Home Schooling Under Attack in Iowa

I don't often write about specific Iowa issues on this blog, because I know not everybody who reads this blog lives in Iowa. But, I know some people do, and even if you don't home school, this is important.

First, some history. In 1991, to help the state be more involved with home schooling, Home School Assistance Programs (HSAPs) were established in Iowa in many school districts. The HSAPs provide many valuable services to home schooling families, from supervising teachers, to library materials, to enrichment classes, field trips, music programs, gym programs and even plays. To support these programs, the state of Iowa provided the school districts with funding equal to 60% that of a student enrolled in public school.

Since Democrat Chet Culver, a former teacher, took office as Iowa's governor in 2006, the Iowa homeschooling rules and funding have been under attack, by Culver and his Department of Education. Through the courageous work of home school families, concerned citizens, and good legislators on both sides of the aisle, many of these changes have been fought off. One change that we couldn't stop was a reduction in funding to 30% that of a student enrolled in public school. Through creative budgeting and hard work, our HSAPs have adjusted to this new funding level, and still provide top notch services.

Now, the Department of Education and Governor Culver are at it again. This year, they've made an administrative rules change to limit what the HSAP funding can be used for. They are trying to limit funding to only cover supervising teacher pay, travel expenses and training materials. The new funding would not cover enrichment programs, secretary pay, or home-school specific library materials. The Department of Education claims that this is the "original intent" of the law, and they are simply correcting an error that has been in place for 17 years. They also cite this as a cost saving measure. I don't believe this stance by the Department of Education is accurate or genuine.

I'm going to copy in the text of a letter my wife wrote to the Senate Education committee...I realize this will make for a really long blog, but please bear with me. Here it is:

"We are urging you to make changes to Administrative Rule 98 regarding the rules for Home School Assistance Programs (HSAPs) before February 12th. We believe the funding rules for HSAPs should be modeled after the funding rules for Voluntary 4-year-old Preschool. This would not change the amount of money HSAPs receive only how they may spend the funds.

For the past 17 years, funds for HSAPS have been used to provide home school families access to enrichment classes, field trips, and library resources. The enrichment classes add to the overall education of each of Iowa’s home schooled children just as art and music classes do for Iowa’s public schooled children. These classes and field trips have personally enabled our children to form friendships and have given us opportunities to receive support and competent advice from veteran home schooling parents. The library resources are integral to the success of home school families. Because the learning situation is different than a classroom, home school families need some resources which are different from public school classrooms. The ability to examine different curriculum designed for home schooling in order to choose the one that best fits our children has been invaluable to us and greatly enhanced our children’s education.

Without changes to Rule 98, these opportunities would have to be paid for from a school’s general fund rather than funds designated for HSAPs. Communities will be forced to decide whether to take money away from public school students or take away useful resources for home schooled students. Public schools receive about $5,500 from the state to educate the average student. The average student in HSAPs is being educated for about $1,650 from the state. The HSAPs provide both an efficient, and as research has shown, an effective way to educate Iowan children. It is estimated that about 4,700 children in Iowa are home schooled through HSAPs. Imagine the increased cost to the state if even half of these home school families decided not to home school.

Iowa’s excellent education system helped convince us to move to Iowa eight years ago. Iowans are fortunate to have such great options to choose from when educating their children. Home schooling has been an excellent path for our children, who are working above grade-level in math, reading, and spelling. One child is also above grade-level in science and geography. They are thriving in the home environment with close attention and individualized material. The Marion Home School Assistance Program has been a key to the success of our home schooling. HSAPs are also a unique program that can attract more families to Iowa. Over the last seven years, home schooling has increased 74% in the United States. Iowa has a great opportunity to be at the forefront of this educational trend.

Changes to Rule 98 must be made and sent to the Senate by Feb 12. Please take this action."

I am now going to ask you a favor if you live in Iowa. If you feel moved by this, please contact your Iowa State Senator and Representative, or members of the Senate or House education committees and urge them to make changes to Rule 98 prior to February 12th of this year. This is critical to the continued success of Homeschooling in Iowa.

If you decide to contact someone, please be kind. I know I would have a hard time with that, which is why my wife wrote our letter. And, if you don't home school, let them know...it may mean more coming from someone without a vested interest. If you contact your senator or representative, please ask them to urge members of the Education committees to modify Rule 98 relating to HSAP funding. If you decide to contact education committee members, please keep in mind that we are focusing on the Democrats on the committees, because the Republicans seem to be firmly in our camp.

The following legislators are vehemently opposed to homeschooling and should not be contacted:

Staci Appel
Herman Quirmbach
Mary Mascher

These are the switchboard numbers if you wish to make a phone call:
Senate Switchboard 515-281-3371
House Switchboard 515-281-3221

This is important even if you don't home school...this goes directly to the rights of a parent to choose the best means to educate their child. This may seem like a simple funding change, but it will add roadblocks to homeschooling that need not be there. The HSAPs have done exactly what they were intended to do when established in 1991...a rare government program that has worked. There is absolutely no good, logical reason to make this change.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks in advance for any action you take.