The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is the premier nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. HSLDA advocates on the legal front on behalf of their members in matters which include conflicts with state or local officials over homeschooling. Each year, thousands of member families receive legal consultation by letter and phone from HSLDA, hundreds more are represented through negotiations with local officials, and dozens are represented in court proceedings. HSLDA also takes the offensive, filing actions to protect members against government intrusion and to establish legal precedent.
HSLDA is the only full-time attorney-staffed organization that assures you of immediate and thorough representation by an attorney with expertise in this area of law from the very beginning of any legal challenges to your home education. There is no in-state or out-of-state school or educational program available to private California homeschoolers that offers absolute legal protection. There are no other legal protection programs or plans that guarantee expert attorney consultation and representation to families for all legal contacts related to their home education like HSLDA. HSLDA has been at the center of defending our freedom to homeschool in California. Even if your family is part of a PSP, it is usually the individual family that will be challenged by school and other authorities and not the private school PSP administrator. Each family must take the responsibility to secure the best legal protection available.
HSLDA has 30 years of experience, connections, and resources focusing primarily on protecting homeschool freedoms and parental rights. Because of this extensive experience, HSLDA has been directly involved in writing and defending the laws that protect private home education in all 50 states and at the federal level. This unique experience gives them an in-depth and thorough understanding of how the laws affecting private homeschooling work differently in each state. In addition to the legal legislative aspect of their work, HSLDA has also successfully intervened directly with local public schools, social workers, the Department of Education, and many other state agencies on behalf of homeschoolers. HSLDA strategically puts their resources toward keeping their members out of court, but are still able to successfully defend families in court in the few cases that progress that far.
A large membership base provides HSLDA with the resources necessary to have the experienced, quality staff and attorneys who have made HSLDA the only organization of its kind and the leader in defending private homeschooling. Each family’s membership combined with other families’ memberships in HSLDA provides the financial resources necessary to successfully defend the freedoms of HSLDA member families in a way that indirectly benefits all homeschoolers. A single wrong court decision or piece of bad legislation would affect all homeschoolers and could easily undo all of the work that we have all done over a period of many years to protect homeschooling families.
We at FPM are able to regularly consult with HSLDA on technical analysis of legislation and response strategy. Their help to us is a benefit not only to all California home educators but also to all private schools and parents in protecting their rights.
Most homeschooling families teach their children for many years and never have any contact with a public official regarding their homeschooling. However, your family could be one of the families who will need legal help. HSLDA reports that during 2011-2012, private homeschooling member families experienced 2,779 contacts by government officials in California. In each case, HSLDA intervened quickly to help these members handle their situation. These families are very grateful that they are members of HSLDA and that HSLDA has the expert legal help which only HSLDA provides.
God has blessed HSLDA with huge successes in California and across the nation. They have never failed to provide specialized and successful help for many homeschoolers. This is why we highly recommend HSLDA as the best legal defense association for homeschooling parents desiring to protect their families and freedoms in homeschooling. The annual membership fee is $130. Discounts are available for families that are also members of qualifying organizations, such as CHEA. To join HSLDA, or to renew your membership, visit their web site at www.hslda.org for an HSLDA Membership Application; or call (540) 338-5600; or write:
HSLDA
PO Box 3000
Purcellville, VA 20134