We are involved in two very important studies. MassHOPE has decided it is time to update information about homeschooling in Massachusetts by way of a new study. We believe this will go a long way in educating the public, positively affecting policy and law, and helping 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 our state. 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-step instructions at the end of this letter, which will tell you how to participate in this undertaking (that is, both the Massachusetts-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.  Such research has been essential in the past, at both federal and state levels across the country, in protecting and advancing parents’ rights to homeschool their children.  We know that this new, fresh research will be very useful in the future, both in helping homeschoolers in Massachusetts as well as educating people about the practice and benefits of home education.  Please read on, below.

Bob Jacobsen
President, MassHOPE

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 MassHOPE.  It will be the largest and most in-depth study ever conducted on homeschool families and their academic ability.

We are very thankful to MassHOPE 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. 

To complete the survey, please

1. Go to www.hslda.org/hsstudy 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.

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
   1. Was homeschooled within the past 12 months, and
   2. Was tested 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
   3. 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 Massachusetts residents.)  Create Student ID Number for each of your tested children, as follows:
   1. Student ID Number (10 digits) – Massachusetts: The Student ID Number will consist of 10 (ten) digits, constructed as follows, for Massachusetts: 20 (2 digits for Massachusetts) + 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.
   2. For example, Billy Smith is a tested student in Massachusetts, 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 20231603-02.

   20	23	16	03	-02
   Massachusetts Code	Dad’s Birth Date (Day of Month)	Mom’s Birth Date (Day of Month)	Child’s Birth Date (Day of Month)	2nd Oldest Tested Child

3. Go to survey link/URL www.nheri.org/study by clicking or copy/paste it into your browser.

4. Complete one online survey per tested child (or call Ian Slatter, HSLDA, 540-338-8663 for paper copy).

5. Make copies of your child(ren)’s test-score reports; redact (or black out) their names, AND
   Important:  Write the Student ID number of each tested child clearly on their test-score report.

6. Mail a copy of the test-score reports to organization at the following address (or e-mail a PDF/scan of report):  MassHOPE, 46 South Road, Holden MA 01520, MassHOPE.Research.Study@gmail.com.

   NOTE:  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 3x5 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 MassHOPE 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 Massachusetts (as well as New York) 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 concerns about confidentiality and anonymity. We will firmly protect these 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 MassHOPE.Research.Study@gmail.com.

Thank you very much for your participation.

Bob Jacobsen
President, MASSHOPE