Colorado Educrats Rebuffed By HSLDA

Under strengthened liberal control of the Colorado state government, educrats have been growing bolder in their efforts to limit freedom in education. For example, a family in one Colorado school district filed their notice of intent to homeschool only to receive a notice that said they must submit further information, such as the child's grade, birth date and age. Colorado law does not require they submit this information, although the district clearly told them that their own form must be completed. After Chris Klicka of HSLDA followed up with the district, the district agreed to stop hassling the family and accept the legal form instead of their own.

What's the big deal? For one thing, the district knows that they can try to get away with it. There is no law actually forbidding districts from requesting information, but they have no right to demand it. They are counting on the ignorance of homeschooling parents to fill out their forms, much like phishing con-artists count on you clicking to "update" your information to be in compliance with your service provider like Key Bank or eBay. What happens to your information when you fill out the district's form? Who knows? Perhaps they will use it in legal ways or not-so-legal ways.

Another problem that may be related to the first one is that school districts, especially the poorer performing ones, are hemorrhaging cash and are desperate to claim money based on per-student enrollment. What information is required for a school to claim or to prove that a student actually attends? Who audits the districts? Inquiring minds want to know. Until we do know, educrats who sit unchallenged will continue to push their limits and expand their power.

Finally, one other area that seems to raise questions is what Colorado school districts consider homeschooling. For example, the local media has been quick to trumpet rising enrollments in districts like in Grand Junction, but is not clear what they mean by homeschool. Do they mean learn-at-home public school students, virtual academy charter school students or actual homeschooling families? If they mean the first two, then they're not quite within the legal definition, but that's better than the third option. If they mean that, are they justly or unjustly claiming the per student funding?