Addressing questions concerning arrest of parents for failing to
register their children
On January 5, 2010, both “The Daily Gazette” newspaper and WRGB
television reported that local parents had been charged with
endangering the welfare of a child for failing to register their
children with the local school district. Although the article
was accurate, it did not include all of the details causing many
of its readers to draw inaccurate conclusions. In fairness to
the family and to the school district, Fonda-Fultonville Central
School District Superintendent Dr. James Hoffman issues the
following clarification:
All parents living in New York State must
register their children with their local school districts,
but are then free to choose any state-approved public,
private or homeschool option. The registration process
merely ensures that every child receives an education.
County agencies investigated and determined
that the children of this family were not registered. The
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office subsequently charged the
parents as prescribed by the law.
The district has worked closely with the
parents since charges were filed and have assisted the
parents in completing all paperwork necessary to comply with
state law.
It is the district’s goal to quickly resolve
this unfortunate situation, to enable the family to pursue
their right to homeschool their children, and to restore
their privacy.
