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By: Sara, Casey, Elizabeth D., and Adam. Laws regarding homeschooling…. Homeschooling Info on Laws (specifically in IL):. Compulsory Attendance Ages : Between the ages of 7 and 17 years (unless the child has already graduated from high school) Required Days of Instruction : 176 days
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Homeschooling Info on Laws (specifically in IL): Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between the ages of 7 and 17 years (unless the child has already graduated from high school) Required Days of Instruction: 176 days Teacher Qualifications: None Standardized Tests: Not required by statue Required Subjects: Language arts, biological and physical science, math, history, and social sciences (which shall include a course in the U.S. and Illinois Constitution), fine arts, health, physical development and also character education.
Alternative Statutes Allowing for Home Schools 105 ILCS 5/26-1: Home schools that meet these requirements are considered legal private schools People vs. Levisen: A Landmark case which held that a home school is a private school. To avoid truancy … HB 1726 Religious Freedom Act: gives religious homeschoolers another legal means to protect their right to home school.
Socialization of Children O P P O N E N T S • Lack of extra curricular activities available for home schooled students • Educators, child development specialists, and social scientists argue that homeschooling deprives children from necessary socialization • Children in school develop fundamental aspects of their personality, cooperation with peers, and acquire social skills. • Argue that homeschooling compresses the three separate spheres of social success for children into one: home, school, and peers. • Lack of socialization can lead to social isolation, aggressive behavior, etc.
A D V O C A T E S • Homeschoolers argue that greater peer interaction doesn’t provide children meaningful socialization • Believe that interaction with adults is as important or more important than interaction with peers. • Believe great deal of socialization in school setting can be negative socialization • Believe school is not the only place to increase socialization • Homeschoolers are more likely to become independent, less reliance on peer approval, and more self directed in learning
How many parents qualify as good teachers? • Opponents… • Argue that parents may not qualify as good teachers. • Don’t have to have any qualifications to be a home school teacher • Say parents should at least have a high school diploma or GED certificate • Advocates… • Homeschoolers and courts argued that parents do not have to be qualified because teachers in non public schools don’t have to be certified. • Individuals who lack state certification can serve as substitute teachers in public schools • Controversy in courts. State of California originally ruled that homeschool teachers needed state certification • New ruling says they can teach even without valid teaching credential
Curriculum Content • Most, but not all states require parents to cover specific curriculum content. • In classroom, teachers trained in specific areas of content. Opponents argue that home school teachers don’t have areas of expertise for all or possibly any subjects. • Litigation has arisen on the content of the curriculum • Eg: Trial court in Texas rejected a claim from home schooling family requiring students from home schools to pass proficiency exams at their own expense in order to receive credit toward graduation violated students rights to equal protection
State Oversight O P P O N E N T S • Challenge for state boards of education is to make sure all children receive quality education while considering the rights of parents to educate their children. • Home school advocates feel that states interest should focus on outcomes of homeschooling and not the process. • Courts have upheld right of state officials to make sure home school students are progressing in school by standardized tests or other measures. • Opponents to homeschooling have wanted state visitations to families. Rejected in court as too intrusive. • Remains a controversy of homeschooling
Court in Massachussets stated that if parents refuse to provide school officials with bare essentials of education plan they have for children, they can be sent to social services. • State court in Missouri affirmed that state officials have authority to take jurisdiction over an autistic or nearly autistic child. • Religious affiliation with many homeschools • Homeschoolers argue that state regulations are violations of religious liberty principles • Opponents say their should be more state oversight and children should take state academic testing requirements
Access to Public School Services • Opponents argue that it increases costs and undermines opportunities for traditional students • Advocates argue that they pay taxes and should have access to public school services if necessary. • Opponents believe homeschoolers have a difficult time transitioning to public school • Advocates believe otherwise
What about… COLLEGE???
