Virginia Homeschool | Leader Letter July 26, 2006

Leader Letter

July 26, 2006

Dear Leaders,

Have you been relaxing by the pool this summer with a glass of cool lemonade? Probably not! I do hope your schedule has allowed you to slow down some and enjoy a fun-filled summer with your children.

It was exciting to host more than 85 leaders for the Leader Luncheon at the HEAV Convention. Wasn't it enjoyable to sit down for a change, meet leaders from other areas, and eat a meal prepared by someone else? New York homeschool leader Cheryl Carter offered some gutsy practical advice on how to prioritize our time and address some of the common issues we face as leaders. (Some memories from the Leader Luncheon appear at the end of this greeting.)

One important issue easily overlooked is the need to stay connected to each other for support and encouragement. HEAV wants to serve you in any way we can. It's our goal to provide accurate and timely information--details about upcoming events, announcements to share with your support group, news articles to publish in your e-letters, and links to important resources. We also want to share helpful tips and words of encouragement to keep you motivated.

Here's how you can help. If ALL the leaders in your support group are not receiving HEAV's monthly e-mail Leader Letter, we encourage you to forward it on to them! If they would like to receive the Leader Letter for themselves, they can simply send their name, support group name, and e-mail address to support@heav.org. All they need to do is ask to be added to the Leader Letter list. I'll be glad to send it to multiple people in your group--all of those in leadership positions. So let's stay connected.

Blessings,
Yvonne Bunn
HEAV Homeschool Support

Leader Luncheon Snapshots

Leaders become acquainted with each other during lunch.

New York homeschool leader Cheryl Carter shares
practical advice during the Leader Luncheon.

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1) HOMESCHOOL NEWS
1.1 Homeschool Family Conference
1.2 Governor Kaine Signs Back-to-School Tax Relief Legislation
2) LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
2.1 Monitoring Changes to the Homeschool Law!
2.2 New Homeschool Law Q & A
2.3 New Notice of Intent Form Available
3) HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS
3.1 Leader Surveys

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1) HOMESCHOOL NEWS

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1.1 Homeschool Family Conference

HEAV is providing the following details on a free conference intended to encourage families in your support group:

Encouragement for the Homeschool Family Conference
Presented by Steve and Teri Maxwell and family
September 14, 2006, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Lynchburg Christian Academy (in the gym)
701 Thomas Road
Lynchburg, Virginia
Phone: 434-239-9281

Conference Fee:
There is no charge for this conference, but an offering box will be available to help defray the Maxwell family's traveling expenses.
Contact and Registration Information:
Please register at no cost by contacting Laurie Lawrence at LlmomsavedbyGD@aol.com or 540-890-1755, or Laura Mallory at lbmallory@msn.com or 540-297-0942. Pre-registration is greatly appreciated.
Childcare:
Children are welcome to attend the workshops with their parents; however, childcare services will be unavailable. Nursing facilities will be available for mothers and nursing babies.
Note:
There is a possibility of a location change if the church building is sold. Visit the conference website for further developments: www.titus2.com/w-speaking-schedule.htm.

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1.2 Governor Kaine Signs Back-to-School Tax Relief Legislation

Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine recently ceremonially signed legislation adopted by the 2006 General Assembly creating an annual three-day "sales tax holiday" on the purchase of certain back-to-school related items. The sales tax holiday will occur Friday, August 4, 2006, and expire at midnight on Sunday, August 6, 2006. This tax relief will save Virginia parents an estimated $3.6 million this year.

House Bill 532, sponsored by the late Delegate Harry Parrish, consolidated eight different House proposals that included some version of a back-to-school tax holiday. Senate Bill 571, which was identical to HB 532, was sponsored by Senator Ryan McDougle. Both measures passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

"Every parent knows that getting ready for a new school year can be an expensive proposition. The legislation I am signing into law today is an effort to make that process a little easier and a little more affordable for Virginia families," Governor Kaine said.

The exemption will occur on an annual basis for a three-day period starting the first Friday in August, and ending at midnight on the first Sunday in August. The exemption applies to school supplies with a selling price of $20 or less, and clothing or footwear with a selling price of $100 or less. In addition to an exemption for school related supplies, this bill allows a dealer to absorb the sales tax on the sale of any item during the exemption period.

The Virginia Tax Department will post detailed information about the specific items that are eligible for the exemption on its website,

www.tax.virginia.gov/

, by mid-July. Virginia is at least the 15th state to enact this type of tax relief. Other states or territories include Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia.

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2) LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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2.1 Monitoring Changes to the Homeschool Law!

Most homeschoolers are aware of the changes to the homeschool statute that became effective July 1, 2006; however, some division superintendents or their designees may still be referring to the "old law." If such is the case in your area, please let HEAV know of the situation immediately by sending an e-mail to

support@heav.org. Indicate your county/city, the superintendent's name, and any references to the incorrect application of the statute. An HEAV representative will contact your superintendent's office and respectfully inform the superintendent of the recent changes to Virginia's homeschool laws. Again, if you or members of your support group experience any trouble with your division superintendent's office, please let us know!
Superintendent's Memo #124

The Superintendent of Public Instruction recently sent Supts. Memo #124 (see

www.heav.org/thelaw/index.html) to all local division superintendents, describing the law changes. However, the "Home Instruction in Virginia" handbook published by the Department of Education (DOE), and referenced by superintendents, has not yet been updated (see DOE website). We are aware that some superintendents have already sent Notice of Intent forms that include last year's wording, rather than the most recent version of the law. Some of the memo's highlights follow and serve as key elements to monitor:
1. Option (i)

Supts. Memo #124 includes information about the option (i) change from baccalaureate degree to high school diploma. It expressly states that any degree higher than a high school diploma also meets the new requirement.

