00SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25                                                                                     
01 Relating to supporting home schooling and establishing Alaska Home Education                                            
02 Week.                                                                                                                   
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04  WHEREAS home schooling is the fastest growing educational alternative in America;                                      
05 and                                                                                                                     
06  WHEREAS home schooling families contribute significantly to the cultural diversity                                     
07 important to a healthy society; and                                                                                     
08  WHEREAS Alaska has a significant number of parents who teach their own children                                        
09 at home; and                                                                                                            
10  WHEREAS the state has always been a place where diversity and individualism have                                       
11 been championed; and                                                                                                    
12  WHEREAS parents who provide education for their children at home exemplify the                                         
13 independent Alaska spirit; and                                                                                          
14  WHEREAS home schooling families tend to be strong, healthy families who                                                

01 contribute greatly to Alaska society; and                                                                               
02  WHEREAS the cost of educating children at home is borne by the parents, thus saving                                    
03 money from the state general fund; and                                                                                  
04  WHEREAS home school students are proving themselves by excelling in college and                                        
05 in the state work force; and                                                                                            
06  WHEREAS the state's home school students are increasingly being recruited by                                           
07 colleges around the country because of their academic achievements;                                                     
08  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature approves of home schooling as                                         
09 an important part of Alaska's educational infrastructure meriting state sanction and state                              
10 protection; and be it                                                                                                   
11  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the right of                                               
12 parents to choose home schooling as the education alternative best suited for their children;                           
13 and be it                                                                                                               
14  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education, school districts, and                                               
15 regional educational attendance areas are encouraged to cooperate with parents who are                                  
16 teaching their children at home; and be it                                                                              
17  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is respectfully requested to direct the                                             
18 commissioner of education to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the Department                            
19 of Education, school districts, and regional educational attendance areas do not unnecessarily                          
20 interfere with parents exercising their right to home school their children; and be it                                  
21  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature establishes the week of                                             
22 October 13 - 19, 1996, as Alaska Home Education Week.                                                                   
23  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the commissioner of education, the chief                                    
24 administrative officer of each school district and regional educational attendance area in the                          
25 state, and the president of the Alaska Private and Home Educators Association.