Home School Option Program Information Update from HSLDA

Good Afternoon To All! I wanted to send an update that came to me from Homeschool Legal Defence Association. They wanted me to pass this information on to everyone who participates in a homeschool option program run by your local school districts that you are relinquishing some of your rights as a homeschooler. 

Two rights you relinquish are: 

1. Your right to keep a social worker or police officer/deputy sheriff from speaking to your children privately. As a homeschooler here in Colorado if a social worker or police official comes to your home questioning your homeschooling, you reserve the right to tell the social worker or officer that they may speak to your lawyer from HSLDA, and you would remain in the room with your children the entire visit. BUT if you participate in an options program, these officials reserve the right to speak to your children privately and HSLDA may not be able to intervene. 

2. Your right to not participate in standardized testing. Currently as a homeschooler in Colorado you are asked to test your children in  3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11 th grades. The results of those tests are held by your family in your home records. If you participate in homeschool option programs run by your school district or any government funded program, they reserve the right to have your child participate in standardized testing at any time regardless of the odd year clause in the homeschool law. Again, this is a right that the options programs reserve for their students, and HSLDA may not be able intervene. 

Just wanted to bring these to your attention as we begin the very preliminary preparation for our next school year. Please feel free to contact me with any question. 

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