Legislative Update: 2/28/23😃

Report From the Capitol: Our legislative team attended the House Education Committee meeting this morning. Dr. Michael Rice (Michigan's Superintendent of Public Instruction) met with the committee. He is the one who has been pushing for mandatory registration of homeschoolers the past couple of years. We wanted to be present to see what is being suggested and give you an immediate heads-up! Fortunately, home education was not mentioned once during this meeting. However, it did give a window into some of their agenda. Dr. Rice would like all students to be REQUIRED to begin their formal education by age 4. This sentiment has been previously proposed by Governor Whitmer, and we will be on the lookout for this in Governor Whitmer's budget proposal that should be released soon. Changing the compulsory age for Michigan children is apparently the solution they are coming up with in lieu of the 3rd grade reading law we currently have. During the meeting, it was made clear that we currently have a situation where teachers are needing to be "coached" by professionals on how to teach literacy to their students. We taxpayers are paying for these "literacy coaches." There is, allegedly, not enough funding for this program and not enough "coaches" available. Our big takeaways from the meeting: Mr. Rice wants to require education to begin at age 4. This would change the compulsory age in Michigan from 6 years old to 4 years old. Michigan's public educators truly are not prepared for their professions upon graduation. More money and more government oversight always solves the problems, from their perspective. We are pleased that home education was not specifically mentioned during this meeting. We were also able to have conversations with new House Education Committee members, some of whom appear to be promising allies of home education and would help to push back if negative legislation is introduced in the future. We plan to continue to follow up on and nurture these relationships with new legislators on the education committee (as we have done since 1984). While MiCHN is a volunteer organization made up of concerned homeschooling parents just like you, we believe there is strength in numbers and there is cost involved in maintaining the presence we have had in the legislature for almost four decades, and keeping homeschoolers in the state networked and informed. If you would like to help protect and preserve homeschooling freedoms here in Michigan, please consider supporting our work through donations (we are a tax-exempt, 501-c-3 non-profit organization) and through annual memberships. **It is important you understand we can not act on a bill, unless one is introduced. At this time, there has been NO BILL introduced in committees nor the chambers that would stipulate more regulations on homeschoolers. With that in mind, MICHN would encourage you to prayerfully consider what you can do TODAY: Write a letter introducing yourself and your family. In the letter thank them for all their hard work and service to the people of Michigan. Tell them you are praying for them, ask them if they have any specific prayer requests they would like to share with you-be it work or family related. If they share a request-be sure to follow up with a 'Thinking of You Note' and see how they are doing. Pray for our elected officials. Considering using a resource like pray1tim2.org. Visit them in their local district office or in Lansing. Many legislators set aside certain times in their districts to meet with their constituents. Consider blessing them by taking a delicious treat with you or leaving a small gift like special "made in Michigan" food or decorative item. Send cards of encouragement throughout the year. Birthdays (usually posted on their website), 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are all great opportunities to thank them for their service. Consider including a family picture and hand-drawn pictures or notes from your children to make it more personal. Invite them to homeschooling events in your area-picnics, programs, graduations, concerts, etc. Consider volunteering in their office or on their campaign. If you have confidence in what they stand for, offer your time to help: homeschoolers can assist with mailings, phone calls, placing yard signs, distributing literature door-to-door, marching in local parades, etc. -Your MiCHN Legislative Team  

Get Started HERE! History of Homeschooling in Michigan Donate   As INCH approaches in only a few more days, excitement is mounting for all that will be happening as homeschoolers gather from around the state here in Lansing! This Thursday through Saturday, May 9th-11th, is the 40th annual Inspirational Networking Conference for Homeschoolers!  And it's NOT too late for YOU to join us for even a part of the conference... Come when you can! Single day passes are still available online, as are 3 Day All Access passes, HERE (They will also be available at the door, but costs go up $10/ticket.) Good news is also occurring in the state legislature. Last week, HB 5664 was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Labor Committee. This bill is a reintroduction of a billl that MiCHN worked to get passed back in 2021. This bill would give homeschool parents the right to issue work permits for their own children instead of having to gain permission from their local public school district.  In September of 2021, the bill had passed easily through both the House and the Senate, but was then vetoed by our Governor.... (See article HERE) We are asking you to take a look at the recently proposed legislation, HB 5664 of 2023, HERE, and then: Thank the sponsoring legislators for reintroducing this bill. (Representatives. Hoadley, Martin, Rigas, Borton, Aragona, Neyer, Alexander, Slagh, Kunse, Thompson, Beson, Roth, Carra, Outman and Bollin.) Contact info for all representatives can be found HERE Contact your own representative and tell them you would like them to support HB 5664. Contact members of the House Labor Committee and ask them to pass this bill out of committee for approval on the House floor. (If you reside in the district of one of these committee members, please make sure you tell them that when you call.) You can find the House Labor Committee members and their contact information HERE As we prepare to encourage one another at the INCH conference this week, let us also encourage our elected leaders to continue the excellent work of preserving and even expanding our homeschool freedoms, so that parents are able to do what they believe is best for their children, both regarding their education and their work experiences. Blessings. Mike Winter MiCHN President     Want a sneak peak of our conference program?? ****Check it out HERE****     Continue to PRAY with us!