A Call To Urgent Action! You must call today, Friday, April 12, 2002. ********************************************* Why? This is the first time the CHAP Board has ever called for urgent action. We are only doing it because we feel there is no other option. To not issue this call would be to fail those we seek to serve. The time to influence the future of homeschooling in Pennsylvania is now. Two years ago CHAP stated its goal for a new homeschool law: It should be short (one or two pages), simple (you should not need a guidebook to figure it out), and it should emphasize the rights and responsibilities of parents to supervise the education of their children. This type of bill is the best chance we have to put in place a law that recognizes the God-given parental rights and responsibilities to educate our children. Our U. S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions recognize that parents are responsible for their children's education. Our courts have upheld those parental rights and responsibilities. Now is the time to incorporate those rights and responsibilities into our homeschool law. After two years of negotiating, working with other homeschooling groups, several legislators, and the HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association), as of last night, we were told a bill fitting the above description was about to become a reality. Today, we found out that a few of the people “in the know” feel such a law cannot be passed. Because of this, a proposal for a complex bill that would somewhat improve the homeschooling environment is being considered instead. Worse, a key legislator set a deadline for action on this for tomorrow, Friday, April 12, 2002. We have great concern this approach is wrong and urge you to take action to support a one page parental rights/responsibilities law. We still have hope that a one page parental rights/responsibilities law is possible. We still believe it is the best for Pennsylvania. We also believe homeschoolers would powerfully support the rights/responsibilities law. It is our hope and belief that if enough of you call and email the representatives below, they will still be open to the type of law that many of you endorse and desire. If we do not support this idea with a flood of calls, the chance to get this type of law is probably lost to Pennsylvanians for the foreseeable future. Why is this type of law best for Pennsylvania? It would require a simple notification to the school districts, but would not have homeschoolers accountable to the school districts. We are aware there will be opposition to and political problems with such a law. The gains are well worth it. Some have said this approach is radical. We don’t think so. Twenty states currently have such laws and homeschoolers in those states are showing themselves to be responsible educators of their children. Pennsylvania currently ranks 49th of the 50 states in terms of homeschooling friendliness. Why should we work hard to move up to 45th? Shouldn’t we try to move to the top of the list? What should you do? Your fast action is critical! Proverbs 21:1: "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." Now, in addition to praying, you need to contact the following three representatives. (We have been told by the legislators that email is less effective than a call, but email as additional notification may help). Tell them you are calling to “support a CHAP style, one page parental rights/responsibilities law.” We need to act quickly to make this happen! This requires the immediate action of as many homeschoolers as possible. Please send a copy of your email to CHAP (address below) so we will know and have evidence of what kind of support this campaign is receiving. Note which representatives you have contacted and how. CHAP is working to make this type of law a reality as soon as possible, but we cannot do this without the help of the homeschoolers of Pennsylvania. This is the first major step of many. CHAP will also post updates on our web page at www.chapboard.org click on "Legislative Updates." Please take action TODAY, Friday April 12, 2002! Your IMMEDIATE action is critical! Thank you, The CHAP Board, Bruce & Mary Ann Eagleson, Larry & Kim Huber, Clyde & Pam Gwin, Doug & Nada Rothgaber, Jim & Robbie Warren Summary of action needed: 1)Call and send email to the state representatives listed TODAY! (Friday, April 12, 2002) 2) Send a copy of your email or short summary of your phone call to chaplaw@chapboard.org Legislators: Hon. Samuel E. Rohrer 100 Love Road Reading, PA, 19607 (610) 775-5130 Fax: (610) 775-3736 Hon. Samuel E. Rohrer 402B South Office Building Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 (717) 787-8550 Fax: (717) 783-7862 Rep. Samuel Rohrer’s email: Srohrer@pahousegop.com Hon. Joseph A. Petrarca 210 Longfellow Street Vandergrift, PA 15690 (724) 567-6982 Fax: (412) 565-2330 Hon. Joseph A. Petrarca 220 South Office Building Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 (717) 787-5142 Fax: (717) 705-2014 Rep. Joseph Petrarca’s email address: jpetrarc@pahouse.net Hon. Thomas E. Armstrong 430 Locust Street Columbia, PA, 17512 (717) 684-5525 Fax: (717) 684-2538 Hon. Thomas E. Armstrong East Wing, Room 53B Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 (717) 783-2076 Fax: (717) 772-9869 Rep. Thomas Armstrong’s email address: tarmstro@pahousegop.com