give homeschoolers a hard time. I could almost understand the concern if homeschoolers were all backwood hicks that couldn't read or write or do simple arithmetic, but that is not the case. Top that with the fact that some ps students can't do the above very well and the case against regulation should be an open and shut case. The problem is they want to hover over us; they want control. They will slant things and use false logic to get it if it helps.
I had to register mine with the state and with our local district. To a certain extent it irritated me, but it also makes for good backup. I have a relative who is not above 'reporting' peple based on rumors and his own need to tell everyone else how to parent- being registered and 'official' gives me firmer (legal) ground to stand on. I do feel that they are OUR kids, and we shouldn't have to tell anyone... but there really is a belief (or... something) that all kids are the wards of the state, and we as parents are just the ones who birth them and raise them :roll:
I thought everybody (except maybe Texas) has to at least fill out a form of one kind or another. We do. As a private school, though, the form just says we're doing school and we have X-number of students, not their names and birth certificates and health records and all that stuff.
NJ does not require any notification of intent to homeschool. We have no contact with the school system. In CT, our former state, it is optional. I wouldn't be surprised if there were others.
There are several states that do not require any kind of registration, tracking, testing, etc. I'm in MI and don't have to answere to the state for anything so far.
Here in IL (as of right now :roll: ) we don't have any contact with the school or state. Home schools are considered private schools--and they don't register with the state either.
Just updating....SB 136 was withdrawn with the help of thousands of homeschooling families taking part in the action in Springfield. Woo hoo!!!!
I found it interesting that the truant officer wanted to go into all the homeschool households so he could "help" them. Several mothers later said on forums that they only wanted his help if he would do the laundry or dishes. Doesn't he have enough students who are really truant that he needs to find?
It's a big enough deal to get one of the top spots on Fox News .com http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/18/illinois-home-schooling-tabled-advocates-say-fight-far/
