Yada, Yada, Yada - Parenting & Pregnancy Resource - View Single Post - Louisiana: Bill to Allow Participation in Public School Activities

Stephanie · 04-09-08, 08:49 PM

got this email today!

April 9, 2008
>
> Louisiana: Bill to Allow Participation in Public School
> Extracurricular Activities
>
> Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
>
> House Bill 871 will be heard in the House Education Committee tomorrow
> at 9 a.m. This bill would allow students enrolled in a home study
> program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
> Education to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities
> at their local public school.
>
> Under H.B. 871, in order for a student to participate in these
> extracurricular activities, they would be required to meet all
> standards and requirements, including academic standards, applicable
> to a public school student participating in the activity. A home study
> student would only be able to participate in the local public school
> they would attend if they were enrolled in the public school, and they
> would have to obtain the approval of the principal of that school to
> participate.
>
> If you are interested in this legislation, the following information
> is provided to enable you to contact the House Education Committee
> members. HSLDA takes a neutral position on this legislation.
>
> ACTION SUGGESTED:
>
> You may contact each of the House Education Committee members listed
> here: http://house. louisiana. gov/H_Cmtes/ H_CMTE_ED. asp , to request
> that they vote in favor of House Bill 871. To contact the committee
> members simply select their name from the above link and their email
> address and contact information will be found directly under their
> picture.
>
> BACKGROUND:
>
> Over a dozen states currently require public schools to allow
> homeschoolers access to classes or sports. These include Arizona,
> Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New
> Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington. In both
> Arizona and Oregon, the law only requires school districts to allow
> access to "interscholastic" activities. Yet the effect of the laws in
> these two states generally allows homeschoolers to participate in any
> activities they choose.
>
> Despite these laws, equal access to homeschoolers is not offered
> without some strings attached. Although specific requirements vary
> from state to state, homeschool students can typically participate in
> public school programs ONLY if certain requirements are met. First,
> the student must be in compliance with the state homeschool law.
> Second, the student must meet the same eligibility requirements as a
> public school student. Finally, the state requires the student to
> verify that he or she is passing his or her core subjects.
> Consequently, the homeschooler may be required to provide achievement
> test scores or periodic academic reports, even if the state's
> homeschool statute does not otherwise require them.
>
> Do parents have the right to choose the amount of public education
> their children receive? Although the courts have said "no," the state
> legislatures are beginning to say "yes." Courts do not find any
> "right" for homeschoolers to receive access to government funded
> educational services. State legislators, however, seem open to
> allowing homeschoolers the privilege of access to public school
> activities.
>
> Part of the reason for this trend is financial. School districts in
> some areas are beginning to feel a decrease in funds due to the
> increasing number of students leaving public schools for private and
> home education. Schools may try to compete with private education by
> luring those students back with sports and academic classes, in order
> to regain at least partial funding for those students.
>
> The access trend is not without potential hazards. Access supporters
> must remember to guard the right of parents to remain free from
> extraneous government regulation when they receive no government
> services. Despite both legal and political controversies, opening
> access to homeschoolers appears to be a growing trend.
>
> For more information on equal access, please see our memorandum at
> http://www.hslda. org/docs/ nche/000000/ 00000049. asp
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Thomas J. Schmidt
> HSLDA Staff Attorney

04-09-08, 08:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stephanie I heard Peace doesn't recycle. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,729 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Louisiana: Bill to Allow Participation in Public School Activities got this email today! April 9, 2008 > > Louisiana: Bill to Allow Participation in Public School > Extracurricular Activities > > Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: > > House Bill 871 will be heard in the House Education Committee tomorrow > at 9 a.m. This bill would allow students enrolled in a home study > program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary > Education to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities > at their local public school. > > Under H.B. 871, in order for a student to participate in these > extracurricular activities, they would be required to meet all > standards and requirements, including academic standards, applicable > to a public school student participating in the activity. A home study > student would only be able to participate in the local public school > they would attend if they were enrolled in the public school, and they > would have to obtain the approval of the principal of that school to > participate. > > If you are interested in this legislation, the following information > is provided to enable you to contact the House Education Committee > members. HSLDA takes a neutral position on this legislation. > > ACTION SUGGESTED: > > You may contact each of the House Education Committee members listed > here: http://house. louisiana. gov/H_Cmtes/ H_CMTE_ED. asp , to request > that they vote in favor of House Bill 871. To contact the committee > members simply select their name from the above link and their email > address and contact information will be found directly under their > picture. > > BACKGROUND: > > Over a dozen states currently require public schools to allow > homeschoolers access to classes or sports. These include Arizona, > Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New > Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington. In both > Arizona and Oregon, the law only requires school districts to allow > access to "interscholastic" activities. Yet the effect of the laws in > these two states generally allows homeschoolers to participate in any > activities they choose. > > Despite these laws, equal access to homeschoolers is not offered > without some strings attached. Although specific requirements vary > from state to state, homeschool students can typically participate in > public school programs ONLY if certain requirements are met. First, > the student must be in compliance with the state homeschool law. > Second, the student must meet the same eligibility requirements as a > public school student. Finally, the state requires the student to > verify that he or she is passing his or her core subjects. > Consequently, the homeschooler may be required to provide achievement > test scores or periodic academic reports, even if the state's > homeschool statute does not otherwise require them. > > Do parents have the right to choose the amount of public education > their children receive? Although the courts have said "no," the state > legislatures are beginning to say "yes." Courts do not find any > "right" for homeschoolers to receive access to government funded > educational services. State legislators, however, seem open to > allowing homeschoolers the privilege of access to public school > activities. > > Part of the reason for this trend is financial. School districts in > some areas are beginning to feel a decrease in funds due to the > increasing number of students leaving public schools for private and > home education. Schools may try to compete with private education by > luring those students back with sports and academic classes, in order > to regain at least partial funding for those students. > > The access trend is not without potential hazards. Access supporters > must remember to guard the right of parents to remain free from > extraneous government regulation when they receive no government > services. Despite both legal and political controversies, opening > access to homeschoolers appears to be a growing trend. > > For more information on equal access, please see our memorandum at > http://www.hslda. org/docs/ nche/000000/ 00000049. asp > > Sincerely, > > Thomas J. Schmidt > HSLDA Staff Attorney __________________ Thank you so much Amanda!