This is a volunteer position but you will receive free copies of The Old Schoolhouse each quarter - one for yourself and one copy to share with friends, family, and families who are thinking of homeschooling, or to place at local libraries and/or at homeschool group meetings.  If you are selected to become the coordinator for your state, you will be responsible for posting updates and special state information on this state blog - Information such as:  events, homeschool conventionsn, state laws, special meetings or speakers coming to the area.  The events do not have to be all inclusive, just a good overview of things that are of interest to homeschoolers.  You may also post field trip ideas/reviews and places of interest in your state. You can also blog about your personal experience with homeschooling from time to time. Writing prompts are sent out each week to help people who don't have much to post on their blog that week.

You are also allowed to gift 3 one-year TOS subscriptions each year to area libraries, area support group leaders or new homeschoolers - those people who you think could benefit from TOS! Basically, you become a contact person for people in your state and we help you get the word out about LOTS of info related to homeschooling through our magazine.

If this is something that might interest you, please email me at kprice@thehomeschoolmagazine.com.

I appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you soon!

  Bill 2754 that “recognizes” homeschooling as an education alternative was defeated on Congress on Monday, November 6, 2006. The vote was 20 at favor, 27 opposed and 3 abstained.

   The bill required a notification of intent to homeschool and a portfolio. It was presented by the Representative Albita Rivera Ramírez.

     Just a brief note to inform you that the Bill 2754 that "recognizes" homeschooling will be presented for approval at the House of Representatives during the next few days. The Bill was presented with a positive report from the Education Committee of the House of Representatives of PR (which contained the changes suggested at the Hearings that several hs support groups presented (those at favor and those opposed). We will keep you posted.

Gena and Paul Suarez, publishers of The Old Homeschool magazine,  are already beginning to fill in their speaking calendar for 2007.  Here are some areas of the country that they will be in:

early January - New England??

mid-January - Wisconsin and Minnesota

early February - Texas or surrounding areas

mid-Feb to March 1st - Chicago area

March - Washington, California, and Oregon; WEST COAST - other area states, too!

April - South Carolina

May - Michigan

June - PA

When they make a trip to speak somewhere, they'd like to make the most of their time and meet with several groups in that state. Their presentations are given FREE of charge, but if a "love offering" can be taken to deflect some of the travelling costs, that is always welcome! Here are the topics that they are ready to discuss:

~ Presentation Topics ~

I have here a long post, because I am posting both the changes suggested on Bill 2754 that was presented on the House of Representatives of PR and the Original bill so everyone objectively can see directly the changes that were presented. Thanks again to The Caribbean Center of Home Education Resources (T'CHERs) in providing the english version of this document.

Brief overview of House Bill 2754 main changes

Exposition of Motives:

This bill satisfies the State's obligation to provide parents with
guarantees that will enable them to exercise their rights by creating
reasonable parameters, so that government agencies will not
arbitrarily regulate homeschooling. This obligation being due to the
undeniable reality that the State has a constitutional mandate to
ensure that all minors receive an education that promotes their full
development.

Section 2- Public Policy

This section further underscores the balance of rights among the
State, parents, and children. The State recognizes and reaffirms that
parents' right to decide to homeschool is constitutionally protected.
In the same manner, the State has the rright and resposibility to
legislate reasonably all teaching practices under the mandate of
ensuring children's right to receive a proper education.

Section 5- Notice of Intenent
The payment of $125 was eliminated. NO payment is required.

Section 8-.Parental Responsibility
Parents who homeschool for the sole benefit of their offspring,
without any financial gain, will NOT have to acquire a teaching
certificate.

Section 9- Portfolios
The parent will keep a portfolio to serve as evidence of the materials
being used in accordance with the educational philosophy chosen by the
parent. The GEC will be limited to only verifying the existence of
said portfolio every four years and may do so by means of accepting a
sworn statement for such purposes. The GEC will notify parents no
less than 30 days prior to making said verification, and in no way
will this verification have an effect on the particulars relating to
edcational philosophies or content. It is recognized that the
portfolio is the exclusive property of the parent and will always
remain under his/her custody and they will have the right to modify it
as needed or desired. It will be preserved for 4 years after 12th grade.

Section 10 - Extracurricualr Activities
The Secretary of Education will "establlish the necessary
administrative procedures which will enable" homeschooled student
participation in extracurricular activities.

