NHEG - EDGuide - MAY- JUNE 2020

www.NewHeightsEducation.org
National Education News
HSLDA Releases ‘Quick Start’ Guide
to Homeschool in Light of COVID-19
globenewswire
PURCELLVILLE, Va.— The Home School Legal Defense Association is a
nonprofit organization, and for over 37 years has led the homeschooling
movement to make homeschooling possible and to protect the rights of
Americans to homeschool in all 50 states and territories. The emergence of
COVID-19 in Washington State is already closing schools, and more cases of
the virus are continuing to be identified in the United States.
“We are deeply saddened by the recent news of the deaths from COVID-19,”
said HSLDA president Mike Smith.
As school officials and parents look for the best way to protect children’s
health, many learning options are readily available. Education is not
necessarily limited to traditional classrooms—and homeschooling can be a
great alternative.
“For those Americans needing to transition to educating their children at
home, we created a Quick Start guide to homeschooling that will help you get
started right away,” said Mike Smith.
Homeschooling allows learning to happen in a variety of settings and ways.
Many kids thrive when their curriculum is customized to their strengths and
needs—and when they are equipped to explore their passions and talents, at
their own pace.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a report in
October 2019 that says home education has become an increasingly popular
choice in America, with more families homeschooling than ever before.
Between 1999 and 2016, the number of homeschool families nearly doubled,
from 850,000 students to 1.7 million.
www.NewHeightsEducation.org
“Homeschooling allows parents to mentor their children to become caring,
responsible adults who give back to their community and their world,”
Smith said. “Kids who have experienced bullying or other types of trauma
often thrive when they are given the freedom to learn in a safe, loving
environment.”
HSLDA’s attorneys help parents, school officials, and legislators understand
sometimes complex state homeschooling laws. Our educational consultants
customize guidance for parents on questions from special needs to creating
high school transcripts for college. HSLDA Online Academy offers live,
interactive subject courses for grades 7–12 from math to writing and
even coding. For homeschoolers in need, HSLDA offers grants to purchase
curriculum and other educational materials.
HSLDA makes homeschooling possible by protecting homeschooling families
and equipping them to provide the best educational experience for their
children. We have been trusted since 1983 to care for homeschooling families
as we safeguard their freedom and secure the future of home education.
http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/03/03/1994542/0/en/HSLDA-Releases-
Quick-Start-Guide-to-Homeschool-in-Light-of-COVID-19.html
National Education News
COVID-19 Leaves Kids in Education
home school legal defense association
With most schools across the nation closed in order to help keep students
and staff safe from the novel coronavirus, parents are already facing difficult
decisions about their children’s education. Now we’re hearing that officials in
some areas are trying to forbid the one choice that may do families the most
good: transitioning to full-time homeschooling.
In Florida, Amber had considered homeschooling her kids beginning in the fall
but decided to accelerate those plans when schools began to shift to online
instruction in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She knew that her children would not do well with online learning. So Amber
notified the Palm Beach County School District that she was establishing a
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