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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Ind. Gov't. - More on "Indiana offers little regulation for home schooling"
Updating its story from yesterday, the NWI Times has an editorial today calling for a study of home schooling regulations. It concludes:
If all students -- even those taught at home -- had to report on a periodic basis for examinations or some other reason to school officials, the outcome of the Choate case might have been different.The vast majority of parents who teach their children at home are, we believe, responsible parents who make their children's education a top priority. There are many resources for parents who choose, for whatever reason, to home-school their children.
But how many children fall through the cracks because their parents fail to follow through on their promise to educate their children well? Without state regulations, there's no way of knowing that answer.
Should children schooled at home be required to take periodic tests to show their educational process?
For children in a public school or private school, these checks are automatic. But in the Christian Choate example, some oversight by the state might have prevented his death. State oversight also could put pressure on the parents -- admittedly, a minority -- who say they will home school their children but then fail to educate them well. This is a policy issue that has been ignored way too long.
It's too late to establish one for this summer, but the Indiana General Assembly should set up a study committee next year to look at home schooling to see whether the state should keep tabs on these children to ascertain their educational progress and well-being.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 17, 2011 11:18 AM
Posted to Indiana Government