Legislative Summary
2005
Interscholastic Sports
HB 1731 Patroned by Delegate Cosgrove, this bill would have required the Virginia High School League to allow nonpublic school students to participate in public school interscholastic sports. HB 1731 was incorporated into HB 2297 (patroned by Delegate Fralin), which was then stricken from the docket at the request of the patron. FAILED (Update Feb. 16, 2005)
AP and PSAT Testing
HB 1767 Patroned by Delegate Jim Dillard, this bill requires notification of the availability of AP and PSAT tests. PASSED (Update Feb. 16, 2005)
Homeschool Testing
HB 1770 Delegate Jim Dillard required a list of acceptable achievement tests. This bill passed the House 98-0. At HEAV’s request, the Senate amended the bill allowing homeschoolers to take “ANY nationally normed standardized achievement test.” It passed the Senate 40-0. The House rejected the Senate amendments. FAILED (Update March 1, 2005)
Testing Deadline
HB 2541, sponsored by Delegate S.C. Jones, would have changed the date for submitting test scores and evaluations to August 15. The bill was stricken from the docket at the request of the patron. FAILED (Update Feb. 16, 2005)
Tax Credits
HB 2914 Delegate Chris Saxman’s bill would have provided a tax credit for educational expenses up to $1,200 for joint filers. FAILED (Update Feb. 16, 2005)
Absentee Voting
SB 838 Senator Ken Cuccinelli expanded a category of eligible absentee voters to include stay-at-home moms. FAILED (Update Feb. 16, 2005)
Tax Deduction
SB 1239 Senator Russ Potts patroned a bill that would provide a $250 state tax deduction for public, private, and homeschool teachers for educational expenses. FAILED (Update Feb. 16, 2005)
Compulsory Attendance Age
SB 1290, patroned by Senator Emmett Hanger, would have moved the date of compulsory attendance back to July 31. FAILED (Update Feb. 16, 2005)
Parental Rights
HJ 712 Introduced by Delegate Kathy Byron, this constitutional amendment would have granted parents the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. The resolution was stricken from the docket at the request of the patron. FAILED (Update Feb. 16, 2005)
