West St. Paul-Mendota Hts.-Eagan (No. 197)
See the GoodBadUglyDistricts page for other districts. Please date your comments.
Dakota County has a past history of being bad, or downright ugly, but current residents report that the officials leave them alone.
“Dakota has at times asked for more than the law allows, but I’ve found that when I simply send the MHA version of the form, nobody questions me further. Each summer, this district has what they call “homeschooler orientation meetings.” I find them to be less than helpful, and my impression from attending them is that this district would like to have more control than the law allows. But as someone else said about another city, if you know the law and give them only that much, you’ll be okay. ” ~K
No. 197 WEST ST. PAUL (Dakota County) 2002 Paperwork was sent from this district to area homeschoolers. This year is much better! They even addressed the homeschool privacy issue in the cover letter, assuring us that it is treated private. I still won’t use their reporting form- it asks us to list supplementary assessments or exams- which is not required by law to submit! They do provide a ton of helpful copies with information on taxes, PSEO, the law and such. I am considering listing them in the good section.
While you do need to assess your children in the required subjects that are not covered within the annual norm referenced test (phy ed and art?), you do not have to provide info about your additional assessments. No where in the law does it say we need to report additional assessment methods! PS - I assess my children in these areas by visual means usually.
No. 197 WEST ST. PAUL (Dakota County) In 2001, District 197 sent out a reporting form that requests more information than what is required by law to provide. They have also sent out a cover letter that states homeschooling report forms should be filled out and returned before August 24. Shame! shame! since the law says that October 1st is the deadline for the reporting form.
The cover letter also reminds us to include our child’s grade (as also requested on the reporting form they sent)
The cover letter is slightly intimidating and threatening. Also, we were told to send our forms to the Special Programs Specialist when state law instructs us to report to the Superintendent (not to homeschool liaisons, or other personnel in the district). In the past, we have received calls asking for dates of birth (before this information was legally required). Our district has increased its reporting demands each year, becoming less ideal to work with in my opinion.