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Please help Bess fund the appeal for her case!

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Hi, my name is Bess, and I am a North Carolina homeschool mom. My children have been part of the Classical Conversations program for 3 years, and homeschooled for 4. My two children have documentation of a disability, and scored poorly in reading on the Woodcock-Johnson test in September of 2023 (a test meant to be used to help parents better instruct their children and help them identify strengths and weaknesses).

I was taken to court in the fall of 2023, and the proceedings took several months. In February of 2024, my homeschool rights were taken- despite the documentation of a disability, despite having a homeschool evaluation done by the chair of education of a local college (who was qualified in special education as well, and has a Ed.D, and does teacher evaluations as part of her job), and despite getting the children into specialized one-on-one reading tutoring through the Orton-Gillingham program several hours a week. Additionally, the children were able to apply for the ESA+ grant, which would provide tremendous help in covering any expenses that are related to their disability. All of this is in addition to their homeschool co-op and the rigorous materials we use at home- I am a passionate home educator and have poured my life into helping my children. They worked unbelievably hard during their tutoring and were receptive and willing- they made such significant progress in only 3 months.

North Carolina homeschool law states that children do not have to score a minimum on their end of year test (G.S 115C-564): "North Carolina law does not mandate that the student achieve a certain minimum score on the nationally standardized testing order for the parent/guardian to be legally permitted to continue to homeschool that student during the following (or any future) school year. Non-reader test editions are permitted and available" (www.doa.nc.gov)

Despite all of this, hundreds of hours of hard work on the part of my children and myself, the decision was made to immediately enroll them in public school.

I have the right to appeal the decision- but it is costly and takes months. The estimated legal fees are at least $10,000. I am asking for help for my children- they have done nothing wrong and don't deserve to have their entire lives turned upside down because they have an area in which they struggle. Every effort on my part has been made to help them, no stone was left unturned. They have both been devastated and miss their homeschool community. They were shocked and upset by the decision and did not want to go to public school.

I am so grateful and appreciative of the smallest amount given- every dollar will help me get further into the process. I won't give up fighting for my beautiful and brave children.
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Donations 

  • Clay Kirksey
    • $25
    • 4 mos
  • jamie pate
    • $55
    • 8 mos
  • Misty Franklin
    • $100
    • 9 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $10
    • 9 mos
  • Jordan Burton
    • $50
    • 9 mos
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Organizer

Bess McMillan
Organizer
Burnsville, NC

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