One of the many benefits of membership in the Texas Home School Coalition Association is the receipt of FREE teacher and student ID cards. Home schoolers around the state have used these cards for obtaining educator and student discounts at hobby stores, bookstores, office supply stores, museums, and on bus passes. Each teacher and student in the member family receives an ID card.

Click on the graphic for more information on member benefits.

Has your child been busy volunteering in the political arena over the past year? Don’t miss the chance to reward his diligence publicly! Get your form filled out and e-mailed or postmarked today for the Texas Home School Coalition Association’s Good Citizenship program. Click on the graphic to learn about the THSC Good Citizenship Program.

THSC’s Good Citizenship Program rewards students for their participation in the political process and helps them fulfill the requirement of a “course in good citizenship.” (See What Is Good Citizenship?) Certificates are printed, at any time upon request, for students who have volunteered at least forty hours in Voter Registration, Political Party Process, Campaign Process, or Legislative Process, in any combination.

At the 2007 Awards Banquet on April 27 in Irving, the student who has volunteered the greatest number of hours in any one area (or has registered the most voters) over the last twelve months will be presented the award for that area.

The volunteer hours may be tracked on a form that can be downloaded and printed as often as needed. Please note that, while certificates will be issued upon request at any time, the awards will be given based on hours worked between April 1, 2006, and April 1, 2007. The forms must be postmarked or e-mailed no later than April 10 in order for a student to be considered for an award.

If you think your local support group leader deserves a prize, nominate him or her for the THSC Leader of the Year award. But hurry! Today is the deadline to have your form postmarked.

Local support group leaders spend countless hours working on behalf of the home schoolers in their areas. Take time April 22-28, during Home School Leader Appreciation Week in Texas, to acknowledge their sacrifices.

Give certificates of appreciation to your support group leaders to let them know that they are appreciated! If you miss the deadline for the Leader of the Year, but would still like to show your gratitude, THSC will print these attractive documents on behalf of your group and send them FREE upon request. Some groups have presented these certificates to their leaders at their support group meetings, and others have held special meetings to recognize these people who sacrifice time and energy for their groups.

But if you can, nominate your leaders for THSC Leader of the Year! In conjunction with Home School Leader Appreciation Week in Texas, THSC presents the THSC Home School Leader of the Year award to outstanding leaders during its Annual Awards Banquet. This award is based on testimonies by appreciative members of the winner’s support groups. The process requires at least three members of the group to send letters (tip: more letters carry more weight) in which they document why their leader(s)—either an individual or a couple—should be selected as the THSC Home School Leader of the Year. Only one leader/couple may be nominated per group.

Nominations must be postmarked no later than April 10, 2007. The group leader chosen will be honored at the Annu al Awards Banquet , to be held in Irving on April 27.

The last Capitol Day of 2007 is May 16, and the deadline for registration is May 2. Take advantage of this final opportunity until 2009 to observe the Texas legislature in action. While in Austin, visit some historic and educational sites, such as the Governor’s Mansion and the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum. Learn more about field trips in the capital city of Texas and discounts which are available to home schoolers at our Web site.

Plan to attend THSC Association’s May Capitol Day! Register today! Click on the graphic to download the registration form, or call our toll-free order line, 888-200-4903.

A youth services social worker apparently has lied to a German television station about a 15-year-old homeschool student ordered into a psychiatric ward because of her "school phobia," and another employee of the same state division shut down a scheduled 1-hour weekly visit with her family when her father showed her the statement. Click on the graphic for more articles on homeschooling in Germany. (See articles from October 10, 2006, and November 14, 2006.)

Get the updated, 20th anniversary edition of the Handbook for Texas Home Schoolers now! This informative publication, written specifically for Texas home educators, features articles about the history of home schooling in Texas, as well as how to deal with school districts and Child Protective Services. It contains contact information for support groups across the state and curriculum suppliers, along with many other helpful articles.

Edited annually, this version includes new and updated articles. The 2006-2007 Handbook for Texas Home Schoolers includes new letters and memos of interest to home school parents. See a listing of important information in the current Table of Contents.

The price, $18, has not increased, even though more information has been added each year! Click on the graphic to order.

An Even Better Deal!
Many home schoolers will benefit by purchasing the Beginner Packet. The packet includes the THSC Association Handbook for Texas Home Schoolers; The Role of Fathers in Education CD or audio tape; Homeschooling: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly CD or audio tape; and Ready, Set...Now What Do I Do? VHS or DVD. This incredible resource is available for only $35, a $10 savings over buying these items separately.

Officials at Wink High School attempted to force a member parent to submit forms beyond what the state of Texas requires of parents who are withdrawing their children in order to homeschool them. Tim Lambert informed the district of the actual requirements mandated by the Texas Education Agency and encouraged the official to follow those requirements.