The Minnesota Homeschoolers’ Alliance keeps an eye on proposed bills that may impact Minnesota homeschoolers. Matters of significant concern at the state level are addressed on this page, and may also be the subject of an “E-Lert” e-mail message to our Events E-List subscribers. MHA may occasionally comment on proposed federal legislation as well.
Legislation of Concern to Minnesota Homeschoolers:
Proposed Extension of Compulsory Instruction Age in Minnesota
The Education Omnibus Policy Bill passed by the Minnesota Senate had the compulsory attendance age increase from 16 to 18 along with language limiting reporting by homeschoolers to between ages 7 and 16. The Minnesota House, however, did not take up the bill, so no changes were made to the compulsory attendance laws in the 2008 Minnesota legislative session.
Other Information Sources
Several other organizations also monitor state and federal legislation relevant to homeschoolers. You will find links to these organizations on our Helpful Links page.
Homeschooling Questions for Candidates for Public Office:
Election Day - Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - is rapidly approaching. This year, Minnesota plays host to hotly disputed races for United States Senate and the House of Representatives, legislative races in the Minnesota house and senate, and elections for a number of other state offices including the governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
As homeschoolers, we can make a difference on Election Day. A great way to start preparing for the elections is by talking to the candidates. Find out where they stand on homeschooling and the other issues that are important to you. If you’re an experienced homeschooler, you may have done this a number of times over the years. For those of you who aren’t really sure how to approach a candidate, we’ve listed some questions that can help get you started:
- What is your position on homeschooling? Why?
- What do you know about the laws that govern homeschooling?
- Do you support laws that require parents to get approval from their local school district before they homeschool? If so, why?
- Do you understand the difference between homeschooling and using a public school curriculum at home?
- Do you think homeschoolers should also be able to participate in the public school system (for which they’ve paid taxes)?
- Where do you stand on the issue of lowering the compulsory school attendance age, and why?
- What is your position on mental health screening of children from infancy through adulthood? Why?
- What is your position on compulsory public pre-school (universal pre-school) for infants and toddlers?
Don’t be shy! When a candidate knocks on your door, invite him or her in and ask some questions. If you see a candidate in your neighborhood, at a parade or some other function, that’s a great time to start asking questions. Remember, the candidates are out “making the rounds” to meet their constituents and (most of the time, anyway!) to respond to their concerns. You can learn a lot about a candidate in a short amount of time, and you may be able to educate them about homeschooling and other issues that matter to you and your family.
If you’re not sure who represents you, you can easily find out by going to the Minnesota “District Finder.” This website provides pictures and contact information for the people who represent you at both the state and federal level. It also provides the numbers of the districts you live in. To find out who is running for office in any of your state or federal districts, go to the “Find a Candidate Filing” page of the website maintained by the Minnesota Secretary of State. There you can obtain the names, party affiliations, and contact information for all of the candidates that have filed for election.