Legislative Update
January 9, 2008
LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS TODAY
Even
though the 2008 General Assembly Session just begins today (January 9,
2008), our preparations have been underway for months--setting up our
legislative team, reviewing potential amendments, attending meetings,
participating in conference calls, reading pre-filed bills, etc.
HEAV's Legislative Team
 Our
core legislative team is made up of knowledgeable individuals with
solid homeschool and legislative experience and training. HEAV's
director of government affairs, Yvonne Bunn will continue to direct HEAV legislative activities. Working closely with Yvonne is Anne Miller, president of HEAV, who has been a behind-the-scenes legislative advisor and bill reader for more than 14 years.
HEAV's 2007 lobbyist, Benjamin Lansing,
will spearhead activities at the Capitol. Ben is a homeschool graduate
and graduate of the University of Richmond. During his homeschool
years, Ben participated in TeenPact
and later worked as an intern with former Senator George Allen. Ben is
the founder, owner, and artist for Lansing Advertising and is the
creator of a national, award-winning cartoon panel, Out of Order.
Ben's strong knowledge of state government and his successful
homeschool experiences will enhance his credibility when discussing
homeschool issues with legislators.
Caroline Barnes
will continue to serve as HEAV's bill researcher. Caroline is a former
homeschool mom and an experienced legislative bill analyst. She has
previously served as an HEAV board member and as an elected local
school board member.
HEAV's legislative team is here to help
you understand the legislative process and answer your questions. We
value your input on all homeschooling issues. Please contact us with
your questions and comments at legislative@heav.org.
Behind-the-Scenes Activities
HEAV,
VaHomeschoolers, and HSLDA have been working with the Department of
Education since early fall discussing problems in local districts and
potential legislative issues. We expect to see amendments introduced to
the homeschool statute early in the 2008 session. As soon as the
proposed amendments are made public by Legislative Services and we
review the official wording, we will send a Legislative Update to you
with all the details.
How You Can Partner with Us during the Legislative Session
1.
Subscribe, read, and pass on our HEAV Legislative Updates--send them to
your support groups and e-groups and post them on your blogs. We will
keep you up-to-date on legislative issues as they develop. Join our
e-mail list, and encourage others in your support group to sign up for our FREE Legislative Updates.
2. Pray for our legislative team.
3. Support the work of HEAV through volunteering, membership, and financial contributions.
 4. Join us February 7 in Richmond for Day at the Capitol.
Over the years, thousands of homeschool families have joined us for
this event. It is a great time to briefly meet face-to-face with your
legislators and express your appreciation for their support of home
education. When a legislator meets a homeschool family from his or her
district, it makes a positive difference when it's time for him or her
to vote on a homeschool issue! You can find out more information about
the Day at the Capitol here.
[Photo Credit: Hillier Architecture]
Ways to Stay Informed!
Lobbyist in a Box
The Virginia General Assembly has given citizens the ability to track up to five bills with the FREE bill tracking software Lobbyist in a Box. (See the Quick Links on the right-hand side of the page.) It's user-friendly and makes bill tracking a breeze!
Bill Information FAQ
If
you have questions about the legislative process or need to learn how
to navigate the General Assembly website, you can find help at the
General Assembly FAQ.
Call in Your Viewpoint
The
General Assembly has set-up a "Constituent View-Point" for citizens to
leave a voice message for legislators. You must leave your name,
address, and phone number. Call the "Constituent View-Point" at
800-889-0229 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to register your opinion.
Remember,
lobbying means letting our elected officials know our opinions. Let's
make sure we take the time to tell them what we think!
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SPORT ACCESS, MUSEUMS, AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REPORT
Although
the legislature session is just beginning today, we've been busy
communicating with other organizations to help promote homeschooling.
We have continued working with the Virginia High School League and have
met with museums and college officials from across the state. Please
see the sections below for details.
Virginia High School League Makes Final Decision on Sports Access
In
September, HEAV made a formal presentation to the Virginia High School
League on behalf of homeschoolers who were interested in participating
in interscholastic activities. HEAV proposed ways homeschoolers could
comply with the intent and spirit of VHSL rules, while being very
careful to protect the rights of parents who do not want to participate
in public school activities.
Yvonne Bunn e-mailed VHSL newly published information about Tim Tibow
of the University of Florida, the first-ever sophomore winner of the
Heisman Trophy. Tibow was homeschooled by his mother in grades K-12 in
Florida, where the law permits homeschoolers to participate in public
school sports. So while being homeschooled, Tim played football for his
local high school team and led them to the state championship. The
message in the e-mail to VHSL stated, "It can work!"
