NEA Resolution #B-69: Declare War on Homeschoolers

National Education Association (NEA) Resolutions for 2001-2002 ^ | 6-19-02 | Tired of Taxes

[agrace]

An update on the NJ situation -

---

From the HSLDA E-lert Service...

---

January 23, 2004

Dear HSLDA members and friends:

On Thursday, January 22, Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg (D-37) filed
a bill, A1918, which the legislature's website indicates is the same
as A4033. The text is not yet available on the legislature's
website. According to the Legislative Information and Bill Room,
A1918 has no cosponsors.

A4033 would have forced homeschool families to submit to the same
statewide assessment tests as public school children, provide proof
of annual medical examinations, and would have given the New Jersey
Board of Education virtually unlimited power to impose additional
restrictions.

There are 191 bills already on the agenda of the Assembly Education
committee. Assuming A1918 is sent to that committee, and the bills
are taken up in order, considerable time may elapse before the
committee turns its attention to the bill. With A4033, we had a
sprint. With A1918, we may have a marathon.

This bill is an effort to cover up the shameful performance of the
Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). Their representatives
visited the Jackson home in Collingswood 38 times without raising an
alarm, while several of their children allegedly starved.
Homeschoolers will not take the blame for dereliction of duty at
DYFS.

The task force of state homeschool leaders (listed below) who worked
together to preempt the passage of A4033 is scheduled to meet on
February 7 to develop a long-range strategy to defeat A1918. We are
not asking homeschool families to take any action at this time.

Thank you for standing with us to protect homeschool freedom in New
Jersey.

Sincerely,

Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney