Keep home-school rules

As it stands, Utah asks little of home-educated students. Home-schoolers are supposed to seek an exemption from their local school districts. The state requires that home-educated students be taught the state curriculum and be schooled the same number of days and hours as students who attend public schools. For the most part, school administrators take parents' word that they meet those requirements and their children are progressing since the state does not demand that home-educated students take standarized tests to assess their progress.

While some parents may perceive any contact as intrusive, the greater societal concern is that all children receive a good education and become productive citizens. If state law requires some minimum reporting standards of people who elect to educate their children at home, it is with just cause. The Legislature should resist any change to the current requirements, as contemplated in a bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi.

Home education is a huge commitment. Some parents do a beautiful job of it. Some are even former schoolteachers or college professors who not only know their subject matter, they know how to teach. But others apply for exemptions so they can keep their children home so they can be put to work or because there is some type of dysfunction in the home that the parents do not want disclosed outside the home. The latter is of obvious concern to public schools and child welfare authorities.

To safeguard against education neglect and exploitation, local school districts must be able to check on children who are home-schooled. Some public school officials say the contact enables the school to offer its services or recommend or provide instructional materials that may be helpful to parents as teachers. Since many home-educated students study at home and attend public school for some classes or come and go from the public school system throughout their school years, it is important to keep home-educated students on track with state curriculum requirements. Any legislation that could chill that contact is counterproductive to the best interest of children.

No question, some home-education advocates view any intervention with government as negative. But there's a larger societal good at stake, making sure that all children achieve their greatest potential.