Contact: Ian Slatter, Home School Legal Defense Association, 540-338-8663
PURCELLVILLE, Va., Jan. 27, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- New Hampshire moved one step closer to homeschool freedom as House Bill 301, the Homeschool Freedom Act, sponsored by State Representative James Parison was formally introduced.
"The Homeschool Freedom Act will cut red tape, afford greater freedom and flexibility, as well as protect parents from needless interference by government agents," said HSLDA staff attorney Michael Donnelly.
"Over the last four years New Hampshire homeschoolers have been fighting attacks on their rights. This bill is a welcome relief and HSLDA is pleased to support H.B. 301 which reflects the 'Live Free or Die' motto of the Granite State," he added.
The proposed law involves homeschoolers sending a simple one-time notification when a homeschool program begins. The bill also removes several provisions which granted state agencies unnecessary oversight and created unwarranted bureaucracy for school districts and parents. Numerous states have changed their laws in recent years along the same lines as H.B. 301, including Arizona and Nevada, because national homeschooling research has shown that needless bureaucracy just wastes parents' time and taxpayers' money.
Christian Home Educators of New Hampshire (CHENH), a prominent statewide homeschool organization, is also supporting the bill. "This bill will better protect the rights of parents who educate their children at home. We appreciate the work of Representative Parison and others who support freedom for New Hampshire homeschoolers," said CHENH board member Mike Koski.
The bill's sponsor, Representative James Parison said a lot of effort went into drafting H.B. 301. "This bill represents the work of many people with years of expertise. It is a privilege to sponsor this bill which secures greater freedom for homeschoolers, a group who, at great sacrifice, educate their children with exceptional results."
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a 27-year-old, 85,000 member non-profit organization and the preeminent association advocating the legal right of parents to homeschool their children.
