October 7, 2005
Tipp City Schools Demand Birth Certificates
Ohio's homeschool regulations are clear and generally favorable for homeschoolers, but that does not prevent local school officials from devising new "requirements." Tipp City Schools has rejected a homeschool notification form because the parents did not provide birth certificates and class years.
Ohio requires parents to identify the birth dates of their children, but nowhere requires them to provide a birth certificate. All documents on file for an Ohio home study program are "public records" and can be accessed by any person who follows the proper legal procedures. Demanding birth certificates for homeschooled students is unsupported by law and unacceptable to families.
HSLDA has contacted Tipp City Schools to clarify the law. We expect to resolve this issue without filing suit.