HSLDA is well-known for defending homeschooling families in the courts and in the legislatures, but we also vigorously advocate for our member families in many other ways.
When Luke and Susi (last name omitted for privacy) worked with their longtime insurance agent to receive a good student discount for their oldest child, who was poised to become a first-time driver, the family was told that the underwriter refused to accept a parent-issued GPA or report card for the purposes of receiving a good student discount.
Luke and Susi called HSLDA, and we immediately wrote a legal letter to the insurance company.
Our letter explained that Illinois—llike 11 other states—does not require homeschooling families to report any information to the government, due to the landmark decision in the 1950 case People v. Levisen. As a result, the only way a homeschool student could show documentation was by the parent issuing it.
We then cited numerous studies showing the growth of homeschooling, and the academic success of homeschool students. We then concluded by citing numerous other insurance companies around the nation, that allow homeschool students to receive a good student discount upon certification of grades or report cards by a homeschooling parent.
Within a few days of the receipt of our letter, Luke and Susi received confirmation that the underwriter had accepted their report card for their son, and that he had received a good student discount. We are grateful to the company for their willingness to work with homeschooling families.
Luke said later, "We're so thankful for the freedom to disciple, educate, and raise our children in the way God is leading our family. Thank you HSLDA for helping facilitate that and for protecting those freedoms!"