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Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)

To: Home Educators of Virginia
From: Joe Guarino, Director of Government Affairs

Monday, February 2, 2004

ACTION ALERT: CRITICAL SUPPORT REQUIRED FOR HB 675

HB 675, the Homeschool High School Diploma bill, came before the full House for debate today. The vote was very close. It now goes for a final vote on Tuesday. We need a strong surge of calls to several key delegates for this bill to be successful!

Patron Del. Rob Bell introduced the bill and spoke very logically for its passage. Unfortunately, Del. James Dillard spoke strongly against the bill immediately after Del. Bell spoke. The pending question was then quickly called and debate ended. When a voice vote was taken for passage to the third and final reading, the Speaker was in doubt as to which side won. A hand count was taken. 
The bill passed by a close margin.

ACTION: If you live in any one of the following delegate's districts, PLEASE CALL AND ASK FOR SUPPORT OF HB 675. If you know of anyone who lives in these districts, please call them and ask them to call their delegate. With this
last-minute push, PLEASE CALL YOUR DELEGATE'S RICHMOND OFFICE.

Click on this link to find the phone numbers for the following delegates: PHONE NUMBERS

Del. Watkins Abbitt
Del. David Albo
Del. Ward Armstrong
Del. William Barlow
Del. Paul Councill
Del. Thelma Drake
Del. Johnny Joannou
Del. Joe Johnson
Del. Bennie Keister
Del. Danny Marshall
Del. Joe May
Del. Harvey Morgan
Del. Bobby Orrock
Del. Harry Parrish
Del. Chap Peterson
Del. Bud Phillips
Del. Al Pollard
Del. Bob Purkey
Del. Gary Reese
Del. Tom Rust
Del. Jackie Stump
Del. Terrie Suit
Del. Bob Tata
Del. Leo Wardrup

TALKING POINTS

1. Homeschooling parents with high school diplomas produce student test scores equal to or higher than public school teachers with baccalaureate degrees and teacher certifications. Therefore, let's focus on results, not qualifications.

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

3. 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.

4. Once passed, this bill would save local superintendents time and money since they would not have to approve math and language arts curricula for approximately 11,000 students.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TRAINING ACT MOVES ON
Patron Bob McDonnell introduced HB 1135 on its second reading before the full House today. With no discussion, a
voice vote was taken. Unanimously, the House agreed to engross the bill for its third and final reading on Tuesday, when they will take a final vote.