An Open Letter to the
House Education Committee
Regarding Accountability and HB 2560
Sept. 25, 2002
Dear Representative,
As a home educator, I hear the demand that I should be held to a level of accountability equal to public and private education. I, too, would like to be held to the same standards as the public and private schools. The state of Pennsylvania has determined the appropriate level of "interest" in a child's education in public school, non-public school, and private school as the satisfaction of the Compulsory Attendance Law . However, the current home education law requires more . It requires satisfaction of the Compulsory Attendance Law AND showing educational objectives AND educational resources AND educational progress! This is illegal discrimination against home educators and an imbalance of government control and citizens' freedoms! Home education students, 1% of the Pennsylvania student population, are currently held to a more restrictive law than all other education choices. HB 2560 would correct this illegal discrimination .
And speaking of accountability, public schools are accountable to tax payers and parents, because they fund them and the students are their children. Non-public schools are accountable to the parents (and church if there is a religious affiliation), because they fund them and the students are their children. Currently, home educators are accountable to the public schools! This is an illogical reversal of accountability! The public schools neither fund home educators, nor are the students their children. The public schools have no real interest in these children. They are presently micromanaging home education paperwork, an unfunded mandate costing over $5 million, and finding 99.91% of the home educated students obtaining "appropriate education" (PA Department. of Ed. data, 2000). HB 2560 would support parental rights as recognized by Federal law and correct this fiscal irresponsibility .
Another common misrepresentation of accountability is the assumption that the current paperwork / regulation "ensures…a quality education". The fact is that there is no correlation between regulation and education. In a study done by Dr. Brian D. Ray (1997), test scores of home-educated children from high regulation, moderate regulation and low regulation states were compared. The test scores were statistically identical . In home education, the logs, portfolios, testing and evaluations do not educate the child. Parents spending time and resources on their children provide the education. HB 2560 would correct this waste of parents’ time and resources and remove the regulations’ hindrance to education .
I urge you to look at the facts and vote for HB2560: equal treatment under law, parental rights , fiscal responsibility , minimal state intervention and common sense.
Sincerely,
David W. Jones
Homeschooling Dad / Chemist