Section 13 - Educational Neglect
This section was eliminated.

Section 15 - A New Subsection 21 to Article 7 Law #148 of July 15, 1999
This was Section 16 in the original bill. Subsection 21 to Article 7
Law #148 is rephrased to read: [GEC] will comply with the duties and
faculties conferred to it by the homeschooling law.*

*This section eliminates the GEC's duty to confirm compliance with
educational philosophy as was stated in the original bill.

Section 17 - Regulatory Faculty
GIves the GEC the right and duty to carry out the purposes of the law.

Section 18- Privacy of Records
This section was added which orders the GEC to establish rules
pertaining to the maintenance and custody of records compiled under
this law. Such records will be kept confidential and only the
parents; agencies or entities authorized expressly by the parents;
the dependencies of the executive, judicial and legislative branches
in compliance with their duties; or people who obtain judicial
authorization will have access to them.

Section 20-
This law will enter into effect on July 1, 2007

-----*------*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*------*-----

COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO

15th Legislative Assembly 3rd Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill 2754

June 15, 2006

Presented by Representative Rivera Ramírez (by petition)

Referred to the Education and Culture Commission

LAW

To establish homeschooling as a non-traditional educational institution; empower

the General Education Council of Puerto Rico to receive, transmit, and maintain the

notices of intent to homeschool of the parents, tutors, or legal guardians of the

minor; and for other related matters.

EXPOSITION OF MOTIVES

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico recognizes the natural right of the parents to

determine and freely choose the best way to educate and raise their children,

therefore, it puts it forth as government public policy.

Everyone knows that the task of educating children has fallen on the parents since

the beginning of time. However, with the passing of measures that required

compulsory school attendance, and with the changes in industry and economy, said

form of homeschooling, although not disappearing completely, decreased greatly,

passing the responsibility of education to the State. One of the primary reasons for

said change was the necessity for both parents to enter the workforce, looking for a

better standard of living. The idea of homeschooling resurged in the sixties and

since then, parents have tried to reconcile mandatory laws with their natural right to

educate the children in a way that conforms to their social, moral, intellectual, and

spiritual parameters.

On the other hand, the public education system supports the search for alternatives

and strategies that adapt education to the changing times and to provide tools for

achieving the maximum development of the students' abilities. Homeschooling is an

alternative in which the parents or guardians assume the total responsibility of

professorship. This alternative is governed, necessarily and implicitly, by the

particular needs, circumstances, and educational philosophy with which every family

identifies. Within these philosophies is inherent the understanding that education is

acquired by way of the process of daily life.

Homeschooling is an alternative that is generating interest in families around the

world. About 4 million children and teens are homeschooled. In the United States,

approximately 1.1 million (1,096,000) students between the ages of five and sixteen,

between the grades of kindergarten and twelfth, have been homeschooled in 2003

(National Household Education Surveys Program). Actually, the increase varies

between 7 and 15% per year. It is expected that by the year 2010 there will be three

million children and teens being homeschooled in the United States (Brian D. Ray,

2002). The findings of investigative studies show that homeschooling is an

alternative that can adequately harmonize with the complete development of the

student.

Homeschooling in Puerto Rico started in the eighties. It was then that the first

support group, composed of about ten families who were looking for an alternative

to fully meet with their educational needs, organized. Today there are about ten

support groups around the island. The growth has been proportional to previously

shown national growth.

It is necessary to note that the State has a genuine interest in providing for its

citizens necessary opportunities to achieve the full development of their abilities and

therefore, to adequately equip them for the workforce and to support their talents

and abilities for the benefit of the society in which they are a part.

In accordance with the above, the Legislative Assembly of the Commonwealth of

Puerto Rico understands the merit and necessity to establish some basic parameters

that govern homeschooling in Puerto Rico, with the fundamental objective to

guarantee the optimum development of all of the capacities, abilities, interests, and

needs of our children. Moreover, to guarantee other study options should it be

necessary. Obviously, establishing parameters without diminishing the parents'

natural right to educate their children.

DECREED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF PUERTO RICO:

Section I.-Title

This Law will be known as "Law for Home Education in Puerto Rico."

Section 2.- Public Policy

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico acknowledges as a fundamental natural right that

the parents, tutors, or legal guardians of minors determine the way in which they are

going to be cared for and educated.

