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One of the most important issues to the private sector is our autonomy, independence and non-governmental status. I say this to you because there is a lot of discussion today about accountability. The Constitution requires the State to provide a free system of public education. However, private education is not the responsibility of the State under the Constitution. Read more….

Tips For Effectively Communicating Your Ideas General Tips | Writing Effective Letters |   Making Impressive Personal Contact As a Floridian, one of your greatest responsibilities is to help elect the legislators who represent you and the state’s more than 14 million other residents. But your role in the democratic process of government does not end at the polls. By sharing your opinions and ideas with your representatives and senators in Tallahassee, you help them decide what to do about the issues and pending legislation that affect us all. They value your suggestions and encourage you to express them. Your legislators receive a huge amount of phone calls and mail from their constituents. Unfortunately, their full agendas limit their ability to personally read and respond to it all. How then, can you be sure your voice is heard? Here are some tips to help you get the most impact out of your communications with your legislators in Tallahassee. General Tips Know who your legislators are and how to contact them. If you don’t know who represents you, you can find out by using the online guide at www.leg.state.fl.us/ Your legislators’ Online Sunshine pages will give you their mailing addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Get to know the Legislative Aides and Secretary. You may volunteer your older children to help out one afternoon a week or just stop by the office and introduce yourself and your family. Tell the aide that you are very interested in home education issues and that you will be contacting them when you know of any legislation that may affect home education. Give them your name and tell them you would be willing to answer any home education questions they may have. Make sure you understand the legislative process. Even the most basic understanding of the process will help you effectively express your ideas. An explanation of the committee process and how bills become law is in the Citizen’s Guide www.leg.state.fl.us/ Contact your legislator about a particular issue before the Legislature takes action on it. Most matters coming before the Legislature are well publicized before session. The earlier you contact your legislator the more likely you are to be able to discuss the matter with the legislator. If you contact your legislator’s office after January you may have to discuss the matter with the legislative aide. If you have to discuss the issue with a LA, be sure you ask which aide will be handling the issue or bill and ask to speak to that LA. Senators have two LA’s and Representatives only have one. Use a variety of communication methods. You might choose to telephone, write, e-mail, fax, or visit your legislator. Tell your legislator what effect you think a particular bill, if it becomes law, will have on you, your children, business, or community. Be concise, but specific. Be sure you provide research or documentation to support your views, if any is available. Be polite, even if you disagree strongly with the legislator you are addressing. Lawmakers cannot please everyone. Your communication will be more effective if you are reasonable in your approach. Leave the door open to return with additional information. Suggest a course of action and offer assistance. Don’t make promises or threats. Follow the direction given you by HEF or other organization you are working with. The bill may need to be defeated or there may be an amendment which will make the bill acceptable. Top Writing Effective Letters Address letters to Members of the House of Representatives as follows: The Honorable John Doe, Florida House of Representatives, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300. Address letters to senators this way: Senator Jane Doe, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100. Be absolutely certain you spell your legislator’s name correctly and use the correct address. If you don’t, you could lose your audience. Type or print legibly. Sign your name neatly and give your address and zip code correctly so they can respond to your letter. Keep letters, e-mail, and faxes brief. Never write more than one page. Written correspondence that is short and to-the-point is more likely to grab and keep the reader’s attention. Be sure to proof read and correct spelling or grammar errors. Your letter will make an impression. Make sure it is the one you want to make. Identify your issue or opinion at the beginning of the letter, don’t bury your main point under trivial text. Cover only one issue per letter. If you have another issue to address, write another letter. Back up your opinions with supporting facts. Your letter should inform the reader. Avoid abbreviations or acronyms, and don’t use technical jargon. Rather than impressing your reader, such terms will only frustrate him or her. Don’t send the same letter to more than one legislator. Personalized letters have more impact. The content may be the same, but it should be addressed to each legislator individually. Top Making Impressive Personal Contact Plan your call or visit carefully. Keep to the point and discuss only one issue. Organize your thoughts ahead of time and make notes to help you stay on track. When planning to visit your legislator, make an appointment. Don’t just drop by your legislator’s office and expect him or her to drop everything to see you. Call, write or email for an appointment as soon as you know when you are going to be at the Capitol. Understand that they have no control over their schedule once session starts. You may have scheduled an appointment well in advance and the Speaker or President may change the time for Session at 5:00 the day before your scheduled meeting. Your legislator needs to be on the floor to vote on all the bills which will be presented during those times. It may be frustrating to you, but understand that his responsibility is to represent his district on all issues. Listen to your legislator. He may give you information that you could research and bring back to him later. Someone may have given him incorrect information which is affecting his opinion and you could have the opportunity to provide the correct information. He may tell you what concerns him and you can address his concerns. Listening is as important as presenting you views. Leave the door open for a follow up visit. Dress appropriately. Your clothing and general appearance give a first, and often, lasting impression. Prepare a one-page fact sheet in short bullets if possible, concerning your issue to give to your legislator. This will help him or her better retain what you present. Follow the bill by calling his legislative office to find out when the issue if scheduled for committees or on the floor. Don’t call too often, but after each step of the process. It keeps your name and issue in front of them and lets you legislator know that you are watching. Call after each vote to see how he voted or look up the floor votes at Online Sunshine. Be sure you write a follow up letter. Tell your legislator how you feel about his or her vote. Thank him if he voted like you asked him to or tell him you are disappointed in the position he took.

