Homeschool Legal Advantage

Get your free year of membership to Homeschool Legal Advantage (HLA) and a Last Will and Testament drafted specifically for you by an attorney. Here's how:

1. Click here or go to www.homeschoollegaladvantage.com and click "Join Today."
2. Complete the form with your name, address, etc.
3. On the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page, choose "HLA Member Coupon Code." Then click "Submit."
4. On the next page, enter SONLIGHT in all caps (this coupon code is case sensitive).
5. You will receive a confirmation email with your membership card and instructions about how you can work with an HLA attorney who will draft a Last Will and Testament for you, free of charge.

Homeschool Legal Advantage (HLA) is a ministry that helps homeschool families with legal issues. Keep reading for their generous offer to help Sonlight customers. Click here to skip down to the most five most common legal questions about homeschooling. (Do you know the answers?)

HLA's free benefit for Sonlight families (a $65 value)

Thanks to Homeschool Legal Advantage (HLA), each Sonlight family is eligible to receive a complimentary First-Year Membership in HLA (A $65 value) and a complimentary Last Will and Testament from an HLA attorney. (See Benefits of Membership below.)

HLA is an outreach of the Christian Law Association (CLA). The CLA has faithfully served churches and families since 1969, and has successfully defended over 8,000 educational freedom-related cases.

HLA provides homeschooling families with every legal service that any other homeschool legal organization provides. They also will provide you and your spouse with a free last will and testament. HLA also represents homeschool organizations, helps working parents with workplace issues related to their Christian faith, and serves local churches and pastors. They do all their work on a suggested donation model.

The HLA team includes a large group of full-time attorneys and an additional 200+ affiliated attorneys throughout the United States.

Click here for answers to FAQs about about Homeschool Legal Advantage.

Benefits of Membership in HLA

Sonlight does not have an affiliate relationship with HLA (i.e., we don't gain anything financially if you become an HLA member). We just think it's a good service that could be a great help to you in your homeschool journey.

As a member of Homeschool Legal Advantage, you'll have the telephone number of an attorney who is available to answer any legal question related to homeschool issues.

Homeschool Legal Advantage members receive all homeschool related legal representation free of charge. HLA pays for all attorney fees, expert witness costs, travel expenses, and court costs allowable by law.

In addition, HLA members receive free legal representation from the Christian Law Association for religious liberty issues even if the cause of action is not related to homeschooling. This includes matters such as workplace discrimination, Christian employer obligations, the right to witness, public prayer, and any other matter related to Christians in matters of faith.

Most legal matters related to homeschooling and Christian liberty are resolved quickly without court action. Often, HLA and CLA attorneys can successfully defend an attack by contacting local officials on behalf of their member. If a homeschooling court case is necessary, Homeschool Legal Advantage provides full representation every step of the way. Members can take comfort in knowing they enjoy full legal protection for homeschooling and Christian liberty issues.

Additional Benefits

• A last will and testament drafted by an attorney that will thoughtfully distribute your estate to your heirs and outline your wishes for your children.
• Access to a comprehensive website with homeschool laws for your state.
• Legal alerts and a monthly HLA newsletter.
• A 20 percent discount on legal and educational resources from the Christian Law Association.
• Access to a private online forum moderated by Christine Field (an attorney, author and homeschool mom). Christine will answer your homeschool legal questions and you can chat with other Sonlighters about legal issues.

Note: You will receive a confirmation email that also includes instructions on how to ACTIVATE your Homeschool Legal Advantage membership.

The 5 most frequently asked homeschool legal questions

(with answers from HLA)

1. Can I homeschool my special needs child? Can I get services through the public schools for my special needs child?

The answer to the first question is a resounding, "Yes." In fact, many parents are finding this to be a superior solution. Your child will receive greater one-on-one time and will not be subject to the stigma of receiving a label in the school system. Please do learn about the challenge you are facing and learn the best ways to help your child!

As far as getting services for special needs through the public school, the answer is, "Maybe." If you are in a state where homeschoolers are considered to be private schools, you may approach the public school to request an evaluation for special services. The public school cannot, however, require you to submit to an evaluation. As with all matters involving public funds, if you are going to seek an evaluation, approach the school as soon as you can. Funding goes first to enrolled students. Then a proportionate share is distributed among private schools and homeschoolers.

 

2. Can I homeschool other people's children?

Probably, but you must specifically check your state's laws. In some states it is quite common. In some states, the parents of the other children need to disclose your name as primary teacher on their Notice of Intent.

If you will be bringing other children into your home, you will want to take some other precautions. First, have a written agreement with the parents as to what services you will and will not supply, and who is responsible for what. Second, check with your homeowner's insurance to make sure that the child and their family will be covered in the event of an accident while on your premises. This is especially important if you will be paid for your teaching services. Finally, there may be zoning restrictions in your area regarding what activity can be done in your home. Check with your state or village zoning department to be sure.

 

3. I want my child to participate in sports and extracurricular activities at the public school. Can I?

   Currently eighteen states allow access to public school activities, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming. In other states, regulations vary widely, from a passive consent to a vehement denial. Check with your school to see what else may be required, should you choose to participate.

   If you live in a prohibitive state, your choices may be limited to private teams or clubs. Where this has been challenged in the courts, they have held that our kids don't have a constitutional right to participate.

 

4. My son has applied to a trade school and they say he is required to have a GED. Is this true?

The Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 (Pub. L. No. 105-244) places homeschooled college applicants for admissions and financial aid on the same footing as traditionally schooled applicants. In the past, many colleges and other institutions were instructed by federal officials that they were required to have homeschool graduates take the GED in order for the college to qualify for federal financial aid.

Congress thus created an option for non-traditional graduates to demonstrate that they had the "ability to benefit" from federal financial aid. (Pub. L. No. 105-244, Section 483.) This option allows students who have "completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or a private school under state law" to receive financial aid. 20 U.S.C. § 1091(d)(3).

Thus, if the prospective school receives any type of federal financial aid (and who doesn't), they may not require the GED, but must give equal recognition to the homeschool diploma.

 

5. I am divorced and homeschool my children. My spouse wants me to put the children in school. What can I do?

We receive a growing number of calls concerning divorce where one parent wishes to continue home educating but the other does not. Legally our ministry cannot intervene to represent one party or the other, as this is essentially a dispute between the parents. Marriage is a contract between the parties and when that contract is broken by divorce, the judge in the case, absent an agreement, will look at what is in the best interest of the child. We are carefully following a pivotal case pending in New Hampshire (Korowski) where a judge ordered a child to attend public school in accordance with the wishes of her father.