In 2016, the Executive Committee 2016 implemented the following policy for grandparents.
- Grandparents who have custody of their grandchildren: They will be treated as the ‘parents’ and must register with MDHSA, pay the membership fee, and are allowed to participate in all activities including co-op, the same as any member parent. They should not put grandparent on the registration form since in the eyes of MDHSA and the law they ARE parents and it will create confusion with category number 2 below. (NOTE: The non-member parent may attend field trips and activities, but ONLY if the grandparent invites them to do so).
- Member Parents with full-time grandparent homeschooling support: Example: A grandparent, who lives with or nearby the member family and who does all or the majority of the homeschooling while the member parent works. The grandparent(s) of the current MDHSA member family who wishes to teach at co-op, a club, or other MDHSA activity regularly may provide support with or in the absence of the parent. They will not be charged an additional MDHSA membership fee. However, the grandparent(s), in addition to the parent(s), must fill out the online membership registration form in order to be treated as either a full or associate member for MDHSA activities and/or co-op participation. This way the grandparent(s) will have read all pertinent membership information and will have an understanding of our organizational statements. They must follow this procedure in this order:
- The parent(s) will submit a membership application and payment.
- The grandparent(s) should also fill out a membership application, but in this manner:
- In the line for the last name, please put the Member family name (last name and first name).
- In the line for the first name, please enter the grandparent(s) name(s) (last name, first name).
- They must check the box that allows them to get the Newsletter by e-mail NOT by mail. MDHSA cannot mail hard copies of the newsletter to non-paying grandparents.
- After membership for the member family is verified, it will be approved and the parents and grandparents will each receive their own membership email. Also, it will be adjusted in the database to show just the Grandparents’ names on the directory followed by GP and the member parents’ last names.
Example: John and Mary Smith are joining MDHSA. Membership application and payment are submitted and approved. Then, Mary’s parents’ Louise and Mervin Knight fill out a membership application. On their application they will type ‘Smith, John and Mary’ on the line for the last name, and ‘Knight, Louise and Mervin’ on the line for the first name. This will be adjusted once membership is approved. It will only show as their name ‘Knight, Louise and Mervin (GP- JSmith) in the directory.