ACHEV Position and Policy Regarding Charter Schools
What is ACHEV’s purpose statement?
We have gathered together to support and encourage those who choose private home education for their children. We have purposed that this organization and all its activities and publications will be consistently and forthrightly Christian, to the honor and glory of our Lord God.
Summary of the law
Students who are at least six years old by September 1 must be enrolled in a school, either public or private. There is no separate category for home educators. All* students, whether they study at home or in a classroom, are either public school students or private school students. *A rarely employed option is to arrange for private tutoring by a California credentialed teacher. (E.C. § 48224)
What is private home education?
Parents who choose to teach at home under private education may either file their own Private School Affidavit (PSA) or enroll in a Private School Satellite Program (PSP). Private home educators retain full authority to direct the education and upbringing of their children and are free to use faith-based resources.
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are public schools, separate from the local district. They receive state public school tax funding and minimal oversight by the local district. Many charter schools are non-classroom based, often called homeschools. Though all public schools are bound by public school law, non-classroom charter schools are able to grant parents more flexibility than classroom public schools, and allow parents a portion of the per-pupil tax funding for secular resources, such as curriculum or classes offered at learning centers. Per the California State Constitution (article 9, section 8), religious instruction is not permitted, directly or indirectly, in any California public school. The intent of the law is that public school students receive a secular education. Religious instruction technically is not to be done during school hours, and is not to count toward coursework on record.
What is ACHEV’s position on charter school?
ACHEV aligns with CHEA, HSLDA, and FPM. We invite you to read their positions in more detail at their respective websites (cheaofca.org, hslda.org, and fpmca.org). In summary, while we fully support the right of each family to choose the school setting that best fits their family, we understand that enrollment in a public school places families under the authority of the public school, restricting their freedom to use Christian resources as core curriculum. While some charter school teachers counsel parents they may use Christian resources but submit alternate secular work samples, it is our opinion this counsel does not align with California law.
Why does ACHEV only include private home educated students?
In keeping with ACHEV’s purpose to support families who have chosen private home education, our financial and manpower resources go toward creating support for the students whose parents are not getting support from public school, but are funding their
own private education. Charter school students are receiving support from their charter schools.
What about families that choose private home education for one or more of their children, and charter school for other of their
children?
ACHEV’s longstanding membership policy is to allow a family to join if they are choosing private home education (PSA or PSP) for at least one of their children. ACHEV events, activities and field trips are for ACHEV students only (those under PSA or PSP), unless otherwise noted. The goal is to invest our limited resources in alignment with our bylaws and purpose statement. Sometimes we host family-oriented events to which the entire family may come, such as our Annual BBQ & Potluck. Activities, events, and field trips that become open to the whole family will be clearly noted on the ACHEV calendar and in our communications.
We understand it can be inconvenient for ACHEV families who choose to have children in multiple school settings, such as a non-classroom charter school or any other school. The decision to have children in multiple school settings naturally results in having to
balance the demands and policies of each school setting.
If you have questions about ACHEV’s position and policy, we invite you to reach out to leadership. You are welcome to email us at
achevmail@gmail.com. Thank you.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors
