Two companion bills have been introduced that amend the home-school statute.
Senator Woods introduced SB 962 and Del. Dillard introduced HB 2384. These two
bills amend and reenact the education code including sections relating to home
school ( 22.1-254, 22.1-254.1, and 22.1-257). The bills propose to repeal
religious exemption, 22.1-257(B)(2) but include a new section,
22.1-254(B)(1) with basically the same language as the religious exemption
statute.
The bills also make changes regarding GED in 22.1-254.2. They remove the
requirement of home schooling for three consecutive years prior to taking the
GED test. Persons under the age of 16 are not allowed to take the test. We
support these modifications. There are numerous other changes, but they
pertain to public school students.
We have been watching these bills very closely. There is always the danger
that someone will attach an amendment or substitute that will modify the home-
school law. This has happened.
The Senate version was amended a few days ago in the Senate Education
Committee. The committee changed the deadline for submitting the Intent to
Home School form from August to at least ten days prior to the school year.
The Senate version of the bill passed the Senate today with a floor
substitute. At this time we don t know what that substitute is. It has not
been printed.
We oppose this change. Having the August 31 deadline is clear and consistent
in every district. The beginning date for school can differ from district to
district. According to the Department of Education, 66 out of 135 school
divisions have been given waivers by the Board of Education to begin school
prior to Labor Day and as early as August 20.
This change will create confusion. It is not consistent. It is not efficient.
What we have works.
I have called Dr. Margaret Roberts and Charles Finley with the Department of
Education. Dr. Roberts relayed our opposition to Diane Atkinson, Assistant
Superintendent for Policy. Dr. Roberts does not support this change. Cheri
Yecke, with the Secretary of Education s office, also agrees that this change
will be a problem. She indicated she would contact Del. Kirk Cox to carry the
opposition for the Department of Education.
Our lobbyist Carl Stevens will be at the Capitol on Thursday, February 4, to
lobby against this change. He is also prepared to testify for parent-taught
driver education, HB 2696, which will be in the transportation committee on
the same day.
We support school choice / tuition tax credit legislation that will be up for
a vote this week. We support HB 1, the Religious Freedom Act that will restore
the protection of religious liberty. Phone calls are needed this week on both
of these bills.
We are tracking several truancy bills and day-time curfew bills. A bill passed
Wednesday that prohibits part-time students from participating in
extracurricular public school activities, but does not effect academic access.
Please pass this information on to your support group members, and make sure
your phone trees are working in case we need to activate a phone alert. This
is an informative memo and is not a call to action on the changes in the home-
school statute. We are working to stop them. The next two days are critical
for these bills.
Please people, This is supposed to be America The land of the free...Now tell me...Is a land where you can't go outside in the daytime "FREE"?
House 1-804-698-1500
Please also call your Senate and tell them NOT to vote for the HB 2697
Just in case you did NOT understand what is above. Home schoolers. Those who have tutors and those who just aren't in school for some reason. (your sick or whatever) If you are seen OUTSIDE ANYWHERE, (in the mall, at a store, IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD) the police will pick you up and take you to your local school. THIS IS NOT FREEDOM! PLEASE CHOOSE FREEDOM. How hard is it to call and take 5 minutes of your time to have FREEDOM? or would you rather spend five extra minutes playing AOE or doing whatever? And then later find out that you could get put into jail because of your decision? Call please.