A recent U.S. Department of Education report shows the continued growth of homeschooling in the United States. The report, from the National Center for Educational Statistics estimated a 74% increase in homeschooling over the 8 years ending in 2007. In addition to lack of confidence and dissatisfaction with traditional public schools parents cite their desire to be more actively involved in their children’s education.

Recent developments in educational technology have certainly increased opportunities for homeschool families, but the same technologies have blurred the lines between “homeschooling” and “school-at-home” programs.

Homeschool:
A homeschool family is one that, for a variety of reasons, has pulled out of the traditional education system in order to have direct and complete control of the education of their students. The parents make all decisions regarding the curriculum their children will use, if any; how they will assess their children, and when they consider their children to have completed their education. A review of the research on homeschooling indicates that homeschool students do as well as, if not better than traditionally educated students in most academic measures, including success in college.

There are many curriculum providers that help ease the transition from traditional education into homeschooling. One of the challenges for early homeschoolers was ensuring their students learned the subject materials they needed for successful transition into college. While traditional schools use standardized curriculum, early homechoolers did not have access to that benefit.

One of the first decisions homeschool families need to make is what curriculum they will use for their children’s education. Two types are generally available. Traditional books, delivered via mail or library, and online courses. One of the most popular online curriculums, offered by Global Student Network (GSN) is currently being used by homeschoolers in all 50 states and 28 countries.

Global Student Network is an online curriculum provider that seems to understand the difference between homeschooling and school-at-home. When a family enrolls in GSN’s homeschool option, the parent is placed in the “teacher” module so that they can assess their children, provide feedback, and have complete control over their education. GSN assists parents with course selection when requested, and provides detailed information and forms for maintaining a “homeschool portfolio,” the equivalent of a public school transcript. They also provide a certificate of completion for each course for the parent to sign and issue to their students. An outstanding feature of GSN’s online curriculum is that it was developed by a public school district, is a standards-based curriculum that meets the standards in all 50 states and has been well received by a wide variety of homeschool families

It is important for new homeschoolers to understand that homeschool curricula are never accredited. Curricula in and of itself does not meet any criteria for any accrediting organizations. In order for an institution to have accreditation, it must be a school of some form. Whether the school is set up as an independent study program, or traditional education institution, accreditation is granted based on self-review, other review, and the administrative processes a school uses to conduct its business. Rarely is a school accredited on the basis of its curriculum, its teaching method, or its teaching effectiveness.

At one time, getting into college required attending an accredited high school. Over the past several years, an increasing number of colleges recognize what homeschoolers have known for some time, that homeschool students do equally well or better in college than traditionally educated students. Colleges are now actively recruiting and accepting homeschool students on an equal basis as traditionally educated youth. The most important criteria that colleges use are the transcripts (or portfolio) of the students educational career, and their score on the SAT/ACT test. An excellent resource for colleges that actively recruit and accept homeschoolers can be found at HomeschoolFacts.com

School-at-Home:
With the rising dissatisfaction with public education, school-at-home programs have popped up all across the nation. Using a variety of independent study methods, these programs are established as private or public schools. The most significant aspect of school-at-home programs is that they have some element of control and authority of the learning process of your child. The level of control ranges from minimal to in-depth. Some of the terminology you may hear is: Umbrella School, Independent Study Program, Accredited High School Diploma from your home. There are also many public and charter schools that are beginning to offer school-at-home programs.

School-at-home programs serve as excellent resources for parents that want more control over their children’s education, but feel that they might struggle with the “teaching” of some or all subjects to their children. Most school-at-home programs provide some level of teaching support for the families they serve.

School-at-home programs operating under public charter school regulations in many states are not permitted to charge for tuition, and there appears to be a rising trend throughout the nation for this form of cyber-school. The downside of public charter cyber-schools is that they must comply with the regulations of the No Child Left Behind law. To the family and student, this typically means annual assessment test to measure Annual Yearly Progress. Public charter cyber-schools have mixed reviews when compared to their brick-and-mortar counterparts. There is a model of Independent Study Programs in California that has become established as the model for change in traditional education. These “ISP” schools allow parents to fully collaborate with the school to choose curriculum, design a learning plan, provide as much instruction as the parents feel capable of providing, and still provide the safety net of academically prepared faculty to support the student and families needs.

