— FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
CONTACT: NICHE at 800-723-0423
graduation@homeschooliowa.org
Statewide Homeschool Graduation Ceremony Held May 14
[DES MOINES, IA] — May 14, 2011 — The Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE) held its 2011 statewide graduation ceremonies Saturday, May 14, at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at First Assembly of God Church (2725 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines).
The two graduation ceremonies, which were open to the public, featured 98 homeschooled students from all parts of Iowa. Because of the growing numbers of homeschooled students participating in NICHE’s statewide ceremony (ranging from 98 to 126 in recent years), the single service was split into two services this year, with graduate families choosing between the morning or afternoon service.
Graduation attendees were treated to a unique speaker this year. Israel Wayne, a homeschooling father of six who was himself home educated, will deliver the graduation address, “The Ethics of True Education.” Israel is author of the book, “Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview”; the marketing director of Wisdom’s Gate Publications, based in Covert, MI; and site editor of www.ChristianWorldview.net.
NICHE, formed in 1992, is Iowa’s only statewide homeschooling organization providing support and information to home educating families through a variety of events and resources, including an annual conference, a formal graduation service, an array of print and electronic publications, legislative services and multi-faceted assistance to local homeschooling groups and individual families.
— FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
CONTACT:
NICHE at 1-800-723-0438
capitolday@homeschooliowa.org
More
than 1,000 Iowa Homeschoolers Greet
Iowa
Legislators and Potential Presidential Candidates
at NICHE’s
“Homeschool Day at the Capitol”
[DES MOINES, IA — March 24, 2011] —
More than 1,000
homeschoolers from all parts of Iowa flooded the state Capitol yesterday
to
meet with their legislators and hear potential presidential candidates and a federal
judge speak
during the the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators’ fourth
annual “Homeschool Day at the Capitol.”
Following an early breakfast for Legislators presented by
NICHE,
homeschooling families representing 74% of Iowa Senate districts and 61%
of Iowa House districts
greeted their legislators,
encouraging them to support
two homeschooling bills in the Iowa Legislature.
NICHE provided lobbying
training and also scheduled tours of the Capitol and Judicial buildings.
Afterward families, from babies to grandparents, braved a cold,
windy noon hour
on the Capitol mall to hear the featured guests —
Minnesota
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann,
radio talk show host and former Godfather’s
Pizza CEO Herman Cain
and Texas Congressman Ron Paul —
speak on the importance
of maintaining homeschooling freedoms.
Additionally, Federal Judge William Wagner
presented insights on how a U.S. Parental Rights Amendment
can protect families
from interference by domestic and international governments in rearing their
children.
Seven Iowa House and Senate members were introduced who are
homeschooling their children
or were themselves homeschooled.
The noon keynote speakers gave longer presentations during the
afternoon, in the Embassy Suites Ballroom,
with the addition of Gov. Terry Branstad
and Congressman Steve King.
A variety of Iowa legislators also provided brief
updates.
The audience was enthusiastic and passionate, braving a very
long day with children of all ages,
staying to the very end to hear every
speaker.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the
competent private instruction (homeschooling) law in Iowa,
and NICHE’s main
legislative thrust focuses on a new initiative — “It’s Time to Simplify” —
with
two companion bills in the Legislature
that would simplify what is one of the
most complex homeschooling laws in the nation
by proposing an additional option
for families:
Independent Private Instruction (HF 588 and SF 160).
The House version, plus a
parent-taught driver education bill, were passed by the House;
both companion
bills await action in the Senate.
National studies over two decades have consistently shown
homeschooled students to excel
an average of 15 to 30 points higher than their public school counterparts in
standardized tests.
Studies also show that homeschooled students excel in every
area,
from socialization to citizenship to college and career.
Formed in 1992, NICHE is Iowa’s only statewide homeschooling
organization providing support and information
to home educating families and
groups through a variety of events and resources,
including an annual
conference; a formal graduation service; a newsletter, e-newsletter and
magazine;
legislative services; and multi-faceted assistance to local
homeschooling groups and individual families.
— FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
CONTACT: NICHE at 1-800-723-0438
capitolday@homeschooliowa.org
Potential Presidential Candidates to Keynote Iowa
"Homeschool Day at the Capitol" Rally March 23
[DES MOINES, IA -- March 16, 2011] -- The Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE)
will hold its 2011 "Homeschool Day at the Capitol" on Wednesday, March 23.
The event, which attracted nearly 900 attendees last year,
is held annually to help homeschooling families
effectively communicate and build relationships with their elected officials.
Featured speakers this year will include
Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann,
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad,
radio talk show host and former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain,
Iowa Congressman Steve King,
Texas Congressman Ron Paul
and Federal Judge William Wagner.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the competent private instruction (homeschooling) law in Iowa,
and NICHE is focusing on a new initiative -- "It’s Time to Simplify" -- with two companion bills
that would simplify what is one of the most complex homeschooling laws in the nation
by proposing an additional option for families:
Independent Private Instruction (HF 588 and SF 160)
National studies over two decades
have consistently shown homeschooled students to excel
an average of 15 to 30 points higher than their public school counterparts in standardized tests.
Studies also show that homeschooled students excel in every area,
from socialization to citizenship to college and career.
To highlight the success of homeschooling,
NICHE has invited an array of national speakers
who support the freedom of families to homeschool without government interference.
Activities will begin at 9 a.m. in the West and North Wings of the Capitol Rotunda
where families will be guided on how to call out their legislators from the chambers to meet them personally.
Homeschooling exhibits will be displayed in the rotunda.
Additionally, tours of the Capitol, provided by Capitol Tour Guides,
will be available in the morning on a first-come, first-served basis,
with two tours of the Iowa Judicial Building also available.
A noon outdoor rally (12-12:45 p.m.) will be held on the Capitol’s west mall,
with introductions of Iowa legislators who were homeschooled themselves or are homeschooling their children.
Judge Wagner will present an update on the state of parental rights and the other three guest speakers
-- Congresswoman Bachmann, Congressman Paul and business leader Cain --will give an introduction to their afternoon speeches, which will take place a few blocks away at the Embassy Suites.
Following the noon rally, activities will reconvene at 1:30 pm. at the Embassy Suites ballroom
(101 E Locust St.), with free shuttle bus service provide by NICHE.
Governor Branstad will kick off the afternoon session with a welcome
and comments on the new homeschooling bills in the Legislature.
The afternoon guest speakers will include
Congresswoman Bachmann,
Business Leader Cain,
Iowa Congressman Steve King
and Congressman Paul addressing homeschooling freedoms.
Judge Wagner, speaking on parental rights, will discuss how parents can protect their families
from pending law that would shift decision-making authority from parents to government officials.
Iowa legislators, including House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, will give brief presentations
between the keynote speakers.
More information on the event, and online registration, is available at the following link:
https://www.homeschooliowa.org/2011capitolday.html
Formed in 1992, NICHE is Iowa’s only statewide homeschooling organization
providing support and information to home educating families and groups
through a variety of events and resources, including an annual conference; a formal graduation service;
a newsletter, e-newsletter and magazine; legislative services;
and multi-faceted assistance to local homeschooling groups and individual families.
-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --
CONTACT: NICHE at 1-800-723-0438
capitolday@homeschooliowa.org
Homeschooling Families from Across Iowa to Rally at the Capitol March 16
[DES MOINES, IA -- March 12, 2010] -- The Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE)
will hold its 2010 "Home School Day at the Capitol" on Tuesday, March 16.
The event will present an overview of the legislative process
and help homeschooling families effectively communicate and build relationships with their elected officials.
Highlighting the festivities will be special presentations by Dr. Michael Farris, Esq.,
co-founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association;
and WHO radio talk show host Steve Deace.
Activities will begin at 9 a.m. in the East Wing of the Capitol Rotunda,
with display tables showcasing homeschooling in Iowa and lobbyists instructing families on legislation and lobbying.
Musical selections will be performed by home-educated students throughout the day.
