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Correspondents


In a world where people are constantly complaining about what rights the government actually has, I’m really shocked by the lack of concern over a recent court decision coming out of California. Frankly, I’m even a little worried about what precedents such a ruling may create.

The specific issue that caught my attention deals with a court case in Los Angeles over homeschooling. A Southern California father and his wife homeschooled their eight children until a juvenile court judge examined a complaint by one of their kids. The child essentially accused his father of mistreatment by not providing a better education.

From there, an appeals court decided if this one child needs help, then all homeschoolers must need help. This decision all but requires those parents who homeschool their children to return to school themselves and earn teaching credentials. Second District Court of Appeals Justice H. Walter Croskey claimed, “Parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children.” That was after the juvenile court judge said parents did have that right. No wonder we have so many unanswered questions in this country. Very few seem to be able to interpret the same laws or precedents the same way. Instead of focusing on the single complaint, the courts decided to try to find a way to “fix” the entire system. No word yet on whether or not the courts are looking for ways to raise the literacy or graduation rates at public schools, but I’m sure they are since they’re certainly acting like they care about what’s best for America’s youth.

More of the story…

13A10.01.01 Code for homeschooling

The purpose of this regulation is to establish a procedure to be used by the superintendent of each local school system to determine if a child participating in a home instruction program is receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age.

MD department of education fact sheet on homeschooling

Fact Sheet RegardingHome Instruction in Maryland


MD public school

Marylandpublicschools.org is your online source for information on Maryland’s preK-12 public education, public libraries, and rehabilitation services. Thank you for your interest in Maryland public education.

MD counties PS

Direct links to all 24 Maryland Local Education Agencies’ web sites

MHRN
Maryland Homeschool Resource Network

…designed with the intent to bring together ideas and resources, in the pursuit of our common goal of home based learning.
"Imagination is more important than Knowledge"
Our Yahoo Group

NCHE
North County Home Educators …a support group for families in Maryland who have an interest in home education. Most of our meetings are in the northern part of Anne Arundel County, but membership is open to everyone. We do not charge dues, and there are no special membership requirements. We invite everyone to participate in our activities and ask only that you consider organizing an event or helping with one. The success of our organization depends on the active participation and contribution of all our members.

MarylandUFC
The Unschooling Family Connection …is a support group in Montgomery County Maryland.

Western Maryland Homeschool
…on Yahoo
…a group for homeschooling parents and children in Western Md. (Allegany and Garret Co.). We also include Ridgely, W.Va. as well as the Centerville area of Pa., or any area close by. Even if you are just interested in homeschooling, you are welcome here!

Howard County Home Educators
…on Yahoo  We welcome families living elsewhere.a network of homeschoolers in Howard County, Maryland. Our purpose is to enable homeschoolingfamilies in our geographic region to find each other for the purpose of support, information, cooperative learning experiences, homeschooling advocacy, and friendship. We are an inclusive and diverse group; we strive to respect, support, and learn from the choices made by each homeschooling family.

Family Unschoolers Network
for unschooling, homeschooling, and self-directed learning. The Family Unschoolers Network provides support for unschooling, homeschooling, and self-directed learning. If you are an unschooler, homeschooler, self-directed learner, or just learning in general, then this is the site for you! You will find newsletter articles, reviews, resources, web sites, books and lots of other information to help your homeschooling or unschooling efforts.

Appalachian Regional Co-op

…is an unaffiliated group of diverse homeschooling families whose members embrace homeschooing in ways that are appropriate for their individual family needs and provide support to anyone interested. Members come from the quad-state area of Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania. We publish a monthly newsletter, plan field trips, enjoy fun activities and support the homeschooling choices each family has made.

 

  

  

http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/13a/13a.10.01.05.htm

13A.10.01.05

.05 Home Instruction Under Supervision of Nonpublic School.

A. A parent or guardian may provide instruction for a child at home without compliance with the requirements of this regulation, other than the requirements of Regulations .01B(1)(b) and .04 of this chapter, if that instruction is offered through correspondence courses and is under the supervision of a:

(1) School or institution offering an educational program operated by a bona fide church organization, and the supervision includes at a minimum all of the following components:

(a) Preenrollment conferences with parents or guardians,

(b) Textbooks, lesson materials, and other instructional materials or equipment designed to be used independently by the pupil at a site other than a school,

(c) Annual visits by supervisory personnel to the site where the pupil is receiving instruction, and

(d) Conferences with parents or guardians at appropriate intervals during the period of enrollment; or

(2) Nonpublic school with a certificate of approval from the State Board of Education, and the supervision includes at a minimum all of the following components:

(a) Textbooks, lesson materials, and other instructional materials or equipment designed to be used independently by the pupil at a site other than a school, and

(b) Assignment of a school-based teacher to assist the home teacher in using the correspondence courses and to assist the pupil by issuing progress reports, marking papers, and grading tests.

B. Annual Verification. The supervising nonpublic school or institution described in §A of this regulation annually shall:

(1) Verify with the local school superintendent the identification of home schooled students whose instruction is continuing under its supervision;

(2) Notify the local school superintendent of the identification of home schooled students whose instruction is newly added to its supervision; and

(3) Provide the local school superintendent with the identification of home schooled students whose instruction is no longer under its supervision.

C. Change in Status. The supervising nonpublic school or institution described in §A of this regulation shall notify the local school superintendent if a change occurs in the status of a home schooled student whose instruction was under its supervision during the school year.

 

This is the laws that govern homeschooling under the county in Maryland
 

13A.10.01.01

.01 Home Instruction Program.

A. Purpose. The purpose of this regulation is to establish a procedure to be used by the superintendent of each local school system to determine if a child participating in a home instruction program is receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age.

B. Written Agreement.

(1) A parent or guardian who chooses to teach his or her child at home shall initially sign a statement on a form prescribed by the State Department of Education which:

(a) Indicates consent to the requirements set forth in §§C, D, and E of this regulation; and

(b) Shall be submitted to the local superintendent at least 15 days before the beginning of a home instruction program.

(2) Annual Verification. Annually thereafter, before the beginning of the school year, a parent or guardian shall verify the continuation of home schooling for his or her child with the local school superintendent or with the supervising nonpublic school or institution described in Regulation .05 of this chapter.

(3) Change in Status. A parent or guardian shall notify the local school superintendent or the supervising nonpublic school or institution described in Regulation .05 of this chapter if a change occurs in the home school status of a child during the school year.

C. Instruction Program. The home instruction program shall:

(1) Provide regular, thorough instruction in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age;

(2) Include instruction in English, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education; and

(3) Take place on a regular basis during the school year and be of sufficient duration to implement the instruction program.

D. Educational Materials. A parent or guardian who chooses to teach a child at home shall maintain a portfolio of materials which:

(1) Demonstrates the parent or guardian is providing regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the areas specified in §C(1) and (2);

(2) Includes relevant materials, such as instructional materials, reading materials, and examples of the child’s writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials, and tests;

(3) Shall be reviewed by the local superintendent or the superintendent’s designee at the conclusion of each semester of the local school system at such times as are mutually agreeable to the local superintendent or designee and the parent or guardian.

E. A parent or guardian shall agree to permit a representative of a local school system to review the portfolio of educational materials, discuss the instructional program, and observe instruction provided that all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The review is at a time and place mutually agreeable to the representative of the local school system and the parent or guardian;

(2) The purpose of the review is to ensure that the child is receiving regular, thorough instruction as set forth in §C;

(3) There are not more than three reviews during a school year.

F. Additional Requirements. A local school system may not impose additional requirements for home instruction programs other than those in these regulations.