|
 In 1986 a group of Christian homeschooling parents formed a support group named Lancaster County Home Education Association, L'CHEA. They held the first convention at the Farm and Home Center with just a few vendors and speakers
God continued to bless this group and the convention kept outgrowing its venues. It traveled to The Worship Center, Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster Mennonite High School, and Elizabethtown College. In 1993, in what was a giant leap of faith the convention was moved to the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Since going to the Farm Show Complex the CHAP convention has become one of the largest in the world.
As L'CHEA grew it outgrew its name as well. The ministry expanded to reach across the whole state. In 1994 in an effort to better describe its mission, L'CHEA changed its name to the Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania or CHAP.
|
CHAP has been working in the political arena since 1987 leading to the passage of the current law in 1988. CHAP continues to to work on improving the homeschool law in Pennsylvania. In 2000 CHAP founded a program called CHAP HELP, which stands for CHAP Home Educators Lobbying Program, to help educate legislators about homeschooling.
In an ongoing effort to keep both the public and homeschoolers informed about homeschooiing in Pennsylvania CHAP has numerous publications. The CHAP Newsletter has been published since 1989. CHAP has had a web page since 1998, In 2000 as part of our effort to improve the Pennsylvania law relating to homeschooling we instituted an e-mail newsletter.
CHAP has also been involved at the national level. CHAP representatives have participated in tthe Home School Legal Defense Association's (HSLDA) federal lobbying program. CHAP board members have consistently attended the National Center for Home Education (NCHE), and the Alliance of Christian Home Education Leadership's (formerly The Teacing Home Magazine's) national conferences. CHAP board members also have spoken at local, state and national meetings on home education topics.
|
