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Though committee chairman Del. James Dillard of Fairfax spoke against the bill and a few others voiced concern, several committee members spoke in favor of the bill and homeschooling in general. 

Del. Jack Reid of Henrico County humorously recounted his days as a principal when he ran a school of 1800 students that was originally intended for 1050 students.  Every day he would ride by various private schools and he would be thankful.  Then, he would think of homeschoolers and be thankful--He was thankful they were not in his school!

Del. Bill Carrico of Independence, who told the committee he does not have a college degree, stated that he did not think having a degree necessarily meant you were any smarter than someone with a high-school diploma.  As such, he said he could not vote against our bill.

Four homeschool representatives were prepared to testify before the education committee--representatives of HSLDA and the Virginia Home Education Association, as well as a homeschool family, and myself. After the bill's sponsor, Delegate
Bell, presented the bill, I briefly addressed a question from one of the committee members. The vote was then called for without allowing anyone else to address the 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 or her children.

ACTION:
The bill will be read for the first time before the full House on Thursday, January 29.  This is perfunctory; no action is taken other than the bill being introduced.  Debate and possible floor amendments will occur Friday, beginning sometime after 11:00 a.m. 

Therefore, please CALL YOUR DELEGATE THURSDAY and thank him for supporting HB 675 if he did. If he was not on the committee, or voted against the bill, ask him or her to SUPPORT HB 675, the homeschool high-school diploma bill.  (If you think your delegate is extremely supportive of homeschooling, ask him or her to co-patron the bill.)

NOTE: Remember to call only YOUR delegate, as delegates do not like to hear from constituents outside of their district on floor votes.  The bill will come up for a final vote Monday, February 2.

TO FIND YOUR DELEGATE
Click on this link to find the list of delegates: YOUR DELEGATES

Click on your delegate’s name to find their phone numbers, both in Richmond and in your district.  Minimally, call your delegate’s district office.  Enough calls at the local level will generate increased interest and attention up in Richmond.  Call the Richmond office for the most direct way of voicing your opinion.

TALKING POINTS
1. Over the past 20 years, it has been proven, 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.
3. Once passed, this would save local superintendents time and money since they wouldn’t have to approve math and language arts curricula for up to 11,000 students.
4. Some parents, who would normally have to comply with the SOL requirements for language arts and mathematics under Option 4, would have another choice for compliance within the homeschool statute.

THANKS AGAIN!  YOUR CALLS MADE THE DIFFERENCE!