At the
follow-up December Executive Committee Meeting, the committee decided
to withdraw the homeschool proposal. In a recent conversation with VHSL
executive director Ken Tilley, Yvonne Bunn of HEAV asked for an
explanation of the vote. Tilley stated "It became obvious there was no
support for the proposal." He further explained that no one felt they
could accommodate homeschoolers. They saw it as implementing a
different standard, and had questions about academic oversight,
concerns about lack of the same academic criteria, and discussions
about discipline issues and the application of varying standards.
According to the VHSL December minutes, the Executive Committee made the following recommendation:
"This
proposal has received considerable attention and discussion at the fall
membership breakout sessions; region meetings for principals, athletic
directors and superintendents; and at the SVBA (Virginia School Board
Association) Conference. Because there has been virtually no support
for the legislation, staff recommends withdrawing the proposal."
A summary of the VHSL minutes with the HEAV proposal can be found at http://vhsl.org/minutes.htm.
HEAV Helps Museums Serve Homeschoolers
The
Virginia Association of Museums invited HEAV to present a workshop
titled "Reaching Homeschoolers" at their monthly association meeting
for educational directors from all types of museums throughout the
state.
In the presentation, Yvonne Bunn, HEAV's director of
homeschool support and legislative affairs, described the history of
homeschooling, why parents homeschool today, the demographics of
homeschoolers, and the reason home education is successful. Yvonne
suggested museums think outside-the-box when working with
homeschoolers, since the standard, segregated, classroom approach
hasn't worked well for homeschoolers. Finding a way to adapt their
programs to work with multiple age levels would be a better fit. Yvonne
recommended their programs include parental involvement in hands-on
workshops and follow-up materials for further at-home learning.
Yvonne
was joined in the presentation by Linda Linder, an HEAV board member
and Manassas support group leader, and Jennifer Ford and her
homeschooled children. Linda added a unique perspective as a leader and
fieldtrip organizer. Jennifer Ford and her children, who admitted to
being enthusiastic museum visitors, explained what they especially
liked about visits to some museums and what made visits to other
museums less enjoyable.
As a follow-up to this important
meeting, Jennifer Ford will be contacting museums across the state on
behalf of HEAV to arrange free museum open houses and reduced regular
rates for homeschooling families. This win-win situation will introduce
homeschoolers to museums they may not have visited, and at the same
time, allow museums to serve students during off times when schools are
not able to visit the museum. If you have a great museum in your area
that you would recommend other homeschoolers visit and that is large
enough to hold several hundred visitors, let us know by sending an
e-mail with contact information to support@heav.org.
The
Virginia Sports Museum and Mariner's Museum both noted an important
characteristic of homeschoolers at their open houses--they commented
that the children and adults were very grateful for the opportunity to
come to the museum. A museum director said she had never been "thanked"
so much for what they did. "It definitely makes me want to do this
again!" she commented. HEAV appreciates your good testimony and
grateful spirit! In the future, we will provide contact information for
those who would like to send e-mail thank-you notes.
College Admissions Officers Seek Homeschool Information from HEAV
If
you've run the gauntlet of college admissions with your homeschool high
schooler, then you know the challenges of navigating the system made
for traditional students. Throughout the years, HEAV has talked with
numerous college admissions officers, trying to explain the differences
between homeschool students and public school students. When the
opportunity came to speak to all the Virginia college admissions
officers at one time and in one place, HEAV was delighted to accept the
invitation.
In December, Yvonne Bunn, HEAV director of
homeschool support and legislative affairs, traveled to the Virginia
Tech Campus in Blacksburg to address the annual conference of the
Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Yvonne was joined by HEAV's curriculum and high school counselor, Vicki
Bentley.
Yvonne first presented homeschool demographics and
statistics. She then shared the reasons homeschoolers make successful
college students. Yvonne discussed issues involving parent-generated
transcripts and diplomas, as well as the reasons homeschoolers don't
want to get GEDs. There was a good exchange during the Q&A about
dual enrollment, community college, and AP and CLEP credits.
Numerous
admissions officers from both large universities and small colleges
offered positive comments about the homeschool students they had
accepted at their colleges. They noted that homeschoolers adjusted well
to campus life. Homeschoolers were some of their most creative students
and often became leaders on campus. Admission officers admitted there
were sometimes challenges during the admissions process, but none that
they couldn't overcome.
HEAV recommends that parents begin preparing a high school transcript at ninth grade. See The High School Handbook
by Mary Schofield for helpful high school information or contact Vicki
Bentley, HEAV's curriculum and high school counselor, at the HEAV
office at 804-278-9200 for more information.
************
NOTE FROM YVONNE BUNN
We
are thankful for these opportunities to promote homeschooling, and are
looking forward to continuing to represent you in both the legislature
session and with museums, colleges, and other organizations across the
state. Thank you for partnering with us--I hope to see you at Day at
the Capitol!
Sincerely,
Yvonne Bunn, HEAV Director of Government Affairs
Home Educators Association of Virginia
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