12/15/2020 (Michigan Homeschool Law)
mLIVE article: “Many Michigan parents chose to homeschool during the pandemic will they return?”
Interesting article from MLive.
We clearly do not agree with their conclusion of needing to change the laws for homeschooling in Michigan, however MICHN has sent a letter communicating that sentiment to the State Superintendent, as well as the education committee chairs in both the State House and Senate.
“Of particular concern was the statement that “we can’t distinguish between children who are being home schooled at the present time and children who aren’t being educated at all,” Rice said. “This gap needs to be addressed with a change in state law to help us identify and serve children who aren’t in public, private, parochial, or homeschool environments at the present time.”
We understand the concern, that many former public school parents and students are leaving the public school system due to COVID-19 restrictions, and their implications. Indeed, we have received many calls from these parents who are unhappy with the virtual classrooms and/or masking requirements.
However, we do not need new laws to determine how a student is being educated. Local superintendents of schools have the list of students who are currently enrolled in their school districts. They only need to contact those parents to confirm their participation in the public school. Those parents not schooling their children who are still enrolled in a public school are in violation of truancy laws, and superintendents can proceed in following up with those families and students according to the laws which already exist.
Parents who have chosen other educational options for their children, including homeschooling and non-public schools, are free to do so. Rare is the parent who does not want his child properly educated, and parents are best suited to decide what is in the best educational interest of their particular child. Those who leave the public school, must be given the benefit of the doubt that, as the parents or legal guardians, they are making the best decision for their child.
The Michigan Christian Homeschool Network (MiCHN) will resist any laws threatening to restrict our homeschool freedoms, which we have spent many years earning and have enjoyed since 1993. We have fought long and hard in both the courts and the legislature to secure our current Michigan homeschool law, and research proves that homeschooling has produced many extremely well educated and well adjusted citizens for the great state of Michigan.
