Home School Kansas

Just because I was googling what exactly to write for my withdrawal letter for my oldest to homeschool this week and had trouble finding a letter example for Kansas.

Kansas Homeschooling Laws info, Here and Here.

Kansas education laws and statutes do not specifically mention homeschooling. However, in 1996, the Kansas legislature did pass a Parental Rights Act that reads, in part: “It shall be the public policy of this state that parents shall retain the fundamental right to exercise primary control over the care and upbringing of their children in their charge” (K.S.A. Section 38-141(b).

In Pierce v. Society of the Sisters, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "the fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments of this Union repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the creature of the state."

If you are going to home school, first:

Non-Accredited Private Schools (Home Schooling)- register here with the Kansas Dep. of Education. It is very easy, simple and fast to do online.  Save the file on your computer for future reference and print a copy for your records AND for whatever school or schools you are withdrawing your children from if the currently attend somewhere else.

If you are leaving a school either mid year or just not returning for the new school year, you must let them know and an email letting them know doesn't seem to be enough.

You will want to send them a copy of your Registration and a formal withdrawal letter.  We are going to sign ours.  The school requested document or proof that our child was enrolled in some online program.  But I researched and it's a withdrawal letter that is needed here and you do NOT have to explain why or what curriculum you are using. Just that you are withdrawing them and give them registration info so they can remove your child from their records.  Otherwise after 3 consecutive days not in their school they will get reported to the truant officer.   I researched a few things and found this helpful to know!

Example withdrawal letter:

Your name                                                                     date
Address

Child's name


Dear Principal Someone:

Please be advised we will be withdrawing the above child from Some School  effective as of  Date, when she/he will be privately educated.

If you have any questions, please send them to us in writing.  Thank you.


Sincerely,

parent's signature and date

It all sounds very simple once I type it but when you have to come up with something out of nothing really it feels like a lot to have to figure out how to word correctly.  Or maybe that's just me.
update: the school office said it was exactly what they needed and best wishes in success at homeschooling!
Looking for totally free Christian curriculum online?  Complete, All Free Curriculum 

Some quick words on vaccines and exemptions.

It's been a really long time and probably because I'm rarely on the big old computer but I have been typing up letters for school purposes.  In my quest I was googling examples of some various letters I would need for homeschooling and vaccine exemption for Kansas, so I thought I would at least pass my info on in case it would help anyone.

First of all, know the Vaccine laws and exemption for your particular state.  They can be a little different.  I will give the Kansas info. Here and here.

First of all, what gets put in your child's body should be the parent's choice and as parents we want to do what we feel is best for our children based on our own research and convictions.  There have been times I have thought about just caving and saving myself the trouble, but it felt so wrong to go against all the information I now had that I could not forget or ignore.  So if you have decided not to vaccinate or partially vaccinate or delay then I just wanted to help by putting my research and letter example out here.  I'm not interested in arguing about vaccines or that lining up to get vaccinated is what the Lord wants.  I just don't have time for that.

Kansas has Medical and Religious exemption options.

K.S.A. § 72-5209. Health tests and inoculations; certification of completion required, alternatives; duties of school boards.

(a) In each school year, every pupil enrolling or enrolled in any school for the first time in this state, and each child enrolling or enrolled for the first time in a preschool or day care program operated by a school, and such other pupils as may be designated by the secretary, prior to admission to and attendance at school, shall present to the appropriate school board certification from a physician or local health department that the pupil has received such tests and inoculations as are deemed necessary by the secretary by such means as are approved by the secretary. Pupils who have not completed the required inoculations may enroll or remain enrolled while completing the required inoculations if a physician or local health department certifies that the pupil has received the most recent appropriate inoculations in all required series. Failure to timely complete all required series shall be deemed non-compliance.

(b) As an alternative to the certification required under subsection (a), a pupil shall present:

(1) An annual written statement signed by a licensed physician stating the physical condition of the child to be such that the tests or inoculations would seriously endanger the life or health of the child, or

(2) a written statement signed by one parent or guardian that the child is an adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to such tests or inoculations.

My religious conviction based on Scripture is not to violate my conscience.

"..to go against conscience is neither right nor safe."  -Martin Luther

Romans 14:23.

James 4:17  Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Acts 5:29 " we must obey God rather than man"

These are our spiritual convictions on this matter, I do not impose them on anyone else.

Also the fact that many vaccines have aborted baby cells in them doesn't make this decision hard for me,  the more I read and research the further I am convinced. I also have seen how much healthier our family as been since no more flu shots and vaccines. And to think I used to be on the other side, fearful and judging those who would not vaccinate.  Anyway, this isn't a post to convince anyone, only to help those who are wanting help with letter info.

Letter example:


Your name                                                                                                date
address


To Whom It May Concern:

In compliance with Kansas State Laws, I am writing this letter on behalf of my child(ren),names  who will be attending Some School, Date.

I am writing this to state that we adhere to a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to such inoculations. The practice of vaccination is contrary to our beliefs and would violate our religious principles.

By declaring these convictions and presenting them in writing to you,  I am complying with the immunization exemption provisions in K.S.A. 72-5209.


Thank you.

parent signature                          date


I modified a letter for New York State .  Notice I made sure to include the proper wording needed for Kansas.  I thought about using more of the letter's wording as I preferred it but I figured I better stick to more exact wording.  Maybe that is me but I just wanted to make sure.  I am so thankful however at enrollment the lady that helped me was so kind and helpful and never made me feel like a societal delinquent. Other things I read online was you do not need to explain yourself or your religious details to the school or in the letter.  In hind site, I would have had this letter written and ready to turn in with all my other paperwork at enrollment.  So I will have to drop it by before school starts.

Some info if you are interested:

http://www.mommypotamus.com/vaccine-illusion/   Immunologist challenges current vaccine theory. I have heard this lady talk some before.

http://www.mommypotamus.com/should-parents-who-dont-vaccinate-be-prosecuted/

http://www.mommypotamus.com/should-vaccines-be-mandatory/# 

http://www.thankyourbody.com/why-we-chose-not-to-vaccinate-our-child/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/01/18/history-vaccination.aspx  forgotten history of vaccines.

Some Doctors against vaccines.

Dr. Tenpenny D.O.
Dr. Mercola D.O.
Dr. Susanne Humphries M.D.
Dr. Toni Bark M.D.
Dr. Jack Wolfson Cardiologist
Dr. Tetyana Obukhanych PhD Immunologist