Raise awareness of home schooling in your community! THSC has now made available its press release announcing Governor Perry’s proclamation of Home Educationl Week in Texas! Support groups that choose to use this springboard for publicizing home schooling in their communities can access the text of the press release for their own use. To see a PDF of the original proclamation, click on the accompanying graphic.

Limited Seating Still Available – Call TODAY!

There are a handful of seats still available for the 2006 annual THSC Awards Banquet to be held at the San Antonio Marriott Northwest, this Friday, March 17th! This will be an exciting event that you will not want to miss! Come hear Governor Rick Perry—a longtime, stalwart supporter of home schoolers! In addition, help us honor and thank legislators and friends who have supported and helped the home school community! The THSC Home School Leader of the Year, recipients of the Good Citizenship awards, and the winners of the Texas State Speech and Debate Championship will be recognized as well. You won’t want to miss the silent auction of items donated by state officials and various companies and individuals.

Seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so make your reservations as soon as possible; no reservations will be accepted after 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 14th! What an evening! Click on the picture of previous banquet attendees for more details. Call our office at 806.744.4441 or e-mail events@thsc.org to register for the Awards Banquet ASAP to request a seat at this great event – no later than 5 p.m. today!

It’s OUR 20th Birthday, so we’re giving YOU a gift! Through the end of Home Education Week in Texas, March 12-18, 2006, we are offering the DVD of Miracle in Texas, lead counsel Shelby Sharpe’s account of God’s hand during the landmark Leeper hearings (See links to Leeper decisions in ower left column.), at a discounted price.

A $20 value, during this week of celebration we are offering this great DVD for $12 with a 10% discount for THSC Association members. As home schoolers are focused on the freedom they enjoy in Texas, a new understanding and appreciation will be gained from watching this inspirational presentation! Click on Mr. Sharp's picture to see more details.

Call our toll free number (888) 200-4903 to order yours today, or click on the following to order online. Your discount will be applied in our office when processing your order.

Broadman & Holman is sponsoring an essay contest for homeschooled students. The Secrets Of...Series essay contest is based on the exciting concepts of author Dr. Jeff Myers. Contestants will write an original essay of 1,000 words or less describing what it means to be a great communicator. The deadline for entries is April 14, 2006. The competition is divided into two age groups, ages 13-15 and 16-18.

Homeschooling 101

Home schooling is explored from a very positive point of view in this article appearing at nwmeridian.com (Northwest Meridian) on March 9, 2006. The author, Tracy MacDonald, interviewed home schoolers who are teaching their young children, as well as a home school graduate who homeschooled her four children and is currently associate dean of Brown University. We hope that you will enjoy this article. An excerpt follows.

“And if parents are concerned that their children cannot get into college, they can rest easy: Homeschooled students are welcomed even at Ivy League colleges and universities. In fact, Joyce Reed, associate dean of Brown University, was homeschooled. She in turn homeschooled her own four children.

"‘We don't teach kids to walk - though we do coach them and cheer them on,’ wrote Reed, in the introduction to David H. Albert's book, Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery. ‘We certainly don't stand tightlipped on the sidelines - pen and notebook in hand, observing and grading them as we calculate how far they got in a given time, or how often they fell down - a child whose confidence in her learning ability has not been shattered (by someone else's judgments) will master reading and math as rapidly and successfully as she learned to walk, when she learned to walk, when she is interested.’”

Come Thursday, March 23rd, to a FREE, informational meeting for new or prospective home schooling families. Or tell a friend who is new or thinking about home schooling. Anyone who is looking into home schooling, wondering what it's about, or interested in learning about home schooling is welcome! (Click on the library graphic for a map.)

The meeting will be held: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., March 23, 2006, at the Barbara Bush branch of the Harris County Public Library, 6817 Cypresswood Drive, between Stuebner Airline and Kuykendahl Road, in the Robin Bush room in the children's area.

No childcare will be provided.

For more information, call 832-249-6765, or contact THSC at 806-744-4441.

As home school high school graduation approaches (Click on diploma for information about THSC Association’s personalized diplomas.), parents and students often ponder and wonder what will be the next step. In her article that was published in the THSC REVIEW a few years ago, author and home school graduate, Christie Ballmann, tells of the many alternatives available to graduates.

K through BA - The Home School Vision all the Way

"YIPEE! For a few seconds a shower of blue graduation caps rains down on the jubilant class of 2003. Amidst deafening celebration, a grinning Grandpa Typical makes his way over to his grandson, Eddie Typical. 'Well, Eddie, you’ve made it! Congratulations!' (This is followed by a friendly slap on the back.) Then Grandpa pops the big one - “'So, you’re 22, and you have a degree. What are you going to do now?'”

The mission of Patrick Henry College is to prepare Christian men and women who will lead our nation and shape our culture with timeless biblical values and fidelity to the spirit of the American founding. (Click on graphic for information about PHC.) In keeping with its mission to serve the home schoolers of Texas, Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) has established a scholarship fund for Texas home school graduates who attend Patrick Henry College.

• The THSC scholarship is available to students entering Patrick Henry College as incoming freshmen.
• Applications must be postmarked by April 3, 2006.
• THSC is now accepting tax-deductible donations to its Patrick Henry College Scholarship Fund.

When a member family had problems with policy for dual credit hours, and the college’s policy was explored, THSC Association president Tim Lambert wrote the letter that can be viewed at the link below.

THSC Association received a gracious and fair response from Dean Robert Flores of San Antonio College (SAC). Also, Dr. Robert Zeigler (SAC President) in a phone conversation acknowledged some misunderstanding with regard to their policy on dual credit enrollment and said that would be resolved. The letter of acknowledgement from THSC Association president Tim Lambert can be read by clicking on the link below.