Fellow Georgia Homeschoolers:

HEIR grew out of the concerns of a small group of GA homeschoolers following the introduction of HB 586 in the General Assembly last January. From an informal group of three or four families, HEIR has grown rapidly and dramatically. We now are incorporated, we have our own extensive web site, and we are actively involved with the House Education Committee and the Board of Regents.

From the beginning, we have recognized the need for a viable, open, and robust organization that can speak to homeschooling issues and not be constrained by religious, political party, or other considerations. For that reason, we have invested the time necessary to develop a statement of vision/ mission/principles that is clear, comprehensive, and durable. You can find the statements on page 4. Our goal is to have a statewide presence. To that end we are doing two things: (1) developing a statewide network of "correspondents" ; and (2) developing a bylaws structure that provides for stability with flexibility, continuity with openness, and a membership that is inclusive and State-wide.

HEIR Working for Home Schooler’s Interests in Georgia

Since our formal organization in March, HEIR has been very active in the ongoing issues affecting all homeschoolers in Georgia. As issues are brought forth, they will appear in our newsletter, our information packets and on our website. Here's a short list of our accomplishments in six months - details may be found in our packets (see colored insert) or on our web site.

1. HEIR was first to break the news and the details of the Board of Regents' new admissions policy in late March. We published the complete policy memo on our web site.

2. HEIR was first to obtain a copy of the Education Testing Service report commissioned by the Board of Regents to establish recommended passing scores.

3. HEIR provided the first and only analysis of the ETS report showing how the recommended passing scores would affect homeschoolers.

4. HEIR was first to publicize Dr. Fullerton's intention to recommend lower passing scores, and first to provide an analysis of his recommendation.

5. HEIR prepared a detailed analysis of the new Regents' admission policy, its development and its implementation, and transmitted that analysis to the Chancellor, the Regents, and the Governor, in an attempt to have the policy rescinded or delayed. See our web site.

6. HEIR prepared a large briefing book for the House Education Committee and presented copies of it to Chairman Dubose Porter and to the Committee at the meeting on July 29.

7. HEIR prepared a detailed statement to the House Education Committee, which was presented in writing, and can be viewed on our web site.

8. HEIR followed up after the July 29 House Education Committee with a letter addressing the issues around HOPE scholarship, and suggesting several approaches. This letter also can be seen on our web site.

9. HEIR has established a group of "liaisons" to the House Education Committee members, to insure that homeschoolers are aware of the issues being addressed by the Committee, and have an opportunity to provide analysis BEFORE bills reach the stage of formal introduction.

10. HEIR has been present or represented at five homeschool curriculum fairs, and has made formal presentations at one. We are seeking opportunities to make presentations at fairs or other meetings of significant numbers of homeschoolers.

11. At curriculum fairs, HEIR has conducted polling and surveys The polling and survey results can be seen on our web site.

12. At curriculum fairs, HEIR has collected contact information from homeschoolers. Using this information, we have established both an e-mail distribution list and a contact database that allows us to mail out newsletters or "alerts" to homeschooling families. Both e-mail and newsletters were used to inform homeschoolers about the House Education Committee meeting on July 29.

13. The HEIR web site provides links to the Board of Regents, links to the Department of Education, and links to the General Assembly, all containing information that is essential if homeschoolers are to be knowledgeable and effective in dealing with those State government entities.

14. HEIR has established liaison with other homeschooler associations, including GHEA and Harvest Home Educators. These liaison relationships allow us to coordinate, and to avoid working at cross purposes in dealing with the State.

15. HEIR has participated in one radio interview and three television interviews, and has provided two opinions published in the Atlanta Journal. In addition, an HEIR briefing led to an AJC op-ed page opinion very supportive of homeschooling.

16. Several homeschoolers from various support groups met with Henrietta Turnquest, co-sponsor of HB 586. This meeting was reported on by HEIR at the Harvest Home Educator's Fair.

17. Carolyn Hugley (sponsor of HB 586) met with several homeschoolers on the morning of the House Education Committee meeting. A report was presented at the next HEIR meeting and the results are to be published on the HEIR web site.

18. HEIR's website has information concerning state requirements for the letter of intent.

All of this has been accomplished by fewer than twenty homeschooling families, working with less than $500 in donations.

Changes to H.S. Law Proposed

A modified version of the H.S. law was circulated in the GA School Social Workers Association. This version of the bill made the following changes to the Code Section 20-2-690.

