Homeschool News
HSLDA has officially registered CHESS as a discount group. If you wish to join HSLDA under CHESS and get the $10 discount off your fee, please contact Kristi kristirawlins@hotmail.com
Kim Perry, one of the Leaders of the HELPS Group in North St Louis County, was interviewed for this FRONT PAGE article for the Post Dispatch (yesterday's edition). Click on the link and read it. Also, while there, click on the related link (in the body of the editorial) and vote in the poll. Let them know we love our homeschool law the way it is!
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/48D461747D8789858625736900124E88?OpenDocument
Once Again Homeschoolers Score High on the ACT Exam
http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/hslda/200707310.asp
News Worth Knowing
This year (2007)...
...At the Scripps National Spelling Bee there were 36 home school
participants. Five of whom advanced to the finals. There were fifteen
finalists. When the competition narrowed down to five spellers, three of
them were home schoolers. Evan O'Dorney of Walnut Creek, CA took home the
championship. He is a home schooler. For more info go to
www.spellingbee.com.
...Caitlin Snaring of Washington State, a home schooler, won the National
Geography Bee.
...Matthew Evans of Albuquerque, New Mexico, another home schooler, won the
Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge. He was also a finalist at the
Scripps National Spelling Bee.
July 1-June 30 "school year" in the Missouri Law
"A Missouri Court of Appeals case a couple years ago in which Home School Legal Defense Association represented the family said that homeschoolers are not required to follow a July 1 to June 30 calendar when satisfying the requirement of 1,000 hours. Instead, the Court said the family should establish the start date and stop date for the family's own homeschool term, which must be not longer than 12 months. Naturally, they can decide to start their term on July 1 and end it on June 30 if they wish.
Before this decision came down, everybody thought that homeschoolers must provide their 1,000 hours during the July 1 to June 30 framework. In fact, Home School Legal Defense Association argued the case this way because it was in the family's best interest. The Court rejected this argument, however, and said the "school term" governed rather than the "school year."
We are left with a situation where it is difficult to tell what purpose the July 1-June 30 "school year" serves. On the other hand, allowing families to establish their own "school term" provides welcome freedom.
The case did not go to the Missouri Supreme Court. I do not view it as likely, but there is always a chance, however, remote, that the issue could arise again and the Missouri Supreme Court could, in effect, reverse the Court of Appeals decision.
In the meantime, families can establish their own "school term" of not more than 12 months. If they consistently observe the "school term" they establish (including observing this term as they teach and keep records), the chances of them encountering problems on that issue are very slim.
If they deal with an official who thinks the "school year" is the mandatory record keeping and instructional unit for homeschoolers, a reference to the JB case should clear it up.
Some families will have circumstances that warrant an individualized analysis of this issue. Families with unique circumstances should consider contacting an attorney and explaining their unique circumstances so they can receive individualized guidance. Members of Home School Legal Defense Association can call our office and receive individualized guidance without charge.
Scott Woodruff
Home School Legal Defense Association"
Washington Times: Homeschoolers Have a Can-Do Spirit!!
http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/washingtontimes/20071240.asp
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