One of the most popular types of school-at-home programs are private schools that bring the best of online learning technology and provide highly individualized learning opportunities for students in their home environment. One of the most popular private school programs that falls in this category is International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA). This school provides a standards based online curriculum that is very popular throughout the U.S. and internationally.

IVLA is a private, accredited, California school that serves students world-wide. This unique school has open enrollment, meaning that students can start at any time of the year. IVLA provides a highly qualified teacher for every course, and awards an accredited high school diploma to eligible students. IVLA also serves adult learners who want to return to school to complete their high school diploma rather than obtaining a GED. IVLA provides a complete academic assessment of every student prior to enrolling in their first course, which includes a road-map to graduation that his individualized to that student’s needs.

In addition to the innovative schools like IVLA mentioned above, there are some very large educational conglomerates that see dollar signs in education and have very aggressive marketing campaigns to draw students away from traditional schools. Some of the big conglomerates that have entered the school-at-home market in the last few years include: K-12 Inc., a public traded company, Connections Academy, Insight Schools (owned by the same company that owns University of Phoenix) and several others. While the definitive research is not out yet, early research reports indicate that their students fair no better than, and in some cases worse then students in traditional brick-and-mortar schools. There are some questions about their advertising as well. When a school says they are an “accredited homeschool program” red-flags should go off in homeschoolers minds.

As in all new technology and service delivery, families should fully investigate their options. Company’s like Global Student Network and International Virtual Learning Academy have earned a sound reputation in the homeschool and school-at-home communities for their customer service, responsiveness, and low-cost educational alternatives.

Students wanting to accelerate their high school education, or make up credits they are lacking can now do so without sacrificing their summer vacation thanks to online summer school. International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA), an accredited private school, offers 95+ for grades 3-12. Courses can be taken from virtually anywhere there’s an Internet connection.

“IVLA serves students throughout the world. Students can enroll part time and take a few classes, or full time, and complete their entire high school education on-line,” said Don Posson, IVLA’s superintendent. “Many students are enrolling in online summer school to take courses not offered by their brick-and-mortar schools, or to replace a low or failed grade.” With virtual summer school students can earn credits without derailing their summer plans. IVLA offers a high-quality, convenient option to students in need.”

Certified teachers give students one-on-one attention, communicate with them the school’s online learning environment, and use video, audio and animation to provide an engaging learning environment.

More and more K-12 students are turning to online courses as a flexible way to take rigorous course work at a time and location that works best for them. The number of elementary and secondary students taking online courses increased tenfold between 2001 and 2007, from about 200,000 to almost two million, according to the Sloan Consortium, which researches online education.

International Virtual Learning Academy uses the world renown Global Student Network Online Curriculum, and is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.

For more information or to enroll, visit www.internationalvla.com

About International Virtual Learning Academy

International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA) is a leading provider of online 3-12 education, offers flexible, individualized and high-quality curriculum and instruction to promote student success. IVLA is a private accredited school that provides highly individualized education for elementary, middle, and high school students. IVLA’s student body is diverse, serving accelerated learners wanting to graduate early, adults seeking high school diplomas, homeschooled students, and at-risk teenagers who require an alternative to traditional high school. IVLA is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. For more information, visit www.internationalvla.com

With the help of the Internet, getting a high school diploma is easier than ever. In fact, many individuals are completing or returning to their high school studies while continuing to work. This is largely because the cost of tuition at some online high schools make completing your diploma affordable, practical, convenient, and simple.

Today, for example, International Virtual Learning Academy can assist any high schooler or adult returning to complete their diploma in working towards and obtaining an accredited high school diploma - not a GED or other equivalance. It’s easy to see that obtaining a high school diploma is the first step to qualifying to work in just about any industry. International Virtual Learning Academy’s online high school diploma program is an ideal option for many students whose life’s circumstances make it difficult or impossible to attend a traditional brick-and-mortar campus.

Online diplomas are common and accepted by most employers. Due to the stringent criteria associated with accredited online diploma programs, the value of the degree is substantial. So whether you are getting your diploma by sitting in a classroom or online, the demonstrated knowledge required to earn your diploma does not change. This is why online education is seen as being on equal par with many traditional school diplomas.

