Pennsylvania Dept of Ed Letters/emails

[MrsHart6]

It's a shame but I only have three to post here.  One deals with diplomas not being necessary and the other two deal with a few things like not having to submit an evaluator's name and credentials and the school district with holding texts. 

[MrsHart6]

Feel free to copy, print and mail these in if you are having  a problem with your district regarding any of these issues:

This first is an email from Suzanne Tallman from the PDE to Maryalice Newborn.  Maryalice contacted Suzanne on my behalf and gave her permission for this email to be shared with other PA homeschoolers. 

I cannot stress enough how VITAL it is for you to befriend a homeschool veteran and fighter if you are having problems with your district.  If it weren't for Maryalice,  I probably would have given up or been bamboozled into submitting a ton of  documents that were not legal.  At the very least,  I would have falled for the homeschool coordinator's threats.  So,  the best advice I can give is don't go at it alone-  contact the PDE,  join the HDLDA and find a mom who has fought and won,  a mom who knows the law and knows when your being treated unfairly.

Begin forwarded message:

From: "ED, Home Education" <RA-home-education@...>
Date: November 18, 2009 11:45:37 AM EST
To: 'Newborn Maryalice' <maryalice.newborn@...>
Subject: RE: Homeschooling - Extra-legal School District requests

Maryalice,

Thank you for your questions on behalf of this parent.

- The supervisor of a home education program does NOT have to provide their high
school diploma. The affidavit is a legal document and they attest in the
affidavit that they have one.
- The evaluator does NOT need to be identified when the home education program
begins. In fact, an evaluator does not even need to be identified until the end
of the year when they are needed to complete their responsibilities.
- The parent does NOT need to provide the evaluator's credentials. It is up to
the superintendent to challenge the evaluator, if they have reason to believe
the evaluator is not properly qualified. The law is specific on the
requirements. The parent may not want to hire an evaluator that was not
pre-approved, realizing the possible consequences.
- The school must provide any text books they use in their curriculum - see
following:

24 P.S. § 13-1327.1 (f) The school district of residence shall, at the request
of the supervisor, lend to the home education program copies of the school
district's planned courses, textbooks and other curriculum materials appropriate
to the student's age and grade level.

I trust this answers your questions!

Suzanne

School Services Unit
Home Education Advisor


Suzanne Tallman | Education Administration Specialist
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street | Harrisburg PA 17126
Phone: [phone]| Fax: [phone]
www.pde.state.pa.us

[MrsHart6]

 This next one I can't copy and paste but I'm going to provide the link. 

This letter is from the PDE and plainly states that a copy of your diploma IS NOT required,  the affidavit is enough. 

Here's the link so you can print this out if you need to:

http://home.comcast.net/~askpauline/hs/homeschoolaffidavit.html

 

 

Scroll down about halfway and it's the purple link "Letters from the PDE re:diplomas"

[MrsHart6]

This is an email that I received from Suzanne Tallman at the PDE:

----- Original Message -----

From: ED, Home Education

To: '[e-mail]'

Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 4:38 PM

Subject: Home Education Programs in PA

Paula,

 

I am PDE’s Home Education Advisor. You called asking for clarification regarding the requirements of a home education program. I am attaching a sample affidavit for elementary school children. This affidavit contains all the information that is required by law to begin a home education program.

 

Specifically, the following are not required and cannot be demanded:

- a copy of the supervisor’s high school diploma

- the name and credentials of the proposed evaluator

- the grades of the home educated students

 

Additionally, the required attachment of the “Education objectives by subject matter” cannot be used by the superintendent to determine whether an appropriate education has taken place – they are more like guidelines:

 

(b) …The required outline of proposed education objectives shall not be utilized by the superintendent in determining if the home education program is out of compliance with this section and section 1327.

 

As far as the attachments for “Evidence of immunization” and “Evidence of health and medical services,” it is the position of PDE that a doctor’s statement that these requirements have been met is sufficient evidence; you do not need to provide the actual health or immunization records to the school -- although you may, if you so desire. Of course, other laws allow that you may by-pass these two requirements under certain circumstances.

 

At the bottom of this email, I have copied the complete home education law, emphasis added. I will draw your attention to the law giving you the opportunity to receive assistance from the school district:

 

(f)   The school district of residence shall, at the request of the supervisor, lend to the home education program copies of the school district's planned courses, textbooks and other curriculum materials appropriate to the student's age and grade level.

 

You do not need the permission of the principal, superintendent, or school board to begin a home education program. As soon as you submit the affidavit and the attachments listed at the end of the sample affidavit, you can begin. The principal, superintendent, or school board has no authority to deny your home education program except if you do not comply with the information required on the sample affidavit.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

 

Sincerely,

 

Suzanne

 

School Services Unit

Home Education Advisor

 

 

Suzanne Tallman | Education Administration Specialist
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street | Harrisburg PA 17126
Phone: [phone]| Fax: [phone]
www.pde.state.pa.us