Legislative Update
April 28,
2010
Dear ,
A
relatively calm General Assembly session was followed by increased
activity this
spring! First, there was a surprise move by Warren County--the adoption
of a
new, restrictive religious exemption policy. Then, as the Virginia
legislative session
was ending, HEAV representatives joined other state homeschool leaders
in
Washington, D.C., to lobby federal representatives during the HSLDA
National
Homeschool Leadership Summit. Next came HEAV's Homeschool Day at the
Capitol,
which offered nearly 500 homeschool students and parents a chance to
learn
about the legislative process. (View the pictures.)
As you can tell, the
legislative work we do is not limited to just two or three months during
the General
Assembly session--it is an ongoing activity requiring continual
monitoring and
action throughout the year. Your involvement and support are critical to
homeschool freedoms. Thank you for standing with us!
With
warm regards,
Yvonne Bunn
Director of
Homeschool Support & Legislative Affairs
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WARREN COUNTY PASSES
RESTRICTIVE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION POLICY
On March 11, the Warren
County School Board passed a religious exemption (RE) policy that went
beyond the requirements of the Virginia religious exemption statute.
Initially, the policy was developed to ensure that future, newly elected
school board members would have procedures in place to consistently
evaluate the religious beliefs of Warren County citizens claiming a
religious exemption.
However, the Warren County policy is in
opposition to case law and §22.1-254 (B)(1). The policy requires parents
to show how public school, private school, and homeschool will not
accommodate their religious beliefs. In addition, the school board could
consider a number of factors to evaluate the beliefs of the parents
such as (1) membership in a particular religion, (2) comparing the
parents' and student's beliefs to those of their religious organization,
(3) determining whether or not the parents' religious beliefs are
merely a social response to changing times, and (4) evaluating whether
or not the parents' beliefs would change if contested. The board also
reserved the right to require a renewed request each year. In contrast,
according to the Virginia Supreme Court in the Johnson case, the only
test is the sincerity of a person's beliefs.
Policy Suspended
After receiving
phone calls and e-mails, the board voted at the March 25 school board
meeting to suspend the March 11 policy. At that time, the board also
voted to request an informal attorney general opinion regarding their
policy.
George Lansing and Yvonne Bunn of HEAV met at Seton Home
Study in Front Royal with representatives of local homeschool
organizations including HEARTH and SHELL, as well as representatives of
other statewide organizations, including Dr. Mary Kay Clark of Seton
Home Study, Scott Woodruff of HSLDA, Will Shaw of VaHomeschoolers, and
Melissa Ellison of Classical Conversations. The group worked together to
develop a brief religious exemption policy that complies with the Code
of Virginia and protects the liberty of those with religious convictions
against sending their children to school.
Consensus Policy
The group's
"Consensus Policy" was presented at the April 8 school board meeting.
The boardroom was filled to capacity with homeschool parents supporting
the repeal of the March 11 policy (rather than the suspension of the
policy) and encouraging adoption of the "Consensus Policy." Along with
other organizations and individuals, HEAV testified in support of
adopting the new policy. Testimony included opposition from a very small
number of people who were concerned about the lack of oversight of
religious exemption parents and the opportunity for child abuse. After
almost two hours of testimony without response from the board--typical
during the public comment portion of a meeting--the board agreed to
discuss the issue again at their work session on April 22.
At
the April 22 meeting, board members decided not to request an attorney
general opinion, but agreed to have staff come up with a new policy and a
possible religious exemption form. They rejected the "Consensus Policy"
proposed by home educators.
HEAV will continue to work with
other organizations and with our HEAV members in Warren County toward a
satisfactory resolution with the Warren County School Board. We will
keep you posted on the developments.
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2010 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
Busy representing homeschooling interests and protecting
our hard-won freedoms, HEAV's Yvonne Bunn, Bob Shanks, and Caroline
Barnes kept their fingers on the pulse of activity at the Virginia
Capitol this year. Yvonne, as director of legislative affairs, planned
strategy, tracked bills, and directed the work of the legislative team.
As bill reader, Caroline sifted through thousands of proposed bills
alerting legislative team members of wording that could affect our
homeschooling freedoms. Our lobbyist, Bob Shanks, worked onsite visiting
legislators, tracking bills, and attending committee hearings, and both
HEAV's executive director and president provided valuable insight and
support to the legislative team.
