Ohio proposed law that requires homeschool families to be screened by social services

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Dec. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- “We are appalled that this tragic child abuse case is being used in a misdirected manner that targets homeschoolers,” says Karin Piper, National Director of Parent Led Reform. “We call on the State of Ohio to make a thorough investigation and of those responsible for failing to protect Teddy, instead of assigning implied blame at an entire population of parents who don’t abuse their children. SB 248 is a morbid attempt to limit educational freedoms of parents.”

Senator Capri Cafaro has authored proposed SB 248 in response to the horrific child abuse case of Teddy Foltz-Tedesco, which ultimately resulted in the child’s death. Sadly, instead of addressing the real failures of child protective services, the proposed legislation is aimed to punish homeschoolers; who would under such law be required invasive investigation and scrutiny by the same department that failed to protect Teddy in the first place.

If “Teddy’s Law” passes, homeschoolers in Ohio will need to undergo a social services litmus test requiring background checks, home visits, and interviews of children, before given permission to teach their children at home. News reports indicate that abuse had been reported for years prior to the Teddy’s death. Yet which, if any, serious interventions were made by government authorities charged with investigating such allegations are still in question.

Parent Led Reform is clear that they do not condone child abuse in any form and want to see those truly responsible for the child's death held responsible.

http://www.cato.org/blog/ohio-legislator-kids-belong-state-0