Legal / Legislative Updates

INDIANA

Official Tries to Dictate Family’s Curriculum

A Home School Legal Defense Association member family in South Bend was recently told by a local public school official to use specific curriculum to teach their high school-age son at home.

Several years ago, the Howard family had their son David (names changed to protect family's privacy) tested through the public school to see if he had a learning disability. After the testing revealed some learning disabilities, Mr. and Mrs. Howard weighed their options and decided that continuing to teach their son at home would be best. Although the Howards had declined to place their son in public school, various members of their school district’s committee on special education required a meeting with them each year to discuss David’s learning needs.

At their most recent meeting, a school official questioned Mrs. Howard on the curriculum she used. After being told that David spent nearly two hours a day practicing his reading—both silently and aloud—the official stated that this was not sufficient. She informed Mrs. Howard that she would be sending her information about a certain online curriculum that she wanted David to use.

Concerned that the official was intent on controlling their homeschool curriculum rather than recognizing David’s progress in their home education program, the Howards contacted HSLDA for help. HSLDA Staff Attorney Thomas Schmidt was able to assure the family they were not required to use the curriculum desired by the school official. Additionally, Schmidt told the Howards that they could not be required to attend the annual meetings at the public school.

The family is continuing with the effective privately developed program they created for their son.

— by Thomas J. Schmidt