Shay's Articles on Homeschool Legal and Legislative Matters
[Note: Shay is proud to have been awarded "The Shoe of Homeschool Activism".]
The Truth About Cheryl
Several self-appointed leaders of the Christian homeschool community conspired to use personal information to put a homeschool mother, author, and speaker out of business. Exerted on a lesser spirit the three years of harassment and intimidation that might have resulted in disaster. But Cheryl chose to fight.
"HOMESCHOOL FREEDOMS THREATENED! CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS NOW!"
Homeschoolers need to avoid being frightened by the sometimes-alarming wording of legislative alerts, and we need to stop and think before doing something just because a particular organization says we should.
Legislative Action<
When I receive an action alert, I step back and take a few minutes to calm down and let my brain engage.
PW County VA Victory!
For more than a year and a half, a grassroots group of local homeschoolers in Prince Willaim County, Virginia, worked with the school board to improve the division's homeschool policy--including allowing partial enrollment and elimination of the onerous "approval before removal" clause that imposed a 3-day waiting period on parents who wish to remove a child from school to begin homeschooling. This policy was problematic because some school division personnel were harassing and threatening parents who chose to remove a child from school to begin homeschooling.
Navigating the Legal Waters of Homeschooling
New and prospective homeschoolers often worry about meeting state requirements and dealing with division superintendents, but become empowered by knowing the law, providing only legally required materials, and learning from- and joining with experienced homeschoolers.
Colorado Case Inspires National Support
When it became known via the internet that the magistrate overseeing the court case had officially questioned the adequacy of not only 'homeschool socialization', but also the mother's ability to effectively continue to teach her daughter, the Arkebauer case gained immediate national attention.
In Like a Lamb, Out Like a Lion
I realized that, as an experienced homeschooler involved in the community, I was qualified to speak with a candidate, a Senator, or whomever--if I could just swallow my fear.
How to Talk to a Politician
How do you, a regular homeschooler, talk to a politician about homeschooling? Well, sometimes, you just wing it.
Handling It Ourselves
With a little support and encouragement from each other, homeschoolers can effectively respond to superintendents offices that overstep their bounds.
Answering the CPS (Child Protective Services) Questions
Is it CPS's goal to take children away from their families?
Home Education Tax Credit? No, Thanks!
It is imprudent for homeschoolers to grab at the tax credit carrot without examining the heavy stick poised to hit us with further regulation.
When the School Division Asks Too Much
Homeschoolers have empowered themselves and effectively handled requests for tables of contents of books or other items that are beyond the legal requirement in Virginia.
Partial Enrollment for Prince William County
Scroll to the lower half of the page to read how one county's partial enrollment policy went from "not until it's mandated" to "come on in!" due largely to actions taken by a handful of homeschoolparents in a local support group.
Questions for HSLDA's Michael Farris
These were requests for specifics, on topics for which HSLDA has made generalized statements but has not supplied the figures that would verify the claims. Mr. Farris responded by answering questions he provided. You decide whether he answered mine.