Getting an online diploma is very common today. In fact, even graduates from traditional high schools throughout the country have taken some online courses or completed assignments via the Internet. International Virtual Learning Academy and other online institutions graduate large numbers of student each and every year. This is due to online learning’s appeal to the student who needs to work and can’t focus on education full time. Online learning is here to stay.

Online learning has many positive attributes. Virtually anyone can learn online thanks to a variety of programs, scheduling options, and more. No longer does getting your degree require you to stop working and focus on education along. While taking online programs however, you do need to spend considerable time learning your material and doing the necessary learning assignments. No one ever said learning online was easy.

Never the less, you can get your high school diploma without setting foot in a classroom. When evaluating programs, make sure you understand the on-campus requirements if any exist. With a high school diploma, you can become much more competitive in the work force and open doors that may previously been close based on your lack of a diploma. Online programs are geared towards getting students ready for the workforce. This certainly increases the value of your diploma.

Online education is well regarded and can truly improve your knowledge and skills in virtually any area. If you want to continue working and attend school part-time, online learning is the best option available. Give it significant consideration if you wish to grow and succeed.

For more information about the school listed in this article, go to: International Virtual Learning Academy

More high school dropouts are heading back to class because of poor prospects in a bad economy.

It’s tough to find a job right now even for people with college degrees, but what if you don’t even have a high school diploma?

But, now virtually anything is possible, even for dropouts.

An online program called International Virtual Learning Academy is trying to help them succeed online.

One 18 year-old student doesn’t want to miss a moment with her 9-month-old son. Last year, she was faced with a tough decision - dropout of high school or stay home with her son. But, with a click of a mouse, she goes to class in her kitchen where she’s learning “virtually” anything is possible - even getting her high school diploma with a 9-month-old son.

International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA) is an accredited private school that serves students in grades 3-12 throughout the world. Recently, many non-traditional students who previously dropped out of school are returning to school in order to get the academic tools they need to be successful.

At IVLA, students are provided the guidance and courses they need to earn either a standard high school diploma, or a more advanced diploma suitable for college preparation. Although based in California, and awarding a diploma from that state, geography is no barrier. Currently, IVLA is serving students throughout the world, at many grade levels.

The virtual high school’s director says this computer aged school has been successful in drawing students back to school who have either dropped out, or were thinking of dropping out.

“You have to turn on the computer, you have to log-in, you have to do your school work,” said Lauri Bloom, the director of IVLA. “Our curriculum is just delivered online instead of a classroom,”

For more information go to:

http://www.internationalvla.com

Tennessee parents now have an additional option for conducting home instruction of their children. The Tennessee Department of Education has decided to recognize enrollment in the distance learning program of an accredited private school as a means of complying with the compulsory attendance law. One such school that has been verified by the Department of Education is International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA). IVLA is an accredited, online learning program serving students in grades 3-12. Currently, IVLA serves students throughout the world, including many homeschoolers from Tennessee.

According to Dr. Connie Mayo, director of non-public and home schools at the Department of Education, parents may enroll their children in an online, Category III non-public school to meet the school attendance requirements. A Category III non-public school is one that is accredited by one of the five regional accrediting associations, e.g. the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Each school establishes its own admissions and academic standards consistent with its accreditation. International Virtual Learning Academy is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, one of the five regional associations.

Parents choosing this option are not required to notifiy their local school district, do not have to meet any state teacher qualifications, and do not have to administer any standardized test required by the state. They need only comply with whatever requirements are established by the school in which their child is enrolled. Category III schools located in Tennessee are required by state law to report to the school district where the school is located the names, ages, and residences of students attending the school. Out-of-state schools do not have to report such information about their students, because they are not located in any Tennessee school district.

Students residing in Tennessee are not eligible for the HOPE Scholarship unless the Category III school providing the on-line program is located in Tennessee. On the other hand, Tennessee citizens residing out of state as dependents of parents who are full-time religious workers in another nation or active-duty military are eligible for the scholarship under the rules of the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program.

Parents choosing this newly recognized option of home instruction through a Category III non-public school are eligible for membership in Home School Legal Defense Association.

