[UPDATED February 23, 2015]
Year-End Assessment – HB 1753* (Delegate Dave LaRock, R-Clark, Frederick, Loudoun)
The bill originally stated that parents who begin home instruction on or after February 1 are not required to submit an assessment for the partial school year. Concerns about lack of oversight required that language be changed in order to move the bill forward. The substitute bill now states that parents who begin homeschooling on or after February 1 must provide the results of an assessment, but they will not incur consequences for a score below the fourth stanine–homeschooling cannot cease nor can their homeschool be put on probation. FAILED
Parental Choice Savings Accounts – HB 2238 (Delegate Dave LaRock, R- Clark, Frederick, Loudoun)
This proposal has been amended to include only children with special needs. Funding is tied to the child and deposited into a parent-managed savings account with state oversight. The money can be used for a number of educational purposes such as tuition, distance learning, tutoring, homeschooling, or education classes. Any money not used can be saved for college. These accounts are similar to Health Savings Accounts. PASSED THE HOUSE. CURRENTLY SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Homeschool Information Privacy – SB 1383 (Senator Dick Black, R-Leesburg)
HEAV believes information provided by homeschool parents on Notice of Intent forms, assessment reports, and documents verifying learning disabilities, as well as personal information included in religious exemption letters, should NOT be included in state or national databases. This legislation, requested by HEAV, prohibits, without the parent’s permission, a division superintendent or local school board from disclosing to the Department of Education or any other person or entity any information provided by a student or parent when notifying for home instruction or claiming a religious exemption. PASSED
Home Instruction Testing Options – HB 1754* (Delegate Dave LaRock, R- Clark, Frederick, Loudoun)
This bill will amend the homeschool statute to allow the SAT, ACT, and PSAT tests to satisfy year-end assessments. The SAT, ACT, and SAT tests are the most rigorous tests available and are designed to measure college readiness. If a student plans to attend college and does well on one of these tests, he would not be required to also take a standardized achievement test. Some localities refuse to accept SAT, ACT, or PSAT scores and others will accept them. This legislation will bring consistency throughout all school districts. PASSED THE HOUSE. CURRENTLY IN THE SENATE FOR FINAL VOTE.
Home Instruction Evidence of Progress – SB 1403* (Senator Steve Martin, R-Chesterfield)
SB 1403 is a companion bill to HB 1754 above that provided acceptance of the SAT, the PSAT, and the ACT as evidence of achievement. The language in HB 1754 was substituted. PASSED.
Homeschool Student Participation in Interscholastic Programs – HB 1626 (Delegate Rob Bell, R-Charlottesville and Delegate Dave Ramadan, R-Loudoun, Prince William)
This sports access bill, introduced in previous years as the “Tebow Bill,” prevents a public school from becoming a member of an organization (the Virginia High School League) that prevents qualified homeschoolers from participating in public school interscholastic activities. The legislation details the requirements for a homeschool student to participate. A floor amendment was added that allows local school districts to decide whether or not to allow access. The provisions will expire on July 1, 2020. PASSED.
Student Identification Numbers – HB 1307 (Delegates Landes, Bell, Cox, Gilbert, Hugo, Kory and Senators Black and Ruff)
The Department of Education or local school board cannot require any student to provide a social security number. Instead, the DOE must develop a system of unique student identification numbers. The bill was amended by VaHomeschoolers to include homeschoolers. PASSED.
Common Core Standards – HB 1752 (Delegate Dave LaRock, R-Clark, Frederick, Loudoun)
Prohibits the Board of Education from replacing the Standards of Learning with Common Core State Standards without the prior approval of the General Assembly. PASSED THE HOUSE. CURRENTLY IN THE SENATE FOR FINAL VOTE.
*HEAV and HSLDA are working together for passage.
