Urgent Call for Action: Request for Hearing

From: HEIR (Home Education Information Resource)
Subject: HEIR Urgent Call for Action: Request for Hearing
Date: Saturday, February 27, 1999 3:20 PM

HEIR is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, volunteer-only organization working to ensure that the people of Georgia and their government recognize home study, freely practiced in its diverse forms, as a legitimate choice and value it as a positive force for improving the quality of education.

http://www.heir.org/
info@heir.org

For over two years, parents of children in home study programs and unaccredited private schools have been trying to get Chancellor Portch to adopt an admissions policy for the University System of Georgia that is fair, and does not require seven SAT II tests. The attempt to work directly with the Chancellor has failed, because of his refusal to deal with the community in an open and fair way. Those who are not yet familiar with this story may read a summary and copies of all the relevant correspondence on the HEIR website (http://www.heir.org).

The next step is for the affected community to call for a public hearing, in accordance with Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 50-13-4(a)(2) - http://gnsun1.ganet.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/pub/ocode/ocgsearch?docname=OCode/G/ 50/13/4 - if you do not have web access just ask and we'll e-mail you this code section). Enclosed below is a sample of a letter that individual parents, or a group--such as a support group--may use. While the requirements of the law only call for 25 people to sign such letters, it is important for a large number of citizens to make this request. The Chancellor must know that this is not a small problem.

Please prepare your own version of this letter, have it signed by as many people as you can, and send it RETURN RECIPT or REGISTERED MAIL to the Chancellor. The letter must arrive at the Board of Regents by Friday, March 5. So that we will know how many letters and how many signatures have been sent, please also mail (regular first class) a copy of your letter to:

Mrs. Millie Beverly
Correspondent, Georgia Coalition for Equitable USG Admissions
109 Greenwood Pt.
Griffin, GA 30224

Time is of the essence, and it is vital that every affected family act. Don't assume that somebody else will take responsibility for your fair access to the University System of Georgia.

Sincerely,

Leon McGinnis
Chair
Home Education Information Resource

Stephen R. Portch, Chancellor
University System of Georgia
270 Washington Street, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30334

Dear Chancellor Portch:

I am a home study instructor (or the parent of a child who attends an unaccredited private school) directly affected by the admissions policies of the University System of Georgia. Inasmuch as your February 8, 1999 memorandum to Chairman Ed Jenkins and the USG Presidents regarding "homeschool admissions" amounts to the promulgation of an administrative agency rule subject to the minimal due process constraints of the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, I respectfully request a public oral hearing, under O.C.G.A. 50-13-4(a)(2), so that you and your staff may

(a) provide to me and my children a concise explanation of the principal reasons for and against the adoption of this rule;

(b) explain your reasons for rejecting without substantive response the September 30, 1998 Proposal of the Coalition for Equitable USG Admissions which I support, and

(c) hear my views on how the rule should be altered to conform to O.C.G.A. 50-13-4(a)(4), which states: "In the formulation and adoption of any rule, an agency shall choose an alternative that does not impose excessive regulatory costs on any regulated person or entity which costs could be reduced by a less expensive alternative that fully accomplishes the stated objectives of the statutes which are the basis of the proposed rule."

Pursuant to this request for an oral hearing, I look forward to receiving from you the statutory 30-days notice required by O.C.G.A. 50-13-4.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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