2. Option (iv)

The memo also refers to the option (iv) change giving parents the choice of using a curriculum that is consistent with the SOLs in language arts and mathematics or providing evidence that the parent is able to provide an adequate education. To assess a parent's ability to provide an adequate education, "the division superintendent should determine whether the information submitted exhibits a mastery of language by the writer; whether it includes plans for instructional activities; and whether it presents a reasonable scope and sequence of content that shows a broad overview of what the parent plans to teach the child during the school year."

3. Notifying in the Middle of the School Year

The memo also clarifies the notification timeline for parents who move into a new school division or decide to homeschool after the school year has begun. "This means subsequent to providing the school division with a notice of intent, such parents can begin homeschooling, and they will have 30 days to submit the other information required."

4. Testing Changes

The memo explains that a student may score in or above the fourth stanine on "ANY nationally normed standardized achievement test." As an alternative to a standardized achievement test, a parent may choose an "evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress."

5. PSAT/AP Tests

Lastly, the memo addresses the requirement that public schools both notify and make PSAT/AP tests available to high school homeschoolers.

6. Notice of Intent

Parents who file a Notice of Intent are still required to provide a brief description of their curriculum, i.e., a list of subjects to be taught and/or a list of the textbook titles or teaching materials they intend to use.

A revised Notice of Intent form can be downloaded from the HEAV website (

www.heav.org), or parents can send a letter notifying their local division superintendent of their intent to homeschool.

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2.2 New Homeschool Law Q & A

Members of your support group might have questions on how the recent changes to Virginia homeschool law might affect them and their families. The information that follows has been provided to help you answer those questions.

Q. Is a GED accepted as a high school diploma under option (i)?

A.
A General Education Development high-school equivalency test (GED) is not accepted as a high school diploma for the purposes of homeschooling under option (i).
Background

When HEAV first presented HB 1340 in the Senate education committee in order to change option (i) from a baccalaureate degree to a high school diploma, several legislators adamantly opposed including the GED. In order to secure passage of the proposal, the committee voted for the bill without including the GED as a high school diploma. This action allowed the bill to move out of committee and forward to eventual passage by the Senate.

HEAV attended a meeting after the General Assembly session with the Virginia Department of Education (DOE) concerning implementation of the new homeschool laws. The GED issue was discussed; however the DOE did not agree to accept a GED as a high school diploma under option (i).

Options for filing the Notice of Intent

For a parent with a GED, there are several options available to consider when filing the Notice of Intent to homeschool:

1) Option (i) of the homeschool law states "a parent" must have a high school diploma. It does not say "the teaching parent" must have a high school diploma. If either the father or the mother has a high school diploma, that parent may file under option (i) using a copy of his or her diploma. The parent with the diploma should also be the one to sign the Notice of Intent.

2) Under option (iii) a parent may use an approved correspondence course. A list of courses can be found at

www.heav.org under the law section.

3) Under option (iv), parents may include the state language arts and mathematics Standards of Learning (SOLs) in their curriculum.* A statement indicating the SOLs are included in the curriculum may suffice, or simply sending a copy of the language arts and mathematics SOLs for their child's grade level may be acceptable. Another choice would be to send a copy of the table of contents from the language arts and mathematics textbooks or a publisher's scope and sequence for the appropriate grade level.

*HEAV recommends the least intrusive method of compliance that is acceptable to your division superintendent

4) For the first time under option (iv), instead of including the SOLs as mentioned above, parents may provide evidence (a statement) that they are able to provide an adequate education for their children. The superintendent will determine from the statement if there is a "mastery of language by the writer; whether it includes plans for instructional activities; and whether it presents a reasonable scope and sequence of content that shows a broad overview of what the parent plans to teach."

Q. Is a "certificate" acceptable proof of a high school diploma under option (i)?

A.
A copy of a "certificate" (i.e., Certificate in Radiology, Certificate in Information Technology, Certificate in Human Resource Management, etc.) is not acceptable proof of a high school diploma. A copy of a high school diploma or a high school transcript should be included with the Notice of Intent form or letter. Any higher degreeÃ‚â€”a baccalaureate degree, master's degree, or doctorateÃ‚â€”is acceptable.
Q. Can religiously exempt students take the PSAT and AP tests?

A.
Yes, there is nothing in the Code that either compels or prevents a school division from offering the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and Advanced Placement (AP) tests to students homeschooled under a religious exemption. They should be treated as any other homeschooled student.

For more information on the new Virginia homeschool laws, visit

www.heav.org.

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2.3 New Notice of Intent Form Available

Be sure to remind homeschoolers in your area to use the updated Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction (NOI) form, which includes the 2006 law changes in options (i) and (iv). The form can be downloaded free from

www.heav.org. The link to the new form appears at the top of our homepage.

The law does not require homeschoolers to use a school district's form or any other particular form. Parents can send a letter to the local school superintendent that includes the same information that appears on the NOI.

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3) HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS

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3.1 Leader Surveys

HEAV will be conducting short monthly surveys to learn how to serve support groups better. The e-mail addresses of those who respond will be entered in a drawing for a free quarterly gift from HEAV. Winners will be notified via e-mail and survey results may be published in future Leader Letters.

Please e-mail your answers to the following questions directly to

support@heav.org:

As a support group leader, what workshop topic or topics were most helpful to you at this year's HEAV convention?

What would you like to see featured at future conventionsÃ‚â€”speakers, topics, events?

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HEAV (Home Educators Association of Virginia)
2248-G Dabney Road
Richmond, VA 23230-0745
Phone: 804-278-9200
Fax: 804-278-9202
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