April 4, 2001

Dear Representative Maddox:

With regard to HB 0467, I am reminded of an expression often used by a member of my church, "I don't have a dog in this fight." After examining the bill, I would have to say, "Gateway really does not have a dog in this fight." It will not require an administrative change in Gateway's policies of admissions, withdrawals, or those we dismiss for failure to give evidence upon families who register to educate their children as an extension of Gateway under 49-50-801 (a church-related school). At the request of called Option III: Alternative Status." Note below:

[Kay interrupting here: Please note the following paragraph is quoted from an HSLDA document regarding Tennessee homeschooling law.]

Option III: Alternative Statute -- Operate as a Satellite Campus of a Church-Related School. Section 49-50-801. Parents may have their children attend a church-related school where the home is a satellite or extension of the church-related school. Under this option, parents need not comply with the notice and registration requirements of the home school statute. for home schools do not apply. The Tennessee Department of Education recognized this option in a memorandum from the Commissioner of Education to superintendents and directors of schools dated February 18, 1999.

There are only two reasons I have entered the arena. First, I was in the position to provide documents proving that the reports of home-educated students "running loose" were false or skewed. Except for Weakley County, I can show that we have a good working relationship with attendance supervisors in almost every West Tennessee County. When Gateway dismisses students for failure to meet our standards, we faithfully report their names to the appropriate supervisors. Second, in 1979 state troopers in Utah shot down and killed unarmed John Singer, whose only crime was being a home educator of his children. Since then I have dedicated my life to helping home educators. Therefore even even though HB0467 will not affect Gateway home educators registered under 49-50-801, it will affect some not registered with Gateway. Claiborne Thornton, president of T.H.E.A., Jeff Atherton, Attorney in Chattanooga, and Home School Legal Defense Association have all advised me that there would be serious legal problems in opening 49-6-3050 and inserting your amendment.

It is my understanding that Mr. Marvin Flatt, attendance supervisor in Weakley County, is pushing the passage of this bill. We regret that Gateway has had problems with him when he refused to accept the legal opinion of the State Department of Education as stated in the February 18, 1999 memo by families who withdraw to register in our extension program (defined in the memo) must disregard the directive by the State Department of Education and sign a dual registration form that contains information not true of them our staff. memo) must disregard the directive by the State De

Since your request that we seek to cooperate with him in issues that precipitated HB 0467, we have written him and also called his office. After numerous calls, we have not been able to reach him, nor has there been a response to our letter. From past experience we do not believe he will discuss the issue at hand.

In conclusion, my position will be to inform home educators of these events and let them make their case for or against HB0467. I do want to talk further about you participating in our Gateway graduation in Jackson on May 24. Senator Kyle and Rep. Ulysses Jones can tell you what great events our graduations are.

Sincerely,

Dr. Leo Crofford

Copies to:
Rep. Phillip Pinion
Rep. WS. C. Pleasant
Rep. Ulysses Jones, Jr.
Rep. Larry Scroggs
Mr. Marvin Flatt
Claiborne Thornton
Jeff Atherton