Fred Gleockler
Director
Minute.M.A.N.
Maryland Alert Network
mache@goeaston.net
An e-mail alert network of the Maryland Association of Christian Home Educators to our members and friends that have asked to be kept informed of issues affecting home schooling in Maryland. If you have received this by mistake or no longer wish to receive these alerts, please reply to the address above and type "unsubscribe". MM 2005-04

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From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
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Maryland--Calls Needed For Fair Access to Special Education Services

Dear HSLDA members and friends in Maryland,

Calls are needed immediately to support a bill that will give homeschool families the same access to special education services (speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc.) that private school students get.

Special needs homeschool students routinely received these services until a year or two ago, when counties abruptly began canceling them.

This bill, Senate Bill (S.B.) 116, restores fairness to the system and gives our special needs children access to services if they wish to use them. It will not affect those who do not wish to use the services.

Passage of this bill will be a tremendous blessing for families who need the services but cannot afford to obtain them privately. The bill's first test will be a hearing this Wednesday, February 14, at 1 p.m.

ACTION REQUESTED:

1. Please call the members of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs committee immediately. Your message can be as simple as, "Please vote in favor of S.B. 116. It will give homeschool students fair access to special education services they need, like homeschool students in many other states already do."

Your call will be especially effective if you live in the district of the committee member you call. Use our legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox before calling to see who your senator is, then check the list below to see if he's on the committee.

2. Come to the hearing on Wednesday and testify in support of the bill. Your testimony will be especially helpful if you have a special needs child this bill would benefit. If you think you may testify, please call Jennifer Levy, Sen. Brochin's aide, at 410-841-3648 in advance.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Joan Carter Conway, Chair
(410) 841-3145, (301) 858-3145
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3145 (toll free)
email: joan.carter.conway@senate.state.md.us

Roy P. Dyson, Vice-Chair
(410) 841-3673, (301) 858-3673
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3673 (toll free)
email: roy.dyson@senate.state.md.us

Gwendolyn T. Britt
(410) 841-3745, (301) 858-3745
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3745 (toll free)
email: gwendolyn.britt@senate.state.md.us

Richard F. Colburn
(410) 841-3590, (301) 858-3590
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3590 (toll free)
email: richard.colburn@senate.state.md.us

Janet Greenip
(410) 841-3568, (301) 858-3568
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3568 (toll free)
email: janet.greenip@senate.state.md.us

Andrew P. Harris
(410) 841-3706, (301) 858-3706
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3706 (toll free)
email: andrew.harris@senate.state.md.us

J. Robert Hooper
(410) 841-3603, (301) 858-3603
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3603 (toll free)
email: robert.hooper@senate.state.md.us

Michael G. Lenett
(410) 841-3151, (301) 858-3151
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3151 (toll free)
email: mike.lenett@senate.state.md.us

Paul G. Pinsky
(410) 841-3155, (301) 858-3155
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3155 (toll free)
email: paul.pinsky@senate.state.md.us

James C. Rosapepe
(410) 841-3141, (301) 858-3141
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3141 (toll free)
email: jim.rosapepe@senate.state.md.us

Robert A. Zirkin
(410) 841-3131, (301) 858-3131
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3131 (toll free)
email: bobby.zirkin@senate.state.md.us

BACKGROUND

HSLDA has been working closely with Senator James Brochin (Baltimore County), the sponsor, to develop this bill. It has been drafted carefully to give special needs families the access they need without impacting families who do not wish to use the services. Senator Kittleman is a cosponsor.

In states where a homeschool is considered a private school, families already have access to these services. Other states give access to these services with special laws. Maryland law currently does not provide any right for homeschool families to have access to these services.

Thank you for standing with us for freedom.

Sincerely Yours,

Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney