Department of Defense Directive Supports Home School Choice
Sunday, July 9th, 2006By Mimi Rothschild
Seven years ago the HSLDA scored yet another victory for the home school movement. After successful lobbying by this home school advocacy group, the House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee issued the following directive to the Department of Defense regarding the schools they operate at home and abroad for military families. In this directive, the committee stated, “…military families who decide to home school their children should be supported by Department of Defense Overseas Schools (DoDDS) to any extent possible”. They go on to say, “That policy…should specify that home schooled students may be supported with library services, music, sports, single classes, and other programs without actually having to enroll in DoDDS”. In short, military families at home and abroad have the right to home school their children, and furthermore, this right must be materially supported by allowing access to the same educational resources utilized by students taught outside of home school.
This was a critical decision and a great boon, especially to military families stationed overseas in places where educational resources such as public and university libraries are not as readily available as in most US cities. Now all students in a home school program have the ability to access classes, facilities, and extra-curricular activities and events offered by Department of Defense schools without having to sacrifice the flexibility and autonomy of the curriculum home school provides.
There are other bonuses and stipulations to the directive that are worthy of note. At one time it was unclear to what extent a home school family needed permission from the base commander. The directive makes clear that parents do not need the base commander’s permission to home school their children. What is still a factor however, are the laws of the nation in which the base and family are located. The directive also makes clear that any home school program must observe the laws and requirements of the nation they are in. This may require the student to attend certain courses, or submit attendance records to an office that oversees such affairs. Furthermore, there may be treaties existing between the US and the nation in question which could impact a decision to home school in various ways. As always, it will be necessary to seek out information relevant to the particular demands of any given situation.
Yet, despite such inescapable factors as international politics, the formalized iteration of the right to home school and the public recognition of the Department of Defense’s responsibility in materially supporting that right for military families is a step forward for home school families everywhere. If the right is supported and guaranteed by one governmental department, it is far less likely to be questioned or rescinded in another, i.e. the Department of Education.