Section 3.-Definitions

The following words will have the meanings expressed below:

"Council" will mean "General Council of Education."

"Legal Guardian" will mean any person which, by means of legal authorization, is

appointed to the care and custody of the child that is still of school age.

"Department" will mean Department of Education of Puerto Rico.

"School age" will mean any age up to twenty one (21) years old.

"Basic Academic Education" will mean the completion of elementary, middle, and high

school level or their equivalent.

"Homeschooling" will mean the method in which the parents, tutors, or legal

guardians of minors will provide the basic academic education.

"Parent" will mean biologic, or adoptive, father or mother of the minor.

"Secretary" will mean the Secretary of the Department of Education

"Tutor" will mean the person who, by means of a judicial resolution, is appointed the

guardianship of the minor.

Section 4.-Exception to compulsory school attendance

Children who fall under the discipline of homeschooling or some other alternative

educational program, and whose parents have fulfilled the notification of intent to

homeschool requirement with the Council, will be exempt from what was established

in subsection (a) of Article 1.03 of Law Num. 149 dated July 5, 1999, as amended,

known as "Organic Law of the Department of Education," which establishes

compulsory school attendance in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Section 5.-Notification of intent to homeschool

The parents, tutors, or legal guardians will notify the General Education Council of

their intention to establish and provide a program of homeschooling. The notification

will be done by means of a written communication, signed by the parent, tutor, or

legal guardian of the minor, and will include: name of the child; date of birth; age;

gender; home address; telephone number; actual school grade or its equivalent, if

applies; school grade that will be covered under the home education method and the

previously attended education institution. Also, it will include a check or postal

money order for the amount of one hundred twenty five dollars ($125.00) per home,

payable to the President of the Council. Such payment will be deposited in a Special

Account in the name of the Council. Funds of this Special Account will be used to

cover, only and exclusively, the expenses which the Council will incur with the

implementation of this Law.

The parents, tutors, or legal guardians should deliver said notification to the Council

no later than thirty (30) days after beginning to homeschool. In the case of parents,

tutors, or legal guardians who are homeschooling at the date of the approval of this

Law, they should notify the Council within sixty (60) days of its approval.

The Council, after receiving the notification, will send back, via postal mail, a copy of

the notification document stamped with their official seal. This document will be

sufficient evidence of academic attendance for all governmental purposes. Under no

circumstances should any agency discriminate against children who are studying

under the homeschooling method.

Section 6.- Notification purpose

The notification of intent to establish and provide a program of home education has

the objective of allowing the Council to maintain information for statistical purposes;

and, as requested by the parent, tutor, or legal guardian, to offer assistance in their

educational efforts. Furthermore, such notification will be filed to protect the families

that decide to homeschool their children against accusations of educational

negligence and of unjustified school absence.

Section 7.- Notification of the intent to cease homeschooling

The parent, tutor, or legal guardian of the minor will notify the Council of their intent

to cease homeschooling. In such cases, the minor will be registered in a public or

private institution unless he will be sent to a new alternative educational program, of

which the Council should then be notified. Said notification must arrive no later than

fifteen (15) days from the date of ceasing to homeschooling.

Section 8 - Responsibilities of parents, tutors, or legal guardians

Parents, tutors, or legal guardians who are in charge of their children’s education are

responsible for the educational philosophy and mission, selection of educational

materials, textbooks, teaching methods, time and place to provide education, and the

student’s regular evaluation.

Also, they will be responsible of getting in contact with and coordinating with

organizations and support groups that can offer orientation on the following topics:

legality, learning styles, multiple intelligences, teaching approaches, academic

programs, evaluation, portfolios, college admissions, local and national resources,

special education, and gifted children. The Council will have a list of these

organizations and groups and will provide it to parents when they complete the

notification.

Section 9 - Portfolio

The parent, tutor or legal guardian will keep a portfolio that demonstrates the

minor’s progress, which will be subject to evaluation, with prior notice, every four (4)

years by the Council. The purpose of the evaluation will be to confirm the fulfillment

of the philosophy and educational mission chosen by the parent, tutor, or legal

guardian. Each homeschooled child’s record will include the following information:

educational materials; activities, samples of work, the minor’s tests or evaluations;

vaccination records, except when this contravenes the minor's religious beliefs and it

has been previously communicated to the Council; etc.