Here's a synopsis of this year's
most critical bills:
Sports
Access for Homeschoolers Fails Again
HB 926 Three bills
were introduced directing the Virginia High School League to provide an
exception to its rules, which currently prohibit homeschooled students
from participating in interscholastic sports. All three bills, patroned
by Delegates Carrico, Bell, and Nutter, were rolled into one; it
received fierce opposition from the Virginia High School League, the
School Superintendents Association, and the Virginia School Board
Association. Although the bill failed, it was continued to 2011 with a
House Education Committee recommendation that the Virginia High School
League use the time between sessions to work with homeschoolers to find
an equitable solution.
Vaccination
of Homeschool Students at Public Schools Now Available
HB 270 Delegate Englin
patroned a successful bill requiring the Department of Health to
develop a plan for the prompt vaccination of ALL children, including
private school children and homeschoolers, if an emergency is declared
by the Board of Health or if there is an epidemic of a
vaccine-preventable disease. The bill requires the consent of the
minor's parent or guardian. It does not affect those who choose not to
have their children vaccinated.
No More
Triennial School Census!
HB 669 Three bills
were rolled together and passed that will eliminate the Triennial School
Census. The bills, patroned by Senators Holtzman and Herring and
Delegate May, will change the way taxes are distributed to localities.
Distribution
of funds to localities will be based on the average daily membership of
the school division rather than on the school-age population.
Parental
Rights Amendment Stalls
HJ 193 The Virginia
House passed a bill urging Congress to pass the Parental Rights
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and submit it to the states for
ratification. However, the Senate left the bill in the Rules Committee,
so the resolution failed for this year.
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HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES HAVE A GREAT LEARNING
EXPERIENCE
AT DAY AT THE CAPITOL
 On April 8,
nearly 500 parents, grandparents, and students were welcomed by HEAV's
executive director, George Lansing, and Yvonne Bunn, director of
homeschool support, at the Library of Virginia in Richmond for the
sixteenth annual HEAV Homeschool Day at the Capitol. This beautiful
spring day was filled with both sunshine and families eager to learn
about state government and the legislative process.
HEAV lobbyist
Bob Shanks gave a review of important legislation from the 2010
session. Afterwards, Delegate Christopher Peace (Mechanicsville) and
Delegate Bob Marshall (Manassas) addressed the parents and students
concerning the purpose of government and how to become involved.
HEAV
scheduled tours of the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Executive
Mansion, and the Museum of the Confederacy, as well as special chamber
presentations, so as families filed into the Library of Virginia, they
chose which tours to attend. Later in the day, many enjoyed a scavenger
hunt on the Capitol grounds, while others obtained a bird's-eye view of
the Capitol and the Richmond skyline from the City Hall observation
deck. It was a perfect day with lovely tulips along the Capitol walkways
greeting families as they made their way to the day's events.
Take a look at the pictures!
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 WASHINGTON
BRIEFING AND LOBBYING
OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERS
The Home
School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and the National Center for
Home Education (NCHE) hosted a National Homeschool Leadership Summit
March 17 through 19 to brief state leaders on current federal issues.
Leaders also lobbied their U.S. senators and representatives for
homeschool freedoms.
HEAV's executive director, George Lansing,
and his wife, Kathleen, together with HEAV's director of legislative
affairs, Yvonne Bunn, and her husband, George, attended the summit,
which was hosted by HSLDA president Mike Smith at Patrick Henry College.
The summit began with a Parental Rights Amendment update and
Q&A with Mike Farris. Will Estrada, HSLDA's director of federal
relations, addressed numerous federal issues that included the threat of
nationalized standards, the move toward early education, the possible
ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child,
homeschoolers and education savings accounts, the protection of publicly
held records, and an appeal to the Department of Labor to change
working hours for homeschooled students. We are concerned homeschoolers
may see an increase in federal involvement in education during the next
few years.
The Lansings and Bunns visited both Senator Mark
Warner's and Senator Jim Webb's offices and left packets of materials
with the message that "homeschool freedom works!" View photos from the
event here.
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ARE YOU AN HEAV MEMBER?
IF NOT, THEN JOIN TODAY!
With your support, HEAV will continue
to protect the rights of homeschoolers. For only $35 per year, you can
help advance homeschool freedoms. Join NOW!
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