2015 Legislation Related to Home Instruction
Senate Education meets Thursdays at 8:30 a.m., in the GA Building, Senate Room B.
House Education meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30, in the GA Building, House Room D.
HB 1753* Home Instruction Year-End Assessment Cut-Off Date (Delegate Dave LaRock, R-Clark, Frederick, Loudoun). An end-of-year assessment shall not be required if a student begins home instruction on or after February 1 of the school year.
HB 2238 Parental Choice Savings Accounts (Delegate Dave LaRock, R-Clark, Frederick, Loudoun). This proposal would be targeted to children with special needs, foster children, and children of active-duty military personnel. 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 like tuition, distance learning, tutoring, homeschooling, or a la cart education classes. Any money not used can be saved for college. These accounts are similar to Health Savings Accounts.
SB 1383 Homeschool Information Privacy (Senator Dick Black, R-Leesburg). Prohibits 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. (Legislation requested by HEAV.)
HB 1754* Home Instruction Testing Options (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.
SB 1403* Home Instruction Evidence of Progress (Senator Steve Martin, R-Chesterfield). This legislation provides that evidence of achievement on the SAT, the PSAT, the ACT, or an International Baccalaureate assessment satisfies the evidence-of-progress requirement for home-instructed students (Senate version of HB 1754 above).
HB 1626 Homeschool Student Participation in Public School Interscholastic Programs (Delegate Rob Bell, R-Charlottesville and Delegate Dave Ramadan, R-Loudoun, Prince William). A local school board may deem homeschooled students who meet certain requirements eligible to participate in interscholastic programs at the school serving the attendance zone in which the student lives. Passed House Education Committee.
*Legislation requested by HEAV and HSLDA.