The portfolio should be kept by the parents, tutors, or legal guardians for a period of

six (6) years after completing the twelfth grade or its equivalent.

Section 10 - Extracurricular activities

The Secretary of Education can authorize the participation of homeschooled students

in extracurricular activities, such as literary or oratory contests, vocational curses,

scientific fairs, artistic showings, tournaments, sports, art, dancing, band, among

others; given that the student complies with the vaccination requirements

established under the Law Number 25 of September 25, 1983, as amended, known as

“Immunizations Law of Pre-school Children and Students.”

Section 11 - Minors with any type of learning disability or handicap

The Department of Education will have the responsibility of offering special

education programs and services to minors educated under the homeschool method,

if the minors are eligible, by applicable laws and regulations, to participate in such

programs and given that the parents, tutors, or legal guardians have requested them.

Section 12 - Entrance to the Public Education System

The Department will establish, by regulation, the necessary provisions for entrance in

the Public Education System of students who were educated by the homeschool

method. This regulation will be passed conforming to what is put forth under Law

Number 170 of August 12, 1988, as amended, also known as “Uniform

Administrative Process Law.” Until this regulation is passed, the Secretary will take

the necessary steps for this law’s implantation by a Circulated Letter.

Section 13. -Educational neglect

Any person who might have reasonable cause to think that educational neglect is

taking place can, under oath, notify the Department of the Family about it.

Nevertheless, the person's reasonable cause cannot be founded upon the parent's,

tutor's or legal guardian's denial to provide information or comply with requirements

which exceed those stipulated in this Law, without having the obligation to do so.

Section 14 - College

Minors who are homeschooled can take the college entrance exams the same as the

students in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s public and private education system

do, and they will be eligible for college admission if they fulfill the admission

requirements.

Section 15. -Sub-sections (7) and (8) are added to Article 3 of Law #148, approved

July 15 of 1999, as amended, which will read as follows:

(1)...

(7) "Basic academic education" will mean the completion of elementary, secondary,

and high school levels, or their equivalent.

(8) "Homeschooling" will mean the alternative by which parents or legal guardians of

school-age minors will provide a basic academic education.

Section 16. -New Sub-sections (21) and (22) will be added to Article 7 of Law # 148

oapproved July 15 of 1999, as amended, which will read as follows:

Article 7. Duties, faculties and responsibilities ...

(1)...

(21) Shall confirm every four years compliance with the educational philosophy and

mission chosen by the parent, tutor or legal guardian who educates a minor under

the homeschooling alternative.

(22) Shall receive, process and maintain of the notice of intent to homeschool a

minor submitted by the parent, tutor or legal guardian.

Section 17. -Article 10 of Law # 148, approved July 15 of 1999, as amended, to read

as follows:

"Article 10. -Licensing and Accreditation Office

The Council will establish a Licensing and Accreditation Office and will maintain its

operation with competent personnel to carry out technical duties related to the

evaluation of schools that solicit licenses to operate in Puerto Rico, renewal of

licenses or which should be accredited according to this Law. In addition, this office

will confirm the compliance with the educational philosophy and mission selected by

the parent or legal guardian who homeschools their child under this alternative. This

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    On June 15, a new bill regarding homeschooling was presented at Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives. This project (P.C. 2754) is said to “recognize” the educational alternative of homeschooling in Puerto Rico.

     It suggest a notification to intent homeschooling to the Puerto Rico General Educational Council (“Consejo General de Educación de Puerto Rico”) with a payment of $125; an evaluation every 4 years where the parent will bring a portfolio of their child.

     Puerto Rico doesn’t have any regulation about homeschooling, although there have been several attempts during the last 4 years for regulation. Homeschooling groups, from conservatives to liberals were opposed to previous projects. What will be their reactions to this bill? We will keep you informed…

    To see P.C. 2734, you can go to www.opinapr.com and select P.C. 2754 on the search button.

Homeschool Math Blog is having a Blog Contest; María (the blogger)  is giving away a membership to Webgraphing.com and several math ebooks. 1) An A+ Membership to Webgraphing.com, good thru August, 2007. This is most useful for high school or beyond. 2) 3 copies of the ebook Multiplication 1 (multiplication concept and times tables) 3) 3 copies of the ebook Fractions 1 (Fraction operations such as addition, subtraction, equivalent fractions, mixed numbers) 4) 3 copies of the ebook Geometry (includes most topics of plane geometry for elementary grades). Get to her website to learn how to win the prizes!