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HEF was established in 1991 to raise support and direct lobbying for home education in Florida. HEF exists to safeguard existing legislation and evaluate future legislation.

Craig and Brenda Dickinson were among the pioneers in the home education movement. There were no laws in Florida legalizing home education when they began in 1981. Registering as a private school was the only legal option. However, some families who were registered with private schools were being charged with truancy and threatened with loss of custody. In 1984, Craig began to draft legislation for the home education law and approached Rep. Daniel Webster (Orlando), who also wanted to home educate his children, to sponsor the bill. They worked in the face of opposition for the next eight months to educate and win support for this controversial issue. Despite overwhelming odds, the bill miraculously passed the Legislature in one session. Gov. Bob Graham’s staff placed the bill on a recommend veto list; however, Craig was able to address the concerns and the bill was signed Craig worked diligently to fight attempts to add regulation to the law. In 1990, he defeated six proposals to change the requirements. However, hidden in a large bill, a measure passed designed to prevent child abusers from home educating. This law would have required every parent’s name to be cleared through HRS Child Abuse Registry before being “permitted” to home educate. Home education in Florida would have virtually ceased, but Craig intervened and worked with the Department of Education to develop an affidavit to allow home education to continue. At this time, Craig was the voluntary advocate for home education. After the 1990 session, it became obvious a full-time advocate was necessary. Craig and Brenda invested time and money into touring the state to inform support groups of the need; after much work the Home Education Foundation was established. In 1992, Craig was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma cancer and passed away in 1993. With the loss of her husband and the challenge of raising and educating two children, Brenda considered dissolving HEF and the overwhelming responsibilities associated with advocating. However, she felt directed to continue the work and has been the full-time home education advocate since 1993.

Develops relationships with legislators and people in state agencies who may impact home education. Cultivates trust of legislators over time, by visiting, assisting with information, answering questions and resolving concerns. Monitors approximately 1,800 bills each Legislative Session to protect home education. Seeks alternative solutions to issues affecting home educators as they arise in the Legislature, thus preventing further restrictive legislation. Serves on advisory boards to create respect, opportunities and to protect home educators.

To PROMOTE and unify legislative action among home educators. To evaluate and MONITOR issues which may affect home educators. To INITIATE, draft and find sponsors for legislation to protect the rights and expand the privileges of home educators. To PLAN, direct and coordinate lobbying efforts. To EDUCATE Florida legislators about home education. To provide a year round PRESENCE and a consistent voice for home educators in the Legislature and Department of Education.

Dear Brenda, I cannot thank you enough for all your help not only with ‘B’ and her family but also for the help educating these individuals about home school laws in Lake County. I am overjoyed with the results that everyone involved achieved. ‘B’s sons are so happy right now with all the stress and pressure of the system lifted off their young shoulders. It seemed that all of these people we were up against, in this battle, were supposed to be helping those boys, but instead they would have destroyed them in the end. A friend and I are thinking of starting a support system for families and children at risk for drop out. I really think she and I should start an Orientation group for parents in this county who want to home school. In the end not just one family will benefit from this process but many families may find it easier to start their home school adventures in the future because of your efforts. I have not enjoyed this experience but I have learned a great deal from it and for that I am thankful. You have surely earned a beautiful set of wings for this one. God Bless, ‘T.’ “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.” Senator Daniel Webster Republican – Orlando “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.” Former Representative Cynthia Moore Chestnut Democrat – Gainesville “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.” Representative Mike Fasano Majority Leader

Without HEF and Brenda, home educators would not enjoy: Tuition-free dual enrollment at colleges and universities Extracurricular activities at public or private high schools Bright Futures scholarships The elimination of the child abuse provision and the data base survey requirements An affidavit that allows home educated students to enter community colleges without getting their GED Florida On-line High School participation for non-public schools and home educators

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In 1996 the Legislature passed the “Craig Dickinson Act” Fl.St. 232.425 pertaining to interscholastic extracurricular student activities. As that time, the athletic and music programs were part of the Florida High School Activities Association (FHSAA). In 1997 the Legislature passed a law that would reorganize the FHSAA and made that organization responsible for athletic activities only. During the 1997-98 school year the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) took over the responsibility of overseeing public school music activities and created a new organization, similar in structure to FHSAA to do the job. This new organization was incorporated under the name of Florida School Music Association (FSMA). Read more…