1. In (c)(1), restrict the submission of the declaration of intent to be "not later than two weeks before the first day of any school semester ... or 30 days after a student who participated in a home study program moves into this state"

2. In (c)(2), modify the content of the declaration to include "the name of the instructor accompanied by evidence that he or she possesses at least a high school diploma or a general education development (GED) equivalency diploma"

3. In (c)(3), add the sentence "Any parent who teaches any child other than his or her own child in a home study program must meet the qualifications of a tutor"

4. In (c)(7), change the requirement for testing from every three years to annually.

5. In (c)(8), change the progress assessment report from annual to semiannual.

6. Add (c)(9): "Any child entering a public school after a period of attending a home study program shall provide the public school with all test scores and academic progress reports maintained by the home study program, and the superintendent of the local school district in which the child enrolls may require standardized achievement tests to be administered and shall have the authority to determine the appropriate grade and course level placement of the child after consulting with the parents and reviewing the child's records."

7. Add (c)(10): "No home study program shall be authorized in a home in which either parent has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to charges of child molestation, child abuse, or spouse abuse."

HEIR Communication Network

Overview: The network organization is based on the U.S. congressional districts. Each of the eleven districts will have one co-ordinator; depending on the size of the district, sub-coordinators will be assigned; each county will have at least one representative for HEIR. E-mail access would be helpful.

HEIR Responds to School Social Workers

On Monday, September 9, HEIR representatives met with the Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Georgia Association of School Social Workers. It was a cordial meeting, with both sides describing their concerns regarding changes to the current home study program law. It was agreed that further dialog would be in order.

On Tuesday, HEIR obtained a memo written to GA School Social Workers that endorsed a watered down version of HB 586 (pg. 2) and included a survey that asked questions such as: number of homeschoolers who abuse their children; behavorial or academic problems observed when homeschoolers return to the classroom; - there were no questions in a positive vein for social workers to report on. Subsequently, we have had a brief discussion with the author of the memo, expressing severe concern about how the memo and survey will be perceived by the homeschooling community. We were assured that the intent was not to create an adversarial relationship, but to "get the facts". We also were assured that there will be further dialog after the Legislative Committee meets next week.

It's too early to tell how this situation will be resolved. However, in order for homeschoolers to be prepared for a confrontation, should one rise, it seems appropriate for us to collect our own "survey" data. There are two kinds of information that we need:

1. Do you have first hand knowledge of families that have declared to homeschool, but are not legitimate homeschoolers? A brief description would be useful.

2. Do you have first hand knowledge of legitimate homeschoolers being harassed by school social workers? A brief description would be useful.

E-mail or mail this information to HEIR, it will be made available to the House Ed. Committee.

In working to accomplish its mission, HEIR will be guided by the following principles:

We all know that homeschooling works. We all know that homeschooling contributes to a better Georgia. But we all must be realistic, and recognize that there are powerful forces opposed to homeschooling. We can keep those forces in check, and perhaps even create a positive climate for homeschooling in Georgia, but only if we are vigilant, proactive, and part of the governmental process. This is HEIR's vision, and we have made tremendous progress in only six months. Now we need your help.

On Sunday, September 14, 1997, Angela Paul, Mandy Bryson, and Terri Bryson appeared live on Ms. Turnquest’s show "A CITIZENS’ ALERT - Your Public Policy Information Forum". In March, 1997, a group of homeschooling mothers met with Ms. Turnquest. During the meeting we learned that she had taken her own son out of public school at the tenth grade level. He took his GED, enrolled in Dekalb College and later transferred to Morehouse College where he is now taking classes. Ms. Turnquest stated that she is more concerned with why public schools are not working than she is with homeschooling. During the meeting, she offered us an opportunity to appear on her TV show.

The show was an exciting experience for us. Ms. Turnquest is truly the professional. She conducted the show to bring out the main issues that concern us as homeschoolers, providing the perfect vehicle for our answers. She made each of us feel at home as we presented homeschooling as a viable educational option. Because a second planned guest did not come to the show, Mandy , age 13, unexpectedly had the opportunity to express the point of view of a homeschooled teenager. Ms. Turnquest interviewed Mandy very kindly and asked questions that people often ask teens. The result was that homeschooling got much more air time than we expected. We very much appreciate the opportunity that Ms. Turnquest provided us.

