purplebar

Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)

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

Friday, May 21, 2004

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Governor Warner Vetoes High School Diploma Bill

In a call from the governor’s office, Suzette Denslow, senior advisor to the governor, informed HEAV that Governor Warner has vetoed HB 675, the Homeschool High School Diploma Bill.

In a brief statement, the governor pointed to the federal No Child Left Behind Act that supposedly is raising standards for public school teachers. In contrast, he felt HB 675 “would effectively lower the criteria to home school, and thus retreat from the needed assurance of an adequate education for every child.” Ms. Denslow asked that we communicate the governor's decision to our constituency.

BEHIND THE SCENES
After the regular session of the General Assembly ended in mid March, HEAV learned from Anna Healy, special assistant to the governor for education policy, that the governor would NOT VETO the bill. By the Reconvened Session on April 21, he had decided to amend the bill. The House of Delegates, however, rejected his amendments. We had hoped he would have maintained his original position not to veto the bill.

We made several attempts to meet with the governor but were told that if he would like to meet with us, we would be contacted. Based on a report from Senator Russ Potts about his meeting two weeks ago with the governor on this bill, the governor was still “confused” about some issues related to the bill. We therefore intensified our requests for him to meet with us since we requested this bill and are the most familiar with homeschooling issues in Virginia. Even as late as yesterday, we offered to meet with him at any hour to discuss HB 675 thoroughly, and to help him understand that supporting it would benefit him, homeschoolers, and all Virginians.

We communicated to him that this is not a partisan issue, that Democrats and Republicans alike homeschool. We shared that this is not a public school versus homeschool issue--this is about homeschooling only. We told him that signing the bill or letting it lay would not mean he is against public schools, but it would mean he is for the hard working mothers and fathers who choose to sacrifice by homeschooling and who are producing excellent results. By his veto, he chose to reject all this.

HEAV will hold a press conference in House Room 5 in the Capitol building, Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. We invite you to attend to show your support for home education.

ACTION:
First, PRAY. God is still in control. He has a purpose for this defeat. While we may not understand it now, pray for guidance and discernment for how we should respond and proceed.

Second, call Governor Warner at 804-786-2211 and politely express your opinion. When you call, press 0 for a live person in Constituent Services. They will not argue or debate, but only take your message. Make it clear and brief: “I am disappointed that Governor Warner vetoed HB 675, the Homeschool High School Diploma Bill.” If you prefer to leave a recorded message, choose option 1.

If the line is busy or it is AFTER 5:30 p.m., you may fax a short message like the one above. Include your name and mailing address. This is very effective and easy for them to count. Fax the governor at 804-371-6351.

Or email the governor through his Web site: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact/email_form.html


And again, we thank you for your actions of support by both praying and contacting those in government who have the authority to decide on this issue. By being vigilant in voicing your opinion, you are protecting your right to homeschool.

.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

From Governor Warner, May 21, 2004:

Home Schooling
HB 675 (Delegate Bell)

I have vetoed House Bill 675. This bill would have permitted a parent without a college degree to educate his children at home, without even an approved program of study for teaching the child. Under current Virginia law, a parent may educate his children at home if he meets one of several criteria: he has a college degree, he is a certified teacher with qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education, he has enrolled the children in a correspondence course approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or he provides a program of study or curriculum approved by the local school superintendent. In addition, parents who have a religious exemption need no other qualification to home school. I proposed an amendment to this bill which would have allowed a parent without a college degree to home school if he has achieved an acceptable score on a standardized test - PRAXIS I or SAT I (at levels determined by the Department of Education) or above a 50% pass score on another test approved by the Department of Education. My amendment was designed to increase flexibility desired by the home schooling community while ensuring that the parent is able to educate his children.

Through the Federal No Child Left Behind Act, we have raised the standards for our public school teachers. This bill would effectively lower the criteria to home school, and thus retreat from the needed assurance of an adequate education for every child.

I am committed to high standards for our teachers as well as our home educators. Accordingly, I have vetoed this bill.