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Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)

HEAV-Promoting and protecting home education in Virginia through information, legislation, and resources since 1983!

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VIRGINIA BEACH PSAT & AP ISSUE UNRESOLVED

Some Virginia Beach School Board members watched intently and others refused to make eye contact with the 17-year-old homeschool teen as she appealed to the board to allow her to take the PSAT. With her mother at her side, she articulately described the events that led her to stand before them.

Early in the fall she went to collegeboard.com for information about registering for the PSAT. With the help of a guidance counselor at the local high school, she signed up for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Approximately a week later she received a call advising her that she could not take the test. The counselor acknowledged she had more than 25 extra tests, and although she saw no problem with the homeschooler taking the PSAT in her school, she had since learned that school board policy would not allow her to give the test to a non-public-school student. The counselor directed her back to the College Board Web Site to find another school. Over and over again, she was told she could not take the test because she was not enrolled in the school.

“All I’m requesting is to be afforded the same opportunity to take the PSAT just like all other students are, regardless of whether they’re homeschooled or not. I am simply asking for fairness,” the homeschooler told the school board members.

“I’m sure you know that taking the PSAT is the only way to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship,” she continued, “but by not being allowed the chance to enter the competition for the college scholarship, you, in fact, are denying me the opportunity of possible college money and the possibility of my chance to attend college all together.” She told them she was the oldest of five children and, on behalf of her siblings and other homeschool juniors, she was asking to have the same opportunity as other students.

After her testimony, Yvonne Bunn of HEAV addressed the board. Yvonne requested the school board comply with the law enacted during the 2005 General Assembly session. She stated it was the clear intent of the legislators to provide the opportunity for homeschoolers to take the PSAT and AP tests. It would have been unreasonable for legislators to require school boards to notify homeschoolers of the locations of testing sites for tests they are not allowed to take.

Earlier the school board had stated that administering the PSAT violated Policy 5-10, “Students enrolled in private or parochial schools and home school students shall not be permitted to enroll in this school division on a part-time basis or participate in academic or extracurricular activities, except as required by law.” Yvonne pointed out that homeschoolers were not asking to enroll part-time in order to take the test. And second, notification of the “availability” of the tests and financial aid was “required by law.” She clarified the terminology by defining the word “availability” as being "accessible or capable of being used."

Yvonne concluded by reading portions of a letter from the College Board written by Peter Negroni, vice president, Teaching and Learning. It stated in part:

The College Board’s position is that it is best to assist ALL students and provide a friendly and welcome environment in which they can benefit from the opportunities provided by the PSAT and other assessment programs...We encourage schools to do what is right by all children, not just those under their daily care.

During the “Hearing of Citizens and Delegations on the Agenda Items,” there was no opportunity for board questions or discussion. Therefore, no decision was made regarding the PSAT.

HSLDA attorney Scott Woodruff has since been in contact with School Board Chairman Dan Edwards. Mr. Edwards indicated the board would be working on APs for next spring and PSATs for next fall.

Parrish Mort of the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers was also in attendance at the school board meeting. She addressed the issue of part-time enrollment on behalf of a homeschooler who was denied enrollment in a third-year Latin class at a Virginia Beach high school. The student had attended the school the previous year and had done well in second-year Latin. Local school officials wanted her to return to the advanced class this fall. They were unaware of policy 5-10 that prevented homeschoolers from taking classes.

Parrish argued that the restrictive Virginia Beach policy was divisive and created an “us vs. them” mentality. She stated that “homeschoolers are members of the community who care deeply about families and educational issues.” She reiterated that homeschoolers are not asking for special treatment, but for a policy that allows homeschoolers to participate in classes on a space-available basis. The school board unanimously agreed to a one-time suspension of their policy so the homeschooled student could return to her Latin class without further interruption of her studies.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

HEAV, the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers, and HSLDA will continue to work together to resolve these issues with the school board. We are hopeful we will find an equitable solution for homeschoolers.

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HEAV—Serving the homeschoolers of Virginia through information, legislation, and resources since 1983! Be sure to sign up to receive the FREE Virginia Home Educator magazine at http://www.heav.org.

HEAV (Home Educators Association of Virginia)
2248-G Dabney Road
Richmond, VA 23230

Phone: 804-278-9200
Fax: 804-278-9202
Website: http://www.heav.org
E-mail: info@heav.org; for legislative matters, legislative@heav.org