Unscientific, self-selected surveys are not worth the phosphors they’re printed on. Nevertheless, here’s the info in case anyone wants to help HSLDA out.
Dear New Jersey Homeschooling Parent:
We are involved in two very important studies about the effectiveness of homeschooling. Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers of New Jersey, (ENOCH) has decided it is time to update information about homeschooling in New Jersey by way of a new research study. We believe this will go a long way in educating the public and positively affecting policy and law, and helping to protect the rights we currently have. Therefore, we are working with Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) to do a study on homeschool families and their children’s academic performance in New Jersey. In addition, our study and information will be an integral part of a nationwide study that Dr. Ray is conducting with the support of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).
Please read the letter below from Dr. Brian Ray of NHERI and Mike Smith of HSLDA. Then, follow the step-by-steps instruction at the end of this letter, which will tell you how to participate in this undertaking (that is, both the New Jersey-specific study and the nationwide study at the same time). We will carefully honor your anonymity and confidentiality.
I strongly encourage you to participate in this important project. We know that research like this has been essential in the past, both at the Federal level as well in many States across the county, in protecting and advancing parents’ rights to homeschool their children. And we know that this new research will be very useful in the future, both in helping homeschoolers in New Jersey, as well as, educating people about the practice and benefits of home education. Please read on, below.
Rich Millward
President, Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers of New Jersey, (ENOCH)
Ray Stoever
Trustee, Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers of New Jersey, (ENOCH)
From: Dr. Brian Ray (NHERI) and Mike Smith (HSLDA)
We are conducting a new large-scale study of homeschooling across the United States and would like your family to participate. This project is being administered cooperatively by Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), and ENOCH. It will be the largest and most in-depth study ever conducted on homeschool families and their academic ability.
We are very thankful to ENOCH of New Jersey for graciously working with us on this project.
The results will help homeschool organizations better serve homeschool families, inform lawmakers, policymakers, and the general public about the benefits of a home-based education, and encourage those who choose to homeschool.
Your responses will be confidential. All the organizations mentioned above intimately understand the privacy concerns of homeschoolers. Participation is voluntary of course, but we need all families to participate, regardless of your children’s academic abilities.
To add an incentive for a timely response, we are offering the following three prizes.
First prize — iPOD
Second prize — $100 Visa Gift Card or free two-year HSLDA membership
Third Prize — $50 Visa Gift Card or free one-year HSLDA membership
Winners will be chosen by random drawing from all participants on or around January 6th, 2009. For survey prize rules please visit www.hslda.org/hsstudy (Please note, that in addition to the testing services named in the rules, you are also eligible if you participate in this research through ENOCH. For instructions on how to enter, see the step-by-step instructions below.)
To complete the survey (detailed, step-by-step instructions are below), please
1. Go to www.nheri.org/study within the next 5 days. Alternatively, you can call the number below and ask for a paper copy of the survey
2. For each of your children you tested during the past 12 months or so, complete one survey; be sure to use Student ID Numbers as described below for your children when completing the first item on the survey and writing the number on their test-score reports.
If you have any questions or concerns about how to complete the survey, or about this study, please do not hesitate to contact: Ian Slatter, HSLDA, phone 540-338-8663.
Thank you for taking time to consider and participate in this exciting new study.
Sincerely,
Brian D. Ray, Ph.D., NHERI J. Michael Smith, HSLDA
Step-by-Step Instructions for Parents:
1. Please participate if at least one of your children
a. Was homeschooled within the past 12 months, and
b. Was tested the child with a standardized achievement test (for example: California Achievement Test, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, Terra Nova) that reports national percentile scores (i.e., NPR, Percentile
Rank), and
c. You have not already completed a survey for this student through one of the following testing services (that is, BJU Press, Family Learning Organization, Piedmont Education Services, or Seton).
2. VERY IMPORTANT (Please note that these Student ID instructions are special for New Jersey Residents): Create a Student ID Number for each of your tested children, as follows:
a. Student ID Number (10 digits) – New Jersey: The Student ID Number will consist of 10 (ten) digits, constructed as follows, for New Jersey: 32 (2 digits for New Jersey) + father’s birth date of month (2 digits) + mother’s birth date of month (2 digits) + child’s birth date of month (2 digits) + -01 (include dash/hyphen, for oldest tested, -02 second tested, -03 for third tested) (2 digits) = 10 digits. It is easier than it sounds as the following example shows:
b. For example, Billy Smith is a tested student in New Jersey, his father was born on the 23rd day of the month, his mom was born on the 16th day of the month, Billy was born on the 3rd day of the month, and Billy is the second oldest tested in his family; his number is 32231603-02.
32 New Jersey Code
23 Dad’s Birth Date (Day of Month)
16 Mom’s Birth Date (Day of Month)
03 Child’s Birth Date (Day of Month)
-02 2nd Oldest Tested Child
3. Go to the survey link/URL www.nheri.org/study by clicking or copy/paste it into your browser.
4. Complete one online survey for each tested child. (or call Ian Slatter, HSLDA, 540-338-8663 for paper copy)
5. a. Make copies of your child(ren)’s test-score reports; redact (white-out or black out) their names, and
b. Important: Write the Student ID number of each tested child clearly on their test-score report
6. a. Mail a copy of the test-score reports to us at the following address (or e-mail a PDF/scan of report): ENOCH of New Jersey, PO Box 308, Atlantic Highlands NJ 07716, rstoever@…
b. If you wish to be entered in the drawing for the three prizes (described above), you will need to provide us with your contact information. If mailing your test-score reports, please include a 3×5 card with the Student ID, and either Name/Address, OR email address, OR Name/Phone-Number. You may submit one entry for each child tested. If emailing a PDF/scan of your reports, please include the Student ID/contact information in the text of your email. Your contact information will be kept separate from the test data, and will only be used in conjunction with the drawing. The information linking the Student ID with your name will be tightly held by ENOCH until the completion of the drawing and then it will be destroyed.
(The instructions about the creation of the Student ID Number on the survey website are different for the Student ID number, but you will see that there are specific instructions for New Jersey residents – please make sure to use the 10-digit numbering system as described above. This ID system has been carefully designed by Dr. Ray to enable us to protect your privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity while allowing us to adequately sort and process the test- score data with your input into the website.)
Again, we fully understand the concerns you may have about privacy and confidentiality. We will firmly protect your rights in this important study. We look forward to your participation real soon.
If you have any specific questions about how to participate in this research, you may also email rstoever@….
Thank you very much for your participation.
Rich Millward
President, Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers of New Jersey (ENOCH)
Ray Stoever
Trustee, Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers of New Jersey
(ENOCH)