Tours of the Capitol, provided by Capitol Tour Guides,
will be available throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis.
Information will be available at the NICHE registration table.
A noon rally will be held on the west steps of the Capitol Building,
featuring Dr. Farris speaking on "Thinking Like the Founders: It's Time to Protect Parental Rights."
Individual legislators and gubernatorial candidates
will address families in the Wallace Building Auditorium from 1 to 2 p.m.
The afternoon will conclude with two keynote workshops:
Steve Deace will speak on "Making the Main Thing the Main Thing";
and Michael Farris will present "An In-Depth Understanding of the National and International Threats to Parental Rights."
Formed in 1992, NICHE is Iowa's only statewide homeschooling organization
providing support and information to home educating families through a variety of events and resources,
including an annual conference; a formal graduation service; a newsletter, e-newsletter and magazine;
legislative services; and multi-faceted assistance to local homeschooling groups and individual families.
Homeschooling Families Save Taxpayers Millions
-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --
CONTACT: Scott Bailey, NICHE President, (641-620-8131)DES MOINES, IOWA -- Feb. 22, 2010 -- In light of the recent media attention being given to homeschool funding,
the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE) would like to provide clarification:
Parents who homeschool their children in Iowa are actually saving Iowa taxpayers millions of dollars.
Many homeschooling families throughout our state educate their children independently at home,
at their own personal expense, using no taxpayer dollars whatsoever.
The savings for taxpayers is enormous.
At the current state funding level of $5,768 per enrolled public school student,
taxpayers save $1 million for every 174 independently homeschooled students.
The Iowa Department of Education estimates
there are about 30,000 CPI (Competent Private Instruction) families in Iowa.
Of these, only 4,643 are partially taxpayer-funded (30% or $1,750 per student)
through their enrollment in a public school Home School Assistance Program (HSAP).
With a 70% savings from the fully-enrolled-student funding level,
students in HSAPs still are saving taxpayers $19 million annually.
Additionally, those homeschooled students who receive limited services from the public schools
through dual enrollment (5,482 students),
save Iowa taxpayers enormous per-student savings
because such students are funded at a fraction of the total per-student level.
(Since HSAP students also can be dual enrolled,
the HSAP and dual-enrollment numbers are not mutually exclusive and may contain significant overlap.)
There's no doubt:
Iowa taxpayers are seeing extraordinary savings in educational expenditures because of homeschoolers.
NICHE's membership encompasses homeschooling families of all types,
including those who homeschool independently, those who use dual enrollment and those enrolled in HSAP programs.
The organization serves all Iowa homeschoolers with an annual conference, graduation program, publications, resources,
legislative action, group networking and personal assistance with a myriad of homeschooling issues.
NICHE fights for liberties for all homeschooling families,
but will not seek taxpayer funding that could result in loss of these liberties.
NICHE also teams with HSAP families and teachers on legislative issues that will benefit homeschoolers
without surrendering freedoms or parental authority.
One example is the pair of parent-taught driver education bills in the Iowa Legislature -- SF 350,
sponsored by Sen. Swati Dandekar (D - Marion) and HF 2098, sponsored by Rep. Brian Quirk (D - New Hampton) --
that did not make it out of committee this session.
These bills would have saved money for the state and created safer drivers,
as evidenced in other states that have had parent-taught driver education for years.
The current Iowa homeschool law was created two decades ago,
establishing government oversight of what then was a controversial form of education.
Today, as throughout much of our nation's history,
home education is widely accepted and extraordinarily successful.
Homeschooling families have earned high respect
through demonstrated outcomes that exceed publicly educated students
by an average of 37 percentile points on standardized tests.
(
http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/ray2009/default.asp).
Homeschooled graduates have become productive citizens, raising families of their own
(
http://www.hslda.org/research/ray2003/default.asp).
The perceived need for regulation of any form of homeschooling has withstood the test of time
and proved to be unwarranted and unnecessary.
Government and private statistical studies on the results of home education,
the effects of regulation and a wide range of related topics are available
from the Home School Legal Defense Association website:
http://www.hslda.org/research/default.asp 
