Barnes to Focus on Education in 2000
Contact Legislators Now
![[News page]](images/news.gif)
When the legislature convenes in January of 2000, education reform will be on the agenda. Legislators won't wait until January to start thinking about reforms, so now is a good time for home educators to contact their representative and senator and let them know what you think about the current home education law. If you don't know who to contact, check your voter registration card for your senate and house district and look up the contact information by your district numbers at http://www.heir.org/. Click on
GA Government then Contacting State Officials.The links will lead you to your representative's or senator's pages which will list contact information and any legislation that they introduced in the last session.
You can write a letter, phone, FAX or e-mail. Support groups may want to plan a reception for their district's legislator. Contact HEIR at info@heir.org for suggestions on planning such an event or post your own suggestions on HEIR's bulletin board at www.heir.org. To encourage others, please share your experiences with and responses from your legislators on HEIR's bulletin board. The following letter is provided for inspiration. The names have been changed, but the letter is based on a true story.
<Street Address>
<City, GA Zip>
<May 15>, 1999
Dear Representative <Last Name>,
We are in your district and appreciate your service to the community. We share your concerns about <...>.
One of our main interests is the area of education. We have successfully homeschooled our children under the current law in Georgia for the past <nine> years. We felt that this educational option best met their needs. It provided diverse opportunities and maximum flexibility. The law was well thought out and we feel it is one of the best in the country. We have felt fortunate to have this option for our children.
Our children have <consistently scored above grade level on standardized tests. Our oldest child has been admitted to Georgia's top public colleges and some of our country's finest private colleges. He/she has a full scholarship to one private college>.
We know that in the next session of the legislature education will be an important issue. We realize that there are improvements needed in this area, but feel that home education is best served by maintaining the present law. We would appreciate your help in keeping the fine law that we have.
I have enclosed <two> articles on the subject in hopes you will find them useful. If I can provide you with further information, please let me know.
Thank you again for all you do for us and for the community.
Yours truly,
<Your Name>
<Your Phone>
04/18/99 created
© 1999 Home Education Information Resource (HEIR)