-Learning How 8 SAT II’s May Influence Homeschooler’s Choice of High School Curriculum and Affect Decision Making for the College Bound Homeschooler -

Since March of 1997 (a month after we "officially" began our group), HEIR members have been expressing concern to Barry Fullerton of the Regents about the new SAT II requirements. One of our members has made an evaluation of the scores that were determined by ETS and finalized by the Regents. This evaluation is on our web site and in our Packet #2 or #3. HEIR also has written an information sheet to help GA homeschoolers understand what 8 SAT II’s may mean to them. At this point, the Regents have not given homeschoolers a voice in the actions that greatly influence where our children will attend college and, possibly, what secondary curriculum we ultimately might have to use - in order to meet the test scores. The Regents have stated that there is one avenue to the college level of education - College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with its accompanying transcripts. The Regents persist in this direction even after it was clearly stated in the House Education Meeting on July 29th that all CPC curricula, grades and transcripts vary across GA - depending on where a student attends high school. They have further refused to recognize non -traditional student’s transcripts and portfolios as a viable option for homeschoolers to get into college. Even though these options are clearly outlined in the Regent’s present doctrine. Previously, these options were presented in the name of diversity and creativity. It seems the Regents wish to control many aspects of the educational system from high school through college. HEIR members have not given up pursuing this issue with the Regents.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the background, reasoning and possible outcomes to these measures being presented by the Regents. Then contact, in writing, the Regents, the Regent’s Staff, Gov. Miller (he appoints the BoR), and Rep. Porter( House Education Chairman) and your local rep.. Your letter should express how you feel about this policy, and why you would like these issues dealt with - now. Homeschoolers need to be included in the ongoing decisions, and we must continue to ask for a dialog with the Regents. More addresses are included in our Packet #1 and on our web site (www.heir.org).

Chancellor Stephen Portch or
Senior Vice Chancellor James Muyskens
GA Board of Regents
270 Washington Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30334

Honorable Dubose Porter
D-143
GA House of Representatives
State Capitol/Room 417
Atlanta, GA 30334
FAX: (912) 272-2189

The Official Tests and Scores released by The Regents on September 15, 1997* 4 now - 8 by 2001. Each test lasts 1 hour.

Writing - 520 ($10.)

Math (algebra & geometry) - 500 ($5.00)

Amer. History/Social Studies - 560 ($5.00)

Science - Biology 485 or Chemistry 540 or Physics 590 ($5.00)

A student can take 3 tests per test date.

Registration fee: $13.

HEIR needs documented experiences from homeschoolers who have had to take SAT II’s or been required by GA state colleges to meet any other entrance standards that were above the normal requirements for a public school student. This concern was brought out during the House Education Committee Meeting, July 29, and HEIR was asked to support this belief. These experiences mean even more if the college student then did very well academically and was successful in college. These experiences would support the position that state imposed extra requirements are unnecessary for evaluation for college entrance and success.

Spreading the "Facts"

Depending on location and timing, HEIR representatives will come and speak to your homeschool support group on HEIR and the issues we are tracking. If you would like us to participate in a fair or workshop or provide materials for such an event, please email or mail us your request. Soon we hope our phone network will also help you contact us.

If you have information, an opinion or something that you would like to learn more about, please let us hear from you. Our web site has a page dedicated to individual’s opinions, and we would be glad to consider your writing for this page. We try to "get to the bottom" of rumors and bring out the facts around different situations. We are here because of a common interest - we all need to work toward this cause. "We" are "you".

If you wish to continue receiving the HEIR newsletter or volunteer your help in this effort, fill out the form below and mail to HEIR .

Subscribe to HEIR’s newsletter__ Volunteer for job checked below __

Fax and /or e-mail:_____________________________________________________________________

Include me in HEIR’s e-mail network___

Phone number: _________________________Include me in HEIR’s phone network__

Newsletter editor __ Assist with the newsletter __

Assist with coordinating activities (fairs, local workshops to inform about HEIR and HEIR issues, etc.)__

Assist with paperwork__ Attend meetings __

Other - (I would like to volunteer…) _______________________________________________________

Wish to make donation to HEIR: __$5.00 __$10.00 __$20.00 __Other

Name and County of support group:_____________________________________________________

Mailing - e-mail - fax - address and phone number of "contact" person within group:_________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Please put our Support Group’s name__ address__ phone number__ web address__ -- on HEIR’s website__ in HEIR’s packet of information__

Please put "other" information about our group on HEIR’s website __ and/or newsletter__ :____