Are homeschoolers prepared? http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/comp2001/HomeSchoolAchievement.pdf
Attitudes and Perceptions of Admissions Officers • Overall Success • First Year GPA • First Year Retention Rate • Credit Hours • Socially Cope • Encouragement of Community/Junior Collage
Admissions… Today 1986 1998
Admissions by Law • Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (Pub. L. No. 105-244), encourages colleges and universities receiving federal funding to discontinue discrimination against homeschoolers. The House Report specifically recommends that colleges and universities change any admissions policies which force homeschooled students to take additional tests beyond what is required of traditionally schooled students, including the GED and the SAT II exams
Examples of IL College Guidlines http://www.depaul.edu/admission/download/pdfs/UGApp06-07WEBFINAL.pdf http://admissions.illinois.edu/faq/home_school.html
Austrailia • Compulsory Attendance Ages: 6-15 • Legal Status: In Australia there are six states and 2 territories, each having its own Education Act and thus different requirements and procedures. • Number of Homeschoolers: Approximately 15,000 homeschool families. The Australian Christian Academy Homeschooling Program has approximately 1,500 families enrolled with 3,600 students, ranging from preschool to the 13th grade.
United Kingdom • Compulsory Attendance Ages: 5-16 • Legal Status: Homeschooling is legal in England and Wales under the 1944 Education Act, which was consolidated in 1996. Section 7, Education Act 1996 states, "…[E]fficient full-time education, suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special education needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise." Under the "or otherwise" phrase in the law, families can legally homeschool. • There are no requirements to inform the authorities when one is home educating, unless the student was previously enrolled in the government school system. At that time, the parent must let the school official know they are withdrawing their student to home educate him. No other requirements for home education exist. • Number of Homeschoolers: Between 20,000 and 100,000 children.
France • Compulsory Attendance Ages: 6-16 • Legal Status: Homeschooling is legal in France. Some families are told they are required to test at the same level as those in public school, but many families have politely objected to this type of request by challenging the cited law. The law is somewhat vague and open to challenge. • Number of Homeschoolers: 8,000 private homeschoolers and 22,000 public school correspondence homeschoolers.
Poland Country Information • Compulsory Attendance Ages: 7-18. • Legal Status: The Polish Constitution guarantees parents the right to choose the school for their child. However, parents must comply with local school requirements in order to homeschool. • Number of Homeschoolers: Approximately 20 families.
South Korea • Compulsory Education Ages:Children ages 7 to 15 are subject to the federal compulsory attendance law. High school is not mandated. • Legal Status:The law is vague and the business community is supporting homeschooling, so homeschoolers are largely left alone. • Number of Homeschoolers:Estimated at 600 to 1,000 families
New Zealand • Compulsory attendance: 6-15 (inclusive) • Legal status of homeschooling: Legal as long as homeschoolers file a statement of intent with the Ministry of Education in order to obtain a Certificate of Exemption from the compulsory attendance law. • Number of Homeschoolers: The Ministry of Education website says there were 6473 homeschoolers from 3349 families as of July 2007.
China • Compulsory Attendance Ages: • All children who have reached the age of six shall enroll in school and receive compulsory education for the prescribed number of years, regardless of sex, nationality or race. • The authorities of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall decide on measures to promote compulsory education, in accordance with the degree of economic and cultural development in their own localities. • Legal status of homeschooling: Homeschooling is encouraged by Singapore missionaries. Homeschooling in Shanghai and Beijing is a risk and must be commenced underground.
Germany • Compulsory attendance: 6-18 (inclusive) • Legal status of homeschooling: It is illegal to home school. • Number of Homeschoolers: There are about 400 home school families. Almost all are operating underground or are in court.
Brazil • Legal Status of home schooling: Officially banned. • Compulsory attendance law: Federal law, ages 7 to 14. • Estimated number of home schoolers: 100 families.
Resources • Christian Home Educators Coalition: http://www.chec.cc/ • Home School Legal Defense Association: www.hslda.org/ • Illinois Homeschooling Laws: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/laws/blIL.htm • Perceptions and Attitudes towards Homeschool Students – The Journal of College Admissions: http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/29/e6/24.pdf • University of Illinois: http://admissions.illinois.edu/faq/home_school.html • Depaul University: http://www.depaul.edu/admission/download/pdfs/UGApp06-07WEBFINAL.pdf