Home School Legal Defense Association

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Home School Court Report, February 2005

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a United States-based "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." [1]

HSLDA is organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, located in Purcellville, Virginia, which is also the home of Patrick Henry College, founded by Michael Farris in 2000.

The organization is known (and often criticized, from both inside and outside the larger homeschool movement) for its ties to the Christian Right and its staunch advocacy for conservative political and religious causes.^[1] ^[2]

1 History
2 Other HSLDA Programs
3 Generation Joshua
4 Patrick Henry College
5 NCFCA
6 See also
7 Notes
8 External links

[edit] History

HSLDA was founded by Michael Farris in 1983 for the purpose of defending homeschooling families. At that time, homeschooling was not specifically legal in most of the states of the US under compulsory education laws. Those who practiced homeschooling were often harassed or prosecuted. Through a combination of legal action and legislative lobbying, HSLDA played a large part in the legalization of homeschooling throughout the US.

The high point of HSLDA's existence was its central role in the 1994 defeat of language in bill H.R. 6. This bill would have required all teachers in the US, potentially including home educators, to have teacher certification. HSLDA used their grassroots lobbying system in each of the 50 states which coordinated members to contact their legislators about pending legislation. Their members overloaded the phone switchboards at Capitol Hill, and through the efforts of their members and other organizations, the bill was amended to remove the problematic language.[2]

HSLDA's speech and debate league broke off to form the NCFCA in 2001 (See Below). That same year, Patrick Henry College was founded by Michael Farris, who became the college's president until 2006. Today, HSLDA's 80,000+ members receive free legal assistance if they are contacted by public school officials, or need legal help in relation to their rights to homeschool.

[edit] Other HSLDA Programs

The HSLDA publishes a bimonthly magazine, The Home School Court Report, which is mailed to all of its members.

The HSLDA also publishes statements on its website regarding issues that do not directly relate to homeschooling, notably the organization's support of a Federal Marriage Amendment. [3]

HSLDA runs the Home School Foundation, which provides "Assistance to needy home schooling families".

[edit] Generation Joshua

Main article: Generation Joshua

In 2003, HSLDA, feeling a need to educate youth in civics and politics, founded Generation Joshua. Generation Joshua (Often shortened to "Gen J" by its members,) is an American Conservative Christian youth organization that aims to encourage the involvement of 11-19 year-olds in politics. Its members, which are 6,000 strong (As of 2006), participate in civics education, clubs (Over 60 nationwide as of 2006), Student Action Teams, Voter Registration drives, and "Benjamin Rush" Awards, which offer members a chance to earn a trip to Washington, DC, among other things.

[edit] Patrick Henry College

Main article: Patrick Henry College

Patrick Henry College, or PHC, is a private, non-denominational Protestant college, founded by HSLDA, that focuses on teaching classical liberal arts and government, located in Purcellville, Virginia. It is the first college in America founded specifically for Christian home-schooled students. The school was incorporated in 1998 by Michael Farris, founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association. It officially opened September 20, 2000 with 92 students, and has since grown to approximately 325 students.

[edit] NCFCA

Main article: National Christian Forensics and Communications Association

The National Christian Forensics and Communications Association, or NCFCA, is a speech & debate league for homeschooled students in the United States, established in 2001 after outgrowing its parent organization, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), which had been running the league since it was originally established in 1995. NCFCA is now organized under its own board of directors with regional and state leadership coordinating tournaments and other activities.