A county government policy blocked a homeschooled teen from applying for a school-year internship, so she decided to put into practical use the principles she’d learned in civics class. With the help of HSLDA, she got the policy changed.

“We have decades of experience in engaging elected officials on every level of government,” said Tj Schmidt, HSLDA senior counsel. “It was wonderful to use that knowledge to equip this committed teen with the winning arguments and policy analysis that ultimately made the difference.”

The matter began this spring during Audrey Duffy’s junior year of high school. Through her connections with a local nature center where she lives in suburban Maryland, Audrey learned about an internship opportunity at a county-run park.

The program offered experiences of special interest to Audrey. These included how to plan and market events aimed at educating the public about local plants and animals, and how to design park spaces.

“I love anything nature related,” Audrey explained.

Excluded by Design

She reached out to the internship coordinator and received an unsettling response: Only public school students were permitted to apply.

“At first I thought this was just an oversight, that maybe we could work something out,” Audrey recalled.

But after further investigation it became clear that the decision to bar homeschool and private school students had been made at a higher level of county government. Though willing to endure her personal disappointment, Audrey consulted her father, JP Duffy, to ask if it was worth trying to overturn the policy for the sake of others. He agreed it was.

“This excluded a whole swath of students,” he said

Positive Change

JP then contacted HSLDA for insight into the legality of the situation and possible strategies for persuading local officials to make a change.

Schmidt explained that the best option for challenging these types of rules was not in the court—especially if the family hoped to achieve a quick resolution. He said the most effective approach would be for the Duffys to personally ask local lawmakers to stop discriminating.

“The local government has significant control of its own policies and programs,” Schmidt said. “But as citizens we are empowered to remind officials that they work for us and that they should operate in a way that is fair to all.”

Schmidt added that he and other HSLDA attorneys have witnessed the effectiveness of homeschool families advocating for themselves. For example, earlier this year Schmidt joined other homeschool advocates in successfully pressing for a new law in Idaho that affirms the validity of homeschool diplomas for graduates seeking careers in a wide range of vocations.

In addressing how to approach local officials, Schmidt outlined for the Duffys several talking points. They could indicate, for example, that the policy of restricting some students from accessing the internship in question contradicts the county’s intent to educate as many people as possible about the importance of parks and nature-related spaces.

Schmidt also noted that pre-emptively excluding homeschool students discriminates against them and disregards a legal form of education in Maryland. The policy also undermines parents (who are also taxpayers) as they try to provide the best instruction for their children and consequently benefit the entire community.

Lastly, Schmidt urged the Duffys to use some of the county’s own aspirational language to try and forge common ground. For example, local officials often speak of promoting inclusiveness. But in the case of the parks internship, they were excluding an entire class of students.

Taking a Stand

Armed with recommendations from Schmidt for making an effective case before officials, Audrey and her father attended the next meeting of the county board that oversees parks and recreation. They were greeted cordially, and Audrey was given the opportunity to speak with the board chairman.

Audrey argued that it was in the county’s best interest to expand access to its student internships, especially in light of the program’s stated goal of being more inclusive.

“She made a persuasive case that there was really no reason to deny her and exclude homeschoolers,” JP said. “She basically told officials: ‘If you care about diversity, how can you keep out homeschool and private school students?’”

Soon after, the internship coordinator emailed Audrey to say she was eligible to interview for the position. Because of her advocacy, the county changed its policy regarding homeschool students so they will are allowed to apply.

Audrey interviewed for the internship, but it didn't turn out to be a good fit. She instead plans to apply as a volunteer at a local aquarium for her senior year of high school. She said the experience would benefit her as she prepares to enter college and pursue a degree in biology.

In the meantime, she’s gratified to have set a precedent for other homeschool students looking to compete for opportunities on the same basis as their peers.

“It’s totally valid for you to advocate for yourself,” she said. “It’s part of being a responsible citizen.”