Stephanie

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

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bensmom

Awesome! How does everyone feel about this? I think it's great- I'm very liberal and feel that everyone should have access to whatever they can, and they can make their own choice about what's right for them. I'm excited that Louisiana is pursuing this!

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Staceyon#3

I think you should have access you pay taxes just like everyone else and just because your kids don't attend PS doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to participate in those extra activities.

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God's most beautiful thoughts bloom into children.

~Nikki~

ITA!
However, I feel like more and more home schooling is trying to be phased out. In FL they cut the budget from 3% last year to 8% this year. Thats a huge difference in the home schooling community and it really leaves our kids falling short and I think its unfair.
If the public schools could provide better education, maybe there would be less and less home schoolers. But the public education system is very flawed and I dont want my child falling victim to that.

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Eglyntine

I think if they want to, that homeschoolers should be able to participate in sports, drama, or any extra-curricular activities the public school provides. We do pay taxes like everyone else and there aren't always groups that do this outside of public/private school that would allow homeschooled children to participate.

I don't know that any of the schools around here have much to offer for extra-curricular activities. Part of the reason I'm homeschooling the boys is because we don't live in a really good area and most of the kids that live around here I wouldn't let anywhere near my boys but that might change when they get older. *crosses my fingers*

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bensmom

Nikki, the school budget has been cut all-around--- that's what scares me so much and one of the biggest reasons we'll be homeschooling. There isn't funding to even pay teachers anymore, it's shocking when you look at the numbers. I think they are cutting whatever they can since they are taking huge budget cuts from the federal government... sad.

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Stephanie

Bobby Jindal, our new Governor , is a private school and homeschool champion. This is the first of many bills to come. He also wants to push through vouchers for people who choose to homeschool and use private school. They are testing it right now in Baton Rouge.

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Staceyon#3

The vouchers sound great as much as I'd love to get some of my $$ back to pay for my supplies, etc. I don't want to give the gov't a foot hole into the schooling of my children so, I'd rather just pay out of pocket.

__________________
God's most beautiful thoughts bloom into children.