23rd Annual CHAP Homeschool Convention May 8 - Christian ...

42VideoText Interactive Homeschool MathP.O. Box 19761Indianapolis, IN 46219(800) ALGEBRAwww.videotext.comVision Forum1562 E Beaverdam RdCenterville, TN 37033(800) 440-0022www.visionforum.comVision VideoP.O. Box 540Worcester, PA 19490(800)523-0226www.visionvideo.comWWholemovement Geometry4606 N. Elston #3Chicago, IL 60630(773) 794-9764www.wholemovement.comWisdom’s GateP.O. Box 374Covert, MI 49043(800) 343-1943www.WisdomsGate.orgWoofi The Missionary Puppy143 Mill RoadSchwenksville, PA 19473(610) 287-6073www.woofi.orgWriteAtHome.com2204 Fort Belvoir Dr.Virginia Beach, VA 23464(757) 319-4762www.writeathome.comWriting Tales52 Lincoln Ave.Livingston, NJ 07039(973) 670-3767www.writing-tales.comYYWAM PublishingP.O. Box 55787Seattle, WA 98155(800) 922-2143www.ywampublishing.comDear Fellow Homeschoolers,It is spring and a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of Love. An old legislative warhorse’sthoughts turn to getting the Pennsylvania homeschooling law improved. Many have askedme what CHAP’s plans are for this legislative term.CHAP (The Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania, the largest homeschoolsupport organization in the state) has long thought that the Pennsylvania law is far too restrictive.In our early attempts to change the law, we tried unsuccessfully to get what wecalled a “freedom bill,” a law with very few restrictions. This freedom bill, in spite of widespreadsupport among homeschoolers, was soundly and easily defeated by the educationestablishment.We subsequently went on to HB 1273 which was a bill that few homeschoolers thought wasperfect, but was a bill most homeschoolers could support. In essence, it puts the evaluationstep on the qualified evaluator rather than having both a qualified evaluator and the schooldistrict do evaluations as our current law requires. The current method has two disadvantages:the first is a form of double jeopardy for the homeschooling family and the second isan unfunded mandate for the school district.HB 1217 is the current version of the previous bill (1273) that we supported last session. HB1273 was introduced and championed by Representative Marisco, at the request of CHAP.Things moved smoothly as CHAP and our legal counsel met with the sponsor and the PASchool Board Association. Then all discussions stopped as the School Board Associationrefused to continue discussions while the RFPA was being litigated.CHAP is supporting HB 1217. We believe passing HB 1217 will make a better climate forhomeschooling in PA. Some have expressed concern that the political climate may be lessfavorable than in the past, but we don’t believe we can miss a whole legislative session dueto fear. Our history has been that we have had more success stopping negative things than wehave had in accomplishing positive changes. We believe that we can stop the bill if it wouldbe corrupted to the point of being unacceptable.Homeschoolers in the state need to be active in order to prevent further erosion of our freedomsto homeschool. This will be the topic of the opening talk (which is free and opento the public) for the 23rd annual CHAP Convention held at the Farm Show Complex onMay 8th and 9th. We are also having other sessions which deal with issues facing homeschoolersin Pennsylvania and the United States. For further information about the conventiongo to CHAPonline.com.If you want to be involved in this effort to improve the law in Pennsylvania, be sure thatCHAP has your contact data. You can go to our web page and sign up at Chaponline.com.Thank you.This letter may quoted in its entirety, but no permission is granted to use it in parts.Sincerely,Bruce Eagleson, MDChairman, CHAP