Flhef.org
Title
HEF
Description
Craig and Brenda Dickinson were among the pioneers in the home education movement. There were no laws in Florida legalizing home education when they began in 1981. Registering as a private school was the only legal option. However, some families who were registered with private schools were being charged with truancy and threatened with loss of custody.
In 1984, Craig began to draft legislation for the home education law and approached Rep. Daniel Webster (Orlando), who also wanted to home educate his children, to sponsor the bill. They worked in the face of opposition for the next eight months to educate and win support for this controversial issue. Despite overwhelming odds, the bill miraculously passed the Legislature in one session. Gov. Bob Graham’s staff placed the bill on a recommend veto list; however, Craig was able to address the concerns and the bill was signed!
Craig worked diligently to fight attempts to add regulation to the law. In 1990, he defeated six proposals to change the requirements. However, hidden in a large bill, a measure passed designed to prevent child abusers from home educating. This law would have required every parent’s name to be cleared through HRS Child Abuse Registry before being "permitted" to home educate. Home education in Florida would have virtually ceased, but Craig intervened and worked with the Department of Education to develop an affidavit to allow home education to continue.
Contact
- Home Education Foundation
-
- Tallahassee Florida
- United States 32317
-
- +1.18508783029