Henderson, NV. - From his laptop computer in Henderson, Nevada, James logs into his Forensic Science class, joining more than half a million students across the country who take classes online. His instructor teaches from her home in Reno, Nevada, and other students and teachers are scattered across the U.S.

This senior is among a growing number of students in around the world taking online courses at International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA), completing their high school diploma online for a variety of reasons. Some students want to accelerate their way through high school, some students need to make up credits, and can’t wait for summer school. Many students just like the ability to work at their pace, on a schedule that works around their life circumstances.

Demand is high worldwide for IVLA’s online learning program, but the school has made sure that every student wanting to enroll has a seat.

International Virtual Learning Academy offers an accredited California High School diploma. IVLA serves students worldwide, through its proprietary online learning management system. Currently, ILVA is enrolling students in grades 3-12. IVLA offers core curriculum for all of those grade levels, as well as a large selection of elective courses.

Nationwide, online enrollment has grown dramatically. A study released in June by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics found that about 507,000 students, mostly high-schoolers, were enrolled in online courses in 2005, up from 317,000 in 2003. Forty-four states offer significant online programs, and several of the states that don’t are planning to develop them, according to the North American Council for Online Learning.

Several IVLA students said they appreciate the flexibility of learning on their own time and the opportunity to interact with their virtual classmates on online discussion boards if they wish.

Because of an increasingly competitive work environment in a global economy, education officials say students must take challenging courses to prepare for college. Online schools like IVLA provide both challenging course, and 21^st century learning environments that assist students in preparing for higher education.

A great story from HSLDA’s President, J. Michael Smith

From the beginning of the re-emergence of homeschooling in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the strongest criticism of homeschooling was that untrained, noncredentialed parents could not provide the quality of instruction needed to match the education provided in public and private schools. To address this criticism, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) commissioned several studies to compare how homeschoolers score on standardized achievement tests compared to their public and private school counterparts.

The results of those tests demonstrated that on average, homeschooled children regularly outperformed their peers. These test results had a significant impact on the growth of homeschooling. First, state legislators were convinced that homeschooling parents could provide a high level of education, and they passed laws that recognized the right to homeschool. Additionally, many parents who were contemplating homeschooling were encouraged to take the leap of faith to educate their children at home.

What the test results demonstrate is that a homeschool program tailored to the individual needs of the student is the best method of educating a child. This reality was further supported by test results on the SAT and ACT that demonstrated that the average homeschooled graduate tested higher than the average graduate from public schools.

Now we have additional test results that demonstrate homeschool graduates compare favorably with students at such prestigious schools as Harvard, Yale and Princeton universities and the University of Virginia.

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) administers the American Civic Literacy Test (ACLT) to college students to measure their factual knowledge about American history, the Constitution and more. The results reveal that students nationwide lack even the basics. When ISI administered the ACLT in 2006 to a sample of students attending Ivy League schools, Harvard seniors answered 69.56 percent of the questions correctly, Yale seniors answered 65.85 percent correctly and Princeton seniors answered 61.90 percent.

Compare this with students at Patrick Henry College (PHC), a Christian classical college located 50 miles Northwest of the District, where 80 percent of the students come from homeschooling backgrounds. The ACLT was given to PHC freshmen this fall. These freshmen scored at 71.6 percent, two points higher than Harvard’s seniors and 17.4 percent higher than the average senior mean score at 50 of the country’s top institutions of higher education.

I also have seen the scores of PHC freshmen on a standardized test by Educational Testing Service known as MAPP (Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress). The MAPP tests proficiency in critical thinking, reading, writing and mathematics, and the results permit us to compare incoming PHC freshmen with college seniors at 253 participating institutions. The PHC freshmen tested higher than seniors at every other participating institution, including Baylor University, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the universities of Colorado, Georgia and Mississippi.

The ACLT and MAPP results have their limits, and it must be remembered that PHC only admits high-achieving applicants.

The test results do show clearly what happens when you compare the best with the best: The best homeschooled students systematically outperform the best non-homeschooled students. This success did not happen automatically. It happened because tens of thousands of dedicated parents made tremendous sacrifices to educate their children.

I believe we can safely say the type of parental involvement children receive in a homeschool environment and the learning environment created by the home are significant factors in the success of the homeschool movement in academics. These results are a testament to the dedication of parents as well as the homeschool method of teaching. It is a proven combination for success in education.

