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Leader Letter

Dear Leaders,

It was great seeing so many of you at the Support Group Leader Luncheon at convention! Now we know how important shoes are in identifying potential leaders and volunteers! Jessica Hulcy did a great job incorporating humor into a fun and inspiring lesson on leadership.

We would like to continue providing the Leader Luncheon as a gift of appreciation to support group leaders, but we need to find a way to solve a reoccurring problem. This year and last year we have had 20 or more leaders who make reservations for the luncheon, but don't attend. This costs HEAV hundreds of dollars. Because we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the money that is given to HEAV, we need to find a way to prevent this loss. Do you have any suggestions? I'd love to get your input on what has worked in your group. Please send me your ideas at support@heav.org.

I'm excited to begin making plans for a fall Leadership Retreat. This will be a retreat for leaders/by leaders. If you'd like to be involved in the planning, send me an e-mail note. Look for more details in the next Leader Letter!

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Be Alert for Excessive Curriculum Description Requests

This year the Virginia Beach School system is one of two school divisions requiring a description of curriculum that goes beyond the requirements of the Virginia Code. Last fall Greene County Public Schools asked for a more detailed description. Both school divisions incorrectly asked for a "course description" instead of a "curriculum description." So what's the difference, you ask?

A course description includes content details of a particular subject. A curriculum description includes all the courses or subjects included in a plan of study. The law requires a "description of curriculum."

§22.1-254.1 (B). Any parent who elects to provide home instruction in lieu of school attendance shall annually notify the division superintendent in August of his intention to so instruct the child and provide a description of the curriculum to be followed for the coming year and evidence of having met one of the criteria for providing home instruction as required by subsection A.

State law does not require parents to teach any particular course content other than for option 4 (a), the SOLs. The superintendent has no authority to judge the content of a course other than for option 4 (a); therefore, it is unnecessary for parents to prepare such a document and for superintendents to review the document.

Regrettably, in 2006 the Department of Education revised their homeschool handbook and incorrectly included an example of a description of curriculum that was really a course description. HEAV, HSLDA, and VaHomeschoolers have appealed to the DOE to correct the error.

We encourage parents to comply with the law and continue to provide a "description of curriculum" that includes the name of the subjects taught and the textbook titles.

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Candidates Want Your Support:
What Can a Support Group Do?

State and federal elections are just around the corner and candidates want your support. What CAN you do and what can you NOT do? A non-profit group considering any type of political activity should consult the IRS rules for non-profits.

Activities such as voter registration, political debates, and voter education forums are allowed, as long as they are conducted in an unbiased manner. Non-profits cannot support or oppose candidates for public office. Violating this rule can result in loss of tax-exempt status.

To help nonprofits remain on the right side of the law, the IRS has issued guidance for non-profits and political activities. They have developed a document that includes 21 situations indicating which situations are permissible and which are not. Topics addressed range from candidate appearances to issue advocacy. Additional information is available in the "Jeopardizing Tax-Exempt Status" section of the tutorial.

Suzanne E. Coffman, June 2007 © 2007, Philanthropic Research, Inc. (GuideStar)

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Money, Money, Money...

Regardless of the size of your group, you must deal with money. What steps should your organization take to ensure that your finances are handled properly? What standards for processing money should be met? What accounting systems should be in place? GuideStar has a user-friendly tutorial that will help set your group on the right track for accountability.

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Watch Out for Virtual Homeschools!

Educate your support group about the newest trend in education-virtual schools. These Internet educational providers are courting homeschoolers. They've come to Virginia promising the best of many worlds---academic excellence, free materials, free help, and an education at home with parents.

Don't be fooled-virtual education at home is not the homeschool we fought for during the past 25 years. These are public school programs, overseen by public school teachers, and the students who participate at home are public school students.

Nelson County is promoting virtual education to homeschoolers, "...students who are not currently enrolled in our school division are welcome to sign up for this program." They are drawing students and parents back to the government system. Schools are getting full funding for off-campus students who are coached by their parents.

Why should homeschoolers be concerned? This is a major threat to homeschool freedoms. Parents who succumb to the temptation of free materials and services will loose many homeschool freedoms.

• It guarantees the secularization of curriculum.
• The student will have to take SOL tests.
• Flexibility is limited.
• Privacy and the ability to keep social services out of homes are compromised.
• Home education is no longer parent-controlled education.

Because some parents are willing to submit to tighter controls, these compromises may open the door for changes in the state law for private homeschools. Looking at the record of virtual schools in other states, legislators from these states often set their sites on changing the homeschool statute and reducing hard-earned homeschool freedoms.

Make sure your group knows the difference between virtual homeschools and private homeschools. This is not a benign educational choice; it could have a major impact on the future of home education in Virginia.

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Extracurricular Activities Now Available in Prince William County

For the first time this fall, homeschool and private school students will have the option of taking part in extracurricular activities in Prince William County. This is the first major school district to approve this measure. Access does not include sports teams governed by the Virginia High School League. In recent years, Prince William County also joined Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in approving partial enrollment in up to two courses in middle school and high school. 

The Virginia State Fair will be September 27-October 7 at the Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond.

Animals! Rides! Competitions! Attractions! Great food! Join homeschoolers from across the state at Homeschool Day at the State Fair sponsored by HEAV. Get homeschool group rates through HEAV! Call the HEAV office at 804-278-9200 or visit www.heav.org. Visit State Fair for general information and directions.

Homeschool Day is scheduled for Monday, October 1:
Student tickets (ages 3 through high school) - $5.50 per ticket
Ride wristbands (all ages) - $5.50 in advance ($7 at the door)
Adult "walk around" ticket (no rides) - $11 in advance
One free "walk around" adult ticket (chaperone) per 8 student tickets sold.

For info about the State Fair, see www.statefairva.org.
Order through HEAV - add $2.65 for delivery confirmation per total order (combine orders and save!)

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Special Education Law Resource

More and more parents of special-needs children are bringing them home to teach them. Parents of homeschool special-needs students need accurate, reliable resources. Wrightslaw is an advocate for children with disabilities and has a special-education law website. Parents can find thousands of articles, information on court cases, and lots of free resources on this site.


Yvonne Bunn, HEAV Director of Homeschool Support