PARENTS' VOICE AT
THE CAPITOL.
PROTECTING FLORIDA PARENTS
WITH A VOICE IN THE CAPITOL
***When people feel protected and know their rights, they are more likely to explore the advantages of their freedoms.
1
The number of sessions it takes to lose our freedoms if we don't have a sentinel (lobbyist) in the capitol.
Someone must always keep a watchful eye on the best intentions of our leaders.
PARENT-DIRECTED EDUCATIONAL FREEDOMS
"The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the State to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right coupled with the high duty, to recognize, and prepare him for additional duties.”
Source: Wikipedia | Library of Congress
- United States Supreme Court
269 U.S. 510 (1925)
"There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."
- James Madison
HEF MESSAGE
FROM OUR FOUNDER.
PARENTS FIRST
We believe that children belong to their parents and not to the government. We represent all parents in Florida and for us it's all about parental rights. We believe that strong and well-educated parents empowered to lead their families is critical in our time. We work hard to fight for the God given rights of all parents to lead and decide what is best for their families. We work hard to safeguard and protect their authority and power required to effectively lead, educate and raise their families.
EDUCATE OVER ARGUE
What we set out to do is a perpetual task. In our efforts to protect families, we ignite fear and hatred in our enemy. But we must be vigilant in maintaining our focus on the true enemy and not make enemies out of potential allies, friends, and colleagues. We are not against one another, and we must always remember that. We aim to make as many allies as possible on all sides of the aisle, and we pray protection over all families and their rights to lead.
FREEDOM IS PRIORITY 1
We believe in the God-given right to life. We believe in the freedom inherent in free-will. We believe that fighting to protect these freedoms is paramount in securing the rights for all parents to lead and direct the education of their children. This freedom is sometimes directly attacked, and other times placed in danger by good intentions. Regardless of the origin of the danger, we spend hours combing through language, developing relationships, and cultivating trust in order to protect those freedoms.
EVERYONE IS FINE
UNTIL THEY'RE NOT.
In 1981, there were no laws in Florida legalizing home education. Parents were able to register with private schools and yet they were still being charged with truancy and threatened with loss of custody. We began to draft legislation (Craig Dickinson and Rep. Daniel Webster - Orlando) in 1984 and by 1985 Home Educating was legal in Florida. In 1990, there was a bill designed to prevent child abusers from home educating. A seemingly good idea had a requirement that would force every parent to be cleared through the HRS Child Abuse Registry before they would be permitted to home educate. This would have created a nightmare obstacle for well-meaning parents as it would punish many on behalf of a few. We intervened and Craig worked with the Department of Education to develop an affidavit to allow home education to continue where this bill would have made it nearly impossible.
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This was when we knew that it would be full-time work to build the relationships, invest time into reading every piece of proposed legislation, informing and educating legislators on the language and impacts. Craig and Brenda invested their time and money into touring the state to inform support groups of the need and Home Education Foundation (HEF) was established.
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We continue this arduous work to help keep the right to home educate for parents. Everyone is fine and no one worries about it, until it's a critical issue. Once something hits critical mass, it's often too late. We have a great need to continue this work and need your support to do so.
HELP US FUND
THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
For us, a lobbyist is not a dirty word. A lobbyist is a watchful sentinel who makes sacrifices to be at the front line and in the fray. They carry our concerns and our needs and hold them up for those in power to see and recognize. They speak up for us when we need to be heard.
Meet the Lobbyists
Read more about our lobbyists here, and request one of them to speak at your event or request availability for an interview.
Top Sponsors
Senator Daniel Webster
Republican – Orlando
“Brenda Dickinson has done an outstanding job promoting home education issues. She is diligent, thorough, dedicated and determined. Brenda is an ideal model for all home educators and her presence in the legislative process enhances home education’s appeal to the Legislature.”
Former Representative
Cynthia Moore Chestnut
Democrat – Gainesville
“Brenda Dickinson has been the voice of calm and reason throughout a long and emotionally charged debate on home education. She has the respect of many legislators for her effective lobbying skills and commitment to the cause of home education.”
Representative Mike Fasano
Majority Leader
“Brenda Dickinson has done an outstanding job advocating on behalf of home school families. I appreciate her insight and understanding of the Legislative process. Her contributions to protecting the rights of home school students have made a great difference in Tallahassee.”
Donate Directly to Lobbying
If you know and love the Home Education Foundation, and the work Brenda has done over the many years lobbying, and you want to continue to support the lobbying directly, you can do that by donating to HEF directly via PayPal.
It is imperative to maintain a full-time lobbyist in the capitol.
