A month ago we wrote about how home schoolers have recently been denied a Texas driver license by local Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices because, they are told, they are without official school records. This policy made it difficult to provide documentation of residency to the DPS offices.
As a result, we reached out to the DPS in Austin, seeking to defend home schoolers and to allow for the acceptance of a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form as supporting documentation, which official DPS policy has allowed since 2003.
In 2008 and 2003 we were informed that the Department considers the VOE an official school record. We were also assured that it was acceptable as a supporting document for identification and therefore could be used as documentation of residency.
The response letter we recently received from the DPS did not echo this policy.
We were told that the VOE is useful for “limited purposes” and cannot be used for proof of residency. Because of the disparity between the two expressed policies, THSC has drafted another letter, seeking clarification once again on this issue.
Home schooling is legal in Texas, and, therefore, home schoolers should be treated in the same manner as are students attending a more traditional school. THSC fights to ensure that home schoolers are not disenfranchised, whether through negligence or through ill will, by their government. We will continue to seek answers on this issue until we have reached a resolution that allows all home schoolers the same equal opportunity to obtain a driver license in Texas as any other student.
A month ago we wrote about how home schoolers have recently been denied a Texas driver license by local Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices because, they are told, they are without official school records. This policy made it difficult to provide documentation of residency to the DPS offices.
As a result, we reached out to the DPS in Austin, seeking to defend home schoolers and to allow for the acceptance of a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form as supporting documentation, which official DPS policy has allowed since 2003.
In 2008 and 2003 we were informed that the Department considers the VOE an official school record. We were also assured that it was acceptable as a supporting document for identification and therefore could be used as documentation of residency.
The response letter we recently received from the DPS did not echo this policy.
We were told that the VOE is useful for “limited purposes” and cannot be used for proof of residency. Because of the disparity between the two expressed policies, THSC has drafted another letter, seeking clarification once again on this issue.
Home schooling is legal in Texas, and, therefore, home schoolers should be treated in the same manner as are students attending a more traditional school. THSC fights to ensure that home schoolers are not disenfranchised, whether through negligence or through ill will, by their government. We will continue to seek answers on this issue until we have reached a resolution that allows all home schoolers the same equal opportunity to obtain a driver license in Texas as any other student.