At a NACOL symposium, virtual-school students discuss why they left their regular schools in favor of online instruction

International Virtual Learning Academy students say they enjoy the flexibility online classes provide.

What motivates a growing number of virtual-school students to forgo the traditional school structure and take their classes entirely online?

At the Virtual School Symposium hosted in mid-October in Phoenix by the North American Council for Online Learning, virtual-school students from a variety of programs explained they like being able to progress at their own pace–and some said they appreciate being able to take classes not offered by their traditional, bricks-and-mortar school.

Some of the comments made by the student panel, which spoke in front of the entire NACOL conference:

• I left conventional school because I wanted to study at my own pace while holding a job outside of school and focusing attention on out-of-school topics that related to college interests.
• “I was looking for something different to fit my schedule, and the traditional system wasn’t making the cut,”
• “You can create your own schedule. … It’s not the same routine I’d have in the traditional system, and I can get more of what I want to do done,”
• An online school also lets me choose courses that a traditional school might not offer, such as courses that focus more on computer science and graphics.
• “I’m really drawn by technology–that’s one of the main reasons I joined the school,”
• “In the traditional system, [the] main problem is that classes [move] only as fast as the slowest student … so it doesn’t adapt to your own learning style and learning environment. It really slows you down if you want to get ahead.”
• Enrolling in a virtual school not only frees up time for students to pursue other interests, it also teaches them valuable time-management skills.
• Working so independently encourages the same type of time-management skills that college students need to be successful. Managing classes, assignments, and social activities can be daunting, but most students develop a routine quickly.

International Virtual Learning Academy is part of a rapidly expanding resource for online education. A study released during the Virtual School Symposium confirms that the total number of full-time virtual-school students in the United States is on the rise, “along with a continued increase in the number of new full-time programs.” (See “Report assesses K-12 online learning.”)

Education leaders would be wise to listen to what students have to say, and consider ways they can build opportunities for self-paced learning and more freedom of choice into their own school offerings–or else risk losing a growing number of students to online schools that operate outside their domain.

International Virtual Learning Academy students have access to guidance counselors to help them navigate the college application process. Adding a high school component to the company’s virtual offerings made it necessary to provide a robust guidance-counselor support staff, a company representative said.

Even virtual-school teachers at the symposium said they liked many of the freedoms that come with teaching in an online environment.

Not just students, but teachers, too, can become frustrated in a traditional school setting, because much of their time is devoted to tasks such as asking students for late passes or collecting various assignments.

• “I’m not a disciplinarian now; I’m an educator,” one Virtual Academy Teacher said, adding: “Online, there is more one-on-one education.”
• “I have always looked for … alternative ways for students to learn. All students do not learn the same way–they are totally different,”
• In a traditional classroom, educators can “try to think outside of the box, but you’re still faced with the one-size-fits-all model,” she said. “If we know that all students are different, then we have to do something different. This is going to be one of the major reform efforts that education will see.”

International Virtual Learning Academy, like many other online schools, provides individualized education for each student. During the enrollment process, a student’s transcripts and learning needs are assessed, and a graduation plan is developed specific to their needs. Each course is taught by a highly qualified teacher with extensive training in online education.

For more information, visit the International Virtual Learning Academy at: www.internationalvla.com

Homeschooling has been growing at a rate of about 15% each year for the past 15 years. With this phenomenal growth, many distance-learning opportunities have been developed specifically for homeschoolers.

Among the more popular distance-education options for homeschoolers are online courses offered directly to homeschoolers, or alternatively, by public and private schools.

One of the few Online Curriculum providers that work directly with homeschoolers is Global Student Network (GSN). This curriculum company places the homeschool parent into the “teacher’s” online portal, which includes the answer keys for all lessons. After enrolling, the homeschool student logs on to their private student portal and begins to work on their selected courses. Each time the student completes a lesson, it is delivered to the parent’s portal in-box as a “lesson-to-grade.” The parent reviews their child’s answers against the provided answers and grades the lesson. Once graded, the lesson is returned to the student and maintained in their online course portfolio. GSN provides free diagnostic assessments in Reading and Mathematics for all newly enrolled students.