Due to a scheduling glitch, namely the National Parks Service not having accurate information on their website, T'CHERs is changing the gathering scheduled for this week (June 6) to Thursday, June 22.  Place and time remain the same. (Balneario Cerro Gordo, Vega Alta, 10:00 a.m.)

 They are sorry for this inconvenience and hope that many of you will still be able to join us on the new date.  The T'CHERs Teen Service Committee will have members there with ecology/recycling related activities for the all the kids present.  Also, there are members coming that have books and other educational material for sale, trade, and even give away, so you don't want to miss that!  It will be a good time to sell some of your own used materials, as well.

 If those that get to the beach about 10:00 A.M. would park as close to the entrance as possible, we will all meet there and get a place on  the beach together.  Conditions permitting,  T'CHERs banner will be displayed where they are on the beach so that people arriving later in the day can locate them.

    

This is an invitation from the national support group T'CHERs (The Caribbean Center for Home Education Resources):

Come Join Us For a T'CHERs Gathering!

Do you have a child with great imagination and loves to do new things?

There is a contest called The National Young Game Inventors Constest open for all children, including homeschoolers, (kids ages 5-12)in which they design a board game (with all its pieces, rules, and a board) and earn the chance to win prizes (a trip, a $10,000 savings bond, a game library, and more!). In addition, the winning game may be produced by University Games for our lineup in 2007. The contest is open until September 1, 2006.

For more information: http://www.universitygames.com/NYGIC/NYGIC2006ContestInfo.html 

     These are the basic legal regulations at the moment for homeschoolers in Puerto Rico (thanks for all the girls in T'CHERs [The Caribbean Center for Homeschool Resources www.tchers.net] for helping in this area):

·       Puerto Rico falls under the jurisdiction of the US Constitution. The right to home school is a constitutionally protected right which is guaranteed to parents under the 14th Amendment. (Liberty Clause).

·       If you are home schooling with a truly religious conviction, then you are also protected under the 1st Amendment. (Free Exercise Clause).

·       As a home schooler, you are a NON-GOVERNMENTAL SCHOOL as defined in the Puerto Rico Constitution, Article 2, section 5. No notification of or permission request to home school to the Department of Education or any other official entity is necessary.

     But there have been attempts to change the freedom homeschoolers have in the island. In 2002, State Congress Representative Javier García Cabán presented a Bill where homeschoolers had severe restrictions to educate their children; this bill "died", but came back to life last year in a new "version", but with the same restrictions. It already had committee sessions, and several homeschool associations presented in writing and with their presence their opposition. We still have no answer about the approval or rejection to the Bill.  

¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to the Homeschool Nation Puerto Rican page!

In this page we will try to present activities of different homeschooling groups here in Puerto Rico.

    Puerto Rico is a spanish speaking island in the Caribbean that has a Commonwealth relationship with the United States. Homeschooling is not regulated in Puerto Rico, but there have been several attempts since 2002 to regulate homeschooling. The homeschool groups have been very clear in oppossing any regulation and it has been taken into account.

    We will present very soon the common questions about homeschooling here in the "Island of Enchantment".

I am in search of enthusiastic people to join the Homeschool Nations Team to represent your country!    This is a volunteer position but you will receive free copies of The Old Schoolhouse each quarter to handout to friends, family, families who are thinking of homeschooling, to place at local libraries and/or at homeschool group meetings.  If you are selected to become the coordinator for your country, you will be responsible for posting updates and special information on this country blog.  Information such as:  events, homeschool conventions, state laws, special meetings or speakers coming to the area.  The events do not have to be all inclusive, just a good overview of things that are of interest to homeschoolers.  You may also post field trip ideas/reviews and places of interest in your country. I will be sending out writing prompts over the weekend to help people who don't have much to post on their blog that week.   Coordinators and contributors are eligible to participate in special contests and random drawings for prizes each month. You are also allowed to gift 3 one-year TOS subscriptions each year to area support group leaders or new homeschoolers - those people who you think could benefit from TOS! Basically, you become a contact person for people in your country and we help you get the word out about LOTS of info related to hsing through our magazine.   If this is something that might interest you, please email me at kprice@thehomeschoolmagazine.com.   I appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you soon! Kris Price Manager, Homeschool Nation The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com