purplebar


Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)

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

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

MEETING UPDATE: HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BILL TO BE HEARD FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13

We have a great opportunity to make the most sweeping change in Virginia's homeschooling laws in 20 years! HB 675, the Homeschool High School Diploma bill, will be heard before the Senate Education and Health Subcommittee on Public
Education on Friday, February 13, at approximately 7:30 a.m., in the 3rd Floor West Conference Room of the General Assembly Building. If you can attend this meeting, your physical presence will go a long way in demonstrating the
importance of this bill to our community.

ACTION: Five senators will hear this bill in subcommittee. Only two have not committed to supporting or opposing the bill. Contact the following senators and ask them for their support:

Senator Blevins 804-698-7514, district14@sov.state.va.us

Senator Howell 804-698-7532, district32@sov.state.va.us

Over the past few weeks, as the bill went through the House, three major concerns were voiced in opposition. Please feel free to mention these to the legislators as talking points in support of the bill.

…. …. …. …. ….
CONCERN #1: The test scores of homeschooled students with both parents having high school diplomas are on average 20 points below students with both parents having baccalaureate degrees.

RESPONSE: While this statement is true, these lower scores are mostly 15 to 19 percentile points higher than the average scores of public school students with teachers having baccalaureate degrees and certification. These lower scores still put homeschool students in the top third of all students.

…. …. …. …. ….
CONCERN #2: If we allow parents with high school diplomas to  teach their own children, how will we know how well they are doing?

RESPONSE: The Virginia Code has already been addressing this for 20 years. Under the homeschool statute, parents must have their children tested and submit the results to their local superintendent by August 1, of every year. If the scores fall below the fourth stanine or 23rd percentile, the child's education program may be put on probation for one year. If--after one year--the student's scores have not improved, the parents must make other arrangements for the education of  their child.

…. …. …. …. ….
CONCERN #3: How would high school graduates be able to teach a subject about which they know very little or in which they have weak skills?

RESPONSE: One of the goals of homeschooling is to create life-long learners--self-directed, self-motivated individuals. If a parent does not feel they have the ability to teach their high school student a subject like calculus  or advanced biology, they have several options: 1) They can order an online course and manage their student's progress. 2) They can send him to a local
school (public or private) for that one class. 3) They can have him participate in a local homeschool co-op. Or 4) They can hire a tutor. Whatever the topic, parents can--and do--find ways for their student to learn difficult subjects.

VICTORY REPORT: CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION BILL PASSES SENATE UNANIMOUSLY

SB 584, the Child Abuse Prevention and Training Act (CAPTA), patroned by Senator Bill Bolling, passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday.

When this bill was heard last Friday before the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee, Senator Bolling explained how this bill had already passed as federal law and that the General Assembly would now have to drop it into
state code. Federal money for the training component would also be forthcoming. Very few questions were asked, and no opposition was voiced. Both ends of the political spectrum agreed on this bill.

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. Federal funds would be provided for the training.

HEAV'S ANNUAL DAY AT THE CAPITOL
More than 120 parents and children joined together to learn how their government passes bills when they met for HEAV's Day at the Capitol, Friday, February 6. Highlighting the event was a special guest appearance by Delegate Rob Bell of Charlottesville, the patron and champion of HB 675, a bill that would allow parents with a high school diploma to educate
their children at home under Option 1 of the homeschool statute.

Senator Russ Potts of Winchester shared how he recently discovered that he and homeschoolers have more ground in common than he realized. Formerly an ardent opponent of homeschooling until very recently, Senator Potts confessed his
initial misgivings and proudly stated that he now supports our homeschooling  efforts.

Democratic Senator Phil Puckett of Tazewell addressed our group from his heart. He explained that he is a pro-life Christian who absolutely believes in a parent's right to choose homeschooling if that is what they think best for their child. Senator Puckett has co-patroned all of our bills for the last two years.

One of the highlights of the day came when most of the attendees were able to visit the gallery of the House of Delegates and witness their Morning Hour. Homeschoolers packed the upper seating area as Delegate Bell introduced them. Even though the opponent of our bill, Delegate Dillard, sat only a few feet from him, Delegate Bell graciously pointed out that it was Delegate Dillard who--20 years ago--patroned the bill allowing homeschoolers to legally educate their children at home.

As we enter the second half of the General Assembly session, we appreciate your continued support, your prayers, and your words of encouragement and advice.