1.1 Homeschoolers Invited: High School Football – Richmond – Underway 1.2 HOPE Bookswap – Manassas – May 28 1.3 H.O.P.E. Used Curriculum Sale – Virginia Beach – May 30; Sellers RSVP by May 27 1.4 Used Curriculum and Book Sale – Culpeper – June 1 1.1 Homeschoolers Invited: High School Football – Richmond – Underway [...]

  Math-U-See will be giving away two levels of Math-U-See, two Math-U-See T-shirts, and a mystery bag to people who participate in the Bounty of Blessings Facebook Party.   Head over to Math-U-See’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mathusee) on Tuesday, February 19, from 8:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. (EST) to learn how win the prizes.   How [...]

A Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA) is an investment tool similar to a Roth IRA, except instead of retirement, the money is used for education expenses. Unlike the “529″ and other plans that help you save tax free for college education expenses, the ESA is the only plan that allows you to save for K-12 [...]

We just received this update on the California situation, released March 26 by Roy Hanson’s Private and Home Educators of California. Roy Hanson serves as the legislative consultant for CHEA. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in California. NEWSFLASH March 26, 2008From: Roy Hanson’s Private and Home Educators of California***** ***** ***** [...]

As a mother of eight (26, 25, 23, 21, 18, 16, 14, 11), I’ve learned–sometimes the hard way–that as my children get older, our relationship must change. I recently came across this helpful list of pointers in Laurie Bluedorn’s “Homeschooling with the Trivium” newsletter, and thought the list could be a blessing to many. With [...]

This news flash, released March 7 by Roy Hanson’s Private and Home Educators of California, does an excellent job summarizing the situation in California and explaining how homeschoolers can help. Roy Hanson serves as the legislative consultant for CHEA. ***** ***** ***** ***** As you probably know, on Thursday, February 28th, The Second Appellate District [...]

From the Homeschool Association of California website: SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O’CONNELL ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING HOME SCHOOLING IN CALIFORNIA 3/11/08 SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell announced today that the California Department of Education has completed a legal review of the February 28 California Court of Appeal ruling regarding home schooling. O’Connell issued [...]

By Debbie Schwarzer, HSC Legal Team Co-Chair   To avoid another firestorm like we had with the HSLDA petition, I wanted to get this information in front of you, and HSC’s position on it, right away. I have discussed this with Leslie Buchanan, HSC’s President, and she agrees with this message. She and I would [...]

From the California Homeschool Network website: Update – March 10, 2008 California Assemblyman Joel Anderson is introducing a concurrent resolution in the Assembly. He is calling on the California Supreme Court to reverse the recent court decision that could make homeschooling illegal. This will happen fast, since it’s a resolution and not a bill. All [...]

While we teach our children the importance of referring to source documents and firsthand accounts, we need to be sure we follow our own advice, especially in this day of easy—and rampant—online communication! Going back to the source—whether it be the Constitution, the Communist Manifesto, or the facts in a homeschool legal case—is essential to [...]

We will continue to share information and opinion on the California ruling. From Karen Taylor, vice president of CHN (California Homeschool Network): The following message was written by Debbie Schwarzer of HSC. She and I have been in daily contact this week as we discussed legal options, and we both agree that this is an [...]

Here’s an article from Time Magazine on the California situation. Criminalizing Home Schoolers “Parents of the approximately 200,000 home-schooled children in California are reeling from the possibility that they may have to shutter their classrooms—and go back to school themselves—if they want to continue teaching their own kids.” Read the rest of the article. Share/Bookmark

It is hard to believe on the 25th anniversary of HEAV, HSLDA, and many other homeschool organizations that fought for homeschool freedoms back in the early ’80s, a ruling would come from a California Court of Appeals declaring homeschooling illegal unless a parent is a certified teacher. On a radio broadcast earlier today, Dr. Dobson [...]

As this year’s General Assembly session wraps up, I’d like to thank all of the HEAV members for their encouragement, support, and involvement over the past two months. We have made great progress this session! Thank you for contacting your representatives and standing up for homeschoolers’ rights in Virginia. Your voice proved to be very [...]

HB 1245 (Hugo) was heard yesterday afternoon in the Senate Transportation Committee. Members Present: Miller, Y.B. (Chairman), Houck, Marsh, Newman, Watkins, Puckett, Wagner, Blevins, Deeds, McDougle, Ticer, Cuccinelli, Petersen, Smith, Miller, J.C. The Transportation Committee came to order at 2:39 p.m. HB 1245 addresses taking the DMV driving test numerous times. The proposed bill says [...]

Wow! Things happened fast in the Senate today. HB 1183 was read for the first, second, and third time today (only the third reading is recorded on LIS). Here’s what happened today: 02/25/08 Senate: Read third time 02/25/08 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/25/08 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 084106600-S1 02/25/08 Senate: Engrossed by Senate [...]