Online academies are another choice of distance learning for homeschoolers. Students enroll in these programs just like they would a regular school and then access the class through the internet. All courses are completed online and use online learning systems for class work. The advantage to online academies is that many of them are accredited and will send a high school diploma upon completion. They will also keep detailed transcripts that students can use when applying for college. Another benefit is that most online academies offer distance learning on a course-by-course basis. This way, families can utilize the school for subjects they struggle with teaching or for elective courses they have trouble finding materials on. One such online academy is the International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA), which has open enrollment throughout the year. Students at IVLA are assigned a highly qualified teacher for every course, and complete courses on a pace appropriate to their learning level. IVLA also provides free diagnostic assessment at the beginning of each school year.

If a homeschooler wants to keep their child at home, but worries about developing a well-rounded curriculum, both of these options are excellent options.

Both GSN and IVLA are web-based and students complete the same courses as public schooled children. This is a good option for homeschoolers who want to include religious education into their children’s curriculum without having to worry about developing the entire curriculum. Overall, advanced technology has made homeschooling easier and more obtainable for families who want to explore that educational option.

For more information about Global Student Network go to: www.GlobalStudentNetwork.com

For more information about International Virtual Learning Academy go to: www.InternationalVLA.com

GSN’s Homeschool blog does not endorse, support, or refute political positions, but does work to provide information of value to homeschoolers. This article was forwarded from the Homeschool Legal Defense Association’s president, Michael Smith.

Since the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president, HSLDA has received more than a few calls from both members and nonmembers. Some are quite concerned about the future of homeschooling under an Obama presidency.

First of all, let us always remember that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). He also instructs us to be wise, plan, and be prepared in everything we do.

Despite HSLDA’s efforts prior to the election to get an official statement from the Obama campaign regarding their position on homeschooling, we received no response.

So where does that leave us?

We do know that the Democratic Party has an official position of supporting public education. The National Education Association (NEA), which is the national teachers union, is a major supporter of the Democratic Party. We know that the NEA’s position is that every child should be either taught by a certified teacher or supervised by one. Additionally, their position is that the curriculum used by all homeschoolers should be approved by the state, and children should only be able to continue to be homeschooled based upon systematic evaluation by the state.

It is important to remember that under the United States Constitution, the federal government has no authority over private and home education. This is not to say that they will not attempt to exercise authority in these areas. And whenever private educators accept grants and benefits, there are conditions to receiving those benefits, including being subject to regulation.

Just because the federal government has no constitutional authority over home education, however, doesn’t mean that federal bureaucrats or legislators might not attempt to impose some form of regulation over private and home education. We saw this back in 1994, when the reauthorization of the Secondary and Elementary Act (H.R. 6) contained an amendment which would have conditioned funding to the states for public education to require that all teachers be certified in every subject area they teach. The homeschool community rose up; over a million phone calls were made to the U.S. Congress, and the amendment was defeated. During that process, Representative Dick Armey from Texas introduced an amendment which stated that the federal government and Congress have no authority over private and home education. This protective language was passed by the House of Representatives.

With your help and the help of homeschoolers all across America, we will vigorously resist any effort on the part of the federal government to regulate home education. Obviously, this will take resources—which come from our membership—and we would encourage our current members to continue standing with us, and encourage others to join us.

An immediate concern to watch is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Although we do not know what Barack Obama’s specific position on the treaty is, we know that future Vice President Joe Biden has publicly indicated that this UN Convention should be ratified by the United States.

It does appear that we will soon have the challenge of keeping the UN Convention from being ratified by the U.S. Senate, ratification requiring a two-thirds majority to pass.

Should the UN Convention be ratified, it would impose the United Nation’s view of children’s rights on America. Under the U.S. Constitution, treaties become the Supreme Law of the land, taking precedent over state laws and state supreme court decisions.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is not in the best interest of parents or children, as it would undermine the parental authority that our laws currently recognize. For further information on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child visit ParentalRights.org.

To summarize, homeschoolers should not live in fear, but we do need to be wise, and we will need to be vigilant to protect parental rights and homeschooling freedoms in the future. We stand prepared, with your help, to do that as we’ve done for 25 years.

Michael Smith
HSLDA President