Posted by Peter B. Hrycenko on November 11 2005 at 21:22:39:
In Reply to: Please send samples of good sports & extra-curricular policies to... posted by Howard Richman on November 11 2005 at 11:15:02:
This new law does NOT require a school district to have a written policy. This is important to know. There are a number of equal access disticts without written policies for years. They should not be encouraged to write anything so long as they follow the new law. I got two districts next door to me without written policies and they are wonderful friendly to homeschoolers.
I never have seen a need for a written policy on something so simple; policies I have seen contain sometimes a lot of fluff. However, such provisions as signing a code of conduct, a request to the building principal for access to an activity try-out, giving the homeschooler a medical insurance form and doctor physical forms I can understand.
Further, unless a district has already in place something illegal and incongruous with the new law, or cooks up something horrendous and adds illegal and unnecessary burdens in a policy, and we have to step in, I suggest, depending on the district, to leave the districtīs solicitor or superintendent write the policy on their own for first draft. Smart administrators you know will call their buddies next door for help if need be.
From the law, my emphasis in caps: "A board of school directors MAY adopt a policy to implement the requirements of this subsection. Such policy shall only apply to participation in activities AND SHALL NOT CONFLICT WITH ANY PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION."
Should a homeschooler want to guide a district soliciting advice on a written policy, one must be careful to offer only the minimum, so as to reduce bureaucracy and lessen any potential burden on the homeschooled participant as well as the district.
In short, we donīt want to be purveyors of bureaucracy in putting any undue burdens on homeschool equal access participation.
Howard, you are doing the greatest public service with your work on equal access. I will write you soon. Thanks for coming to Harrisburg and bringing in the troops and your many contacts.