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HOME SCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION Kentucky HOME | LAWS | ORGANIZATIONS | CASES | LEGISLATION | HEADLINES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- February 28, 2005 Director of Pupil Personnel makes outrageous Demands A Home School Legal Defense Association member family in Grayson County was recently surprised by a home visit by the local Director of Pupil Personnel (DPP). The DPP demanded that the homeschooling mother immediately provide all of her records; including the books she used, her children's schoolwork and the attendance records. After being threatened by the DPP that she wasn't conducting a bona-fide homeschool program the mother brought back an armload of materials to prove that she was teaching her children. The DPP complained that the mother's attendance records weren't good enough and that she did not believe that the mother had really been teaching her children. The visit ended with the DPP telling this homeschooling mom that she had 24 hours to put her children in public school or she would see her in court. Due to these threats the mother quickly contacted her local support group, a statewide homeschool organization and Home School Legal Defense Association for help. In a phone conversation with the DPP it was learned that an anonymous compliant had been made that the family was not homeschooling their children. In a good faith gesture the mother agreed to meet with the DPP to provide the scholarship and attendance records the DPP had authority to request when presented with a complaint. However, at the meeting the DPP continued to make unreasonable demands beyond her legal authority. Among the complaints the DPP made of this family's homeschool program was the way the mother kept her attendance records and that instruction in certain subjects had to be for 45 minutes each day. Additionally, the DPP insisted that the mother provide her with a daily schedule of instructional activities and demanded that the children demonstrate their reading and writing abilities in her presence. At this time HSLDA attorney Tj Schmidt contacted the DPP to inform her of our member family's legal right to teach their children at home. Schmidt reminded the DPP that the only documentation that she had the legal authority to examine was the attendance records and the scholarship reports (report cards). After pointing out that there is no statutory authority for a DPP to dictate the manner records are kept or force an educational evaluation of homeschool children, Schmidt demanded that all harassment of family stop as it was clear that they were conducting a bona-fide homeschool program. While the DPP is silent on whether she will follow the law, HSLDA is committed to defending this family, and other member families, from public school officials who attempt to harass and limit their rights to teach their children at home. Any member family experiencing similar attacks on their homeschool rights should contact us as soon as possible. © Site Copyright 1996-2005 Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. Box 3000 · Purcellville, VA 20134-9000 · Phone: (540) 338-5600 · Fax: (540) 338-2733 · E-mail: info@hslda.org HOME | SEARCH | FEEDBACK | PRIVACY POLICY | ADVERTISING Supported by the Home School Foundation www.homeschoolfoundation.org |