Target: Patrick S. Martin, West Virginia Senate Majority Leader
Goal: Require full investigation of child abuse allegations before approving homeschool requests.
On the day after Christmas in 2018, eight-year-old Raylee Browning died from sepsis. Instead of spending her holiday happily opening presents, the little girl allegedly spent it being beaten and starved at the hands of her father and two women living with him. The most tragic part of this story is that Raylee’s fate could have been prevented, if not for failures at the government level…failures that have still yet to be addressed to this day.
Raylee’s physical condition had drawn deep concern from teachers at her public school. After these educators relayed their suspicions to Child Protective Services and the school, Raylee’s father withdrew the girl from school under the protection of the state’s homeschooling system and its minimal requirements. Once this move was made, Raylee’s teachers were powerless to help her.
A little over three percent of children in the United States are homeschooled. While many success stories exist, unfortunately oversight and guidelines are a patchwork of state requirements. Some states have almost no supervision or enforcement of guidelines to ensure children are receiving a quality education and, more crucially, to ensure the system is not being exploited by abusers who want to isolate and control vulnerable kids.
Even in the wake of this tragedy, West Virginia politicians have still yet to learn their lesson. Rather than prioritizing the welfare of children over the “rights” of their parents, politicians have instead chosen to continually rebuff a law that would provide the most fundamental level of protection for kids. Raylee’s Law would allow county boards to put a homeschooling request on hold if abuse or neglect allegations (made by school personnel) are leveled against the individual or individuals making the request. Yet on two different occasions, the state’s Senate has refused to even bring this potentially life-saving legislation up for a committee vote.
Sign the petition below to demand these reckless leaders make the third time the charm for Raylee’s Law.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Martin,
Raylee Browning deserved better than what she got from her state leaders. This little girl reportedly suffered and ultimately died because of a dangerous loophole in West Virginia’s severely lacking homeschooling framework. Why is it more important to protect the rights of accused child abusers than the very children whose welfare and lives are at stake?
Raylee was failed twice: first, allegedly by the people she relied on for her care and safety. Then, officials failed this little girl by putting her under the complete and unchecked control of the people who reportedly ended her short life. Now, your Senate is once again failing Raylee’s legacy by refusing to pass or even consider a law that would protect children like her from the same tragic fate. This failure is a stain on your legacy and a shame to the entire state.
Do the right thing, honor this little girl, and join with your House colleagues in passing Raylee’s Law at once.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Ron Lach