HB 1245 (Hugo) was scheduled for the 2:00 p.m. Senate Transportation Committee last Thursday. The full Senate ran later than usual, and as a result, the Senate Transportation Committee met very late. After waiting almost six hours for the hearing, here’s the update for HB1245. Membership (all members present): Miller, Y.B. (Chairman), Houck, Marsh, Newman, [...]

Things happened very quickly today! I’m really learning the art of jumping up and down over seats to get to the podium—all while holding a laptop! The testing bill HB 1183 took an unusual turn. 8:30 a.m. Senate Education and Health meeting: Membership: Houck (Chairman), Saslaw, Lucas, Howell, Quayle, Martin, Newman, Edwards, Ruff, Whipple, Blevins, [...]

HB 1183 – Homeschool Testing Options As noted in HEAV’s email announcement this morning, HB1183 (Lingamfelter-R) is scheduled to be heard in tomorrow’s 8:30 a.m. Senate Education Committee. The vote for this bill is expected to be close and hinges on whether or not key Senate Democrats will approve this bill. This afternoon, I visited [...]

Here are the results of today’s Senate education subcommittee meeting: Membership (All members present): Blevins (Chairman), Howell, Ruff, Locke, Miller, J.C. HB1183 – Delegate Lingamfelter Delegate Lingamfelter introduced the bill. He noted that the superintendent continues to have an impact on the evaluation. HEAV, HSLDA, and Virginia Homeschoolers spoke in support of the bill. Senator [...]

Well, we appear to be in a bit of a “calm before the storm” (or “calm before crossover”). But I did want to send out a summary of the bills we’re tracking so you will know where we stand once crossover goes into effect. HB259: Senate Education and Health HB767: Senate Education and Health HB1183: [...]

HB 1540 (Hugo), the bill to put driver education under the DMV, was stricken from the docket. Looks like we’re in good shape! Ben Share/Bookmark

Good morning! HB117 (Landes) and HB512 (Dance) (the two community college scholarship match bills) were heard in this morning’s 8:30 Appropriations Committee. It had been expected that Del. Landes and Del. Dance would combine their bills in this meeting. Here’s what happened today. Membership (members present are in bold): Morgan (Chairman), Ingram, May, Cox, Jones, [...]

No big changes today to the bills, but here’s a review of their current status. HB1183: Committee substitute printed; read by the House for the first time (1/31) HB117: Scheduled for Monday morning’s 8:30 Appropriations meeting HB512: Scheduled for Monday morning’s 8:30 Appropriations meeting HB767: Referred to Senate Committee on Education and Health HB375: PBI [...]

The newest version of Del. Lingamfelter’s HB1183 (an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute) can be found at http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+HB1183H1+pdf. Here’s a summary of the action on today’s bills. HB89 (Marshall): Tabled HB117 (Landes): 8:30 a.m. Monday Appropriations HB512 (Dance): 8:30 a.m. Monday Appropriations HB259 (Fralin): Sent to Senate Education and Health HB375 (Carrico): PBI’d [...]

Good morning! HB1183 (Lingamfelter) and HB375 (Carrico) were both heard in this morning’s House Education Committee meeting. Membership of this committee (members present are in bold): Tata (Chairman), Hamilton, Landes, Lingamfelter, Rust, Fralin, Cole, Gilbert, Janis, Athey, Pogge, Massie, Loupassi, Shuler, Alexander, Ebbin, Ware, O., Shannon, McClellan, Tyler, Bulova, and Morrissey HB1183 Testing Options (Lingamfelter): [...]

HB 1183 was heard this evening at 5 p.m. in the House Education subcommittee. I attended the meeting along with Scott Price and Parrish Mort from the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers and Scott Woodruff of HSLDA. Membership of this Committee (members that were present are in bold): Fralin (chairman), Landes, Gilbert, Athey, Pogge, Massie, Ebbin, [...]

Note: We loved this piece and thought you would too! —Anne It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, “Can’t you see I’m [...]

Here are a few more updates: HB 1540, Changes Regulation of Driver Training Schools (Hugo) – I spoke with Del. Hugo about our concerns – maintaining the correspondence courses for driver’s education and parent taught behind-the-wheel options. His response was that he supports homeschoolers and says he will make changes and even pull the bill [...]

Good morning! HB 375 Sports Access (Carrico) was heard briefly this morning at 9 a.m. by the Education Committee. Members of the committee (members that were present are in bold): Tata (Chairman), Hamilton, Landes, Lingamfelter, Rust, Fralin, Cole, Gilbert, Janis, Athey, Pogge, Massie, Loupassi, Shuler, Alexander, Ebbin, Ware, O., Shannon, McClellan, Tyler, Bulova, and Morrissey. [...]