purplebar


To: Virginia Homeschoolers
From: Joe Guarino, Director of Government Affairs

Tuesday, January 27, 2004

ACTION ALERT AND UPDATE: HEAV'S TWO BILLS RESCHEDULED

The introduction of two of HEAV's bills has been rescheduled.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BILL
This bill would eliminate the first provision under the homeschool statute requiring a parent to have a baccalaureate degree to
homeschool, and replace it with a provision allowing a parent with a high school diploma to homeschool his children.

ACTION: The bill, HB 675, has been rescheduled to be heard for the first time before the House Education Committee, on Wednesday, January 28, at 8:30 a.m., in House Appropriations Room on the 9th floor of the General Assembly Building.
Attend if you can. The Virginia Education Association has targeted this bill for defeat. Please pray against this, and for victory for homeschoolers.

PLEASE CALL THE FOLLOWING DELEGATES and urge them to support HB 675. Call them ONLY if you live in their district. If you know someone who lives in their district, call them and ask them to call the delegate.

 
Del. Bill Carrico, Independence 804-698-1005  
Del. Paul Councill,
Franklin		 804-698-1075  
Del. Jeff Frederick, Woodbridge 804-698-1052  
Del. Phil
Hamilton, Newport News		 804-698-1093  
Del. Bennie Keister, Dublin 804-698-1006  
Del. Melanie Rapp, Yorktown 804-698-1096  
Del. Gary Reese, Oak Hill 804-698-1067  
Del. Tom Rust, Herndon 804-698-1086  

TALKING POINTS

1. Over the past 20 years, research has shown that regardless of a parent's  educational background, there is very little difference in the child's scores on national standardized tests.

2. Virginia is the last state to use the baccalaureate degree as a threshold to homeschool. Nine states use the high school diploma. Forty states have no educational qualifications. We would like the General Assembly to bring Virginia more in line with at least the nine states.


CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT (CAPTA)

This bill would require all child protective service workers to inform parents of the allegation at the initial point of an investigation of alleged abuse. It would also require training for these workers in the constitutional rights of children and families, including Fourth Amendment and parental rights.

ACTION: Identical bills have been introduced in the House and the Senate. The introduction of the House bill, HB 1135, has NOT changed. It will be heard for the first time before the Welfare Subcommittee of the House Health, Welfare, and
Institutions Committee, on Thursday, January 29, at 7:30 a.m., in the 7th Floor West Conference Room of the General Assembly Building. 

The introduction of the Senate bill, SB 584, has changed. It will be heard for the first time before the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, on Friday, February 6, at 8:30 a.m., in Senate Room B of the General Assembly Building. Attend if you can.  Pray for limited discussion and widespread support, especially considering it has already been passed at the federal level.

As you pray, give thanks for the Home School Legal Defense Association, and especially for Senior Counsel Chris Klicka. HSLDA worked 18 months with Congress and social workers to agree on the language that was ultimately passed in early
2003. This should make it easier to codify the CAPTA bill into Virginia law.