| Arkansas Virtual School
(AVS)
October 22, 2002
By Christopher J. Klicka, HSLDA Senior Counsel
Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. Box 3000 Purcellville, Virginia 20134 540-338-5600 Fax: 540-338-2733
Recently, homeschooling families throughout the state have been contacted by Arkansas Virtual School (AVS), a new public school program funded by a 5-year U.S. Department of Education grant. Many "freebies" are offered to those families who choose to enroll their children in AVS: curriculum, learning tools (including a computer and internet access), software, access to certified teachers, and more. Of course, all the materials are secular in nature. On its face, this looks like a good deal. However, Home School Legal Defense Association members and all homeschooling families across the state should be aware of the ramifications of this seemingly harmless program. We want our member families to make an informed decision regarding participation in AVS. REASONS NOT TO ENROLL IN AVS: HSLDA recommends against enrolling your children in AVS for the following reasons: 1) If you enroll in this program, you will no longer be considered a private homeschooler, and you will not be eligible for membership in Home School Legal Defense Association. Our goal at HSLDA is to work to protect the right of parents to privately homeschool, free from government controls and restrictions. AVS is a tax-funded, government program with legitimate government controls and limitations. 2) AVS is a public school. On AVS's website, under the "Frequently Asked Questions," a subtitle asks: "Is this [AVS] homeschooling?" The answer: "The Arkansas Virtual School is a public charter school. It is not homeschooling." The website further states that "AVS is a public school of choice." If you enroll your children in AVS to receive free curriculum and a computer, your children will no longer be considered private homeschool students but rather public school students. This means you waive certain parental rights and agree to homeschool according to the public school's rules. In other states with similar "virtual" public school programs, HSLDA has observed that more and more regulations are gradually placed on the homeschooler each year. If the family does not comply, the "virtual" school will demand the return of the computer, curriculum, etc. For those homeschoolers who become dependent on the free government equipment and funds, their freedom is gradually exchanged for these "freebies." 3) By enrolling in AVS, you will be waiving certain parental rights. The government does not offer "free" services without obligation. For example, AVS will: - have certified teachers supervise you; - require all AVS students to participate in required state assessments; and - require you to use their selected, secular curriculum. Their website states that "since AVS is a public school, religious instruction is not part of the school's curriculum and cannot count for school credit." This is not the free, private homeschooling that has been so successful all these years. This is simply an attempt by the government to create small public schools in our homes. Lastly, before you make a decision about enrolling in this program, please read the articles on charter schools that have appeared in HSLDA's Home School Court Report. "Charter Schools: The Price is Too High" by Christopher J. Klicka http://www.hslda.org/courtreport/V18N1/V18N101.asp "Charter Schools: Look Before You Leap!" by Roy Hanson http://www.hslda.org/courtreport/V18N1/V18N102.asp Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this important matter.
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