Senate File 846/House File 1037 Homeschool Mandates Reduction

Senate File 846 Sponsors:
Senators Olson, Skogen, Stumpf, Fobbe and Hann

House File 1037 Sponsors:
Representatives Swails, Abeler, Slawik, Otremba, Kiffmeyer, Demmer, Drazkowski, Seifert and Brod, Davids, Morgan, Eastlund, Smith, Severson and Obermueller

Summary:
S.F. 846 and H.F. 1037 are companion bills. If passed, they would greatly reduce reporting requirements required of homeschoolers and would thus extend homeschooling freedom in Minnesota. The bills would make the following changes:

1) Limit families reporting to only once when they start homeschooling or when they move;

2) Allow homeschool students to take a nationally recognized college entrance exam or a nationally norm-referenced standardized test;

3) Eliminate the requirement that parents obtain additional evaluation of a student’s abilities should the student score less than the 30th percentile;

4) Eliminate the current requirement that parents provide quarterly report cards if their only qualification is that they are the parent of the child;

5) Eliminate the requirement that parents submit an annual instructional calendar;

6) Require parents to maintain (vs. make available) documentation that the student is being taught the required subjects

7) Parents of students educated at home would not have to file an immunization record with the superintendent;

8) Allow parents to certify that a student is presently engaged in home education for the purposes of taking home-classroom driver training;

9) Allow the person in charge of providing instruction to issue an employment certificate; and

10) Repeal language pertaining to an annual on-site visit.

Senate File 846 Status:

2/19/2009		(Senate) Introduced
2/19/2009		(Senate) Referred to Education Committee
3/12/2009		(Senate) Committee Report: To pass as amended and re-refer to finance

House File 1037 Status:

2/23/2009		(House) Introduced
2/23/2009		(House) Referred to K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Committee
2/26/2009		(House) Authors added: Demmer, Drazkowski and Seifert
3/2/2009		(House) Author added: Brod
3/6/2009		(House) Authors added: Davids, Morgan, Eastlund, Smith, Severson and Obermueller
3/9/2009		(House) Author added: Slocum
3/16/2009		(House) Committee report: To pass and re-refer to finance
3/16/2009		(House) Author added: Lanning
3/17/2009		(House) Referred by chair to K-12 Finance Division

HSLDA’s Position:
Support.

Action Requested:
None at this time.

Other Resources

E-lert—Feb. 24, 2009—Minnesota: Call Now to Support Increased Homeschool Freedom

E-lert—Feb. 26, 2009—Minnesota: More Action Needed to Support Homeschool Freedom

E-lert—March 25, 2009—Minnesota: Legislative Confusion; Some Clarification

S.F. 846 Bill Text

H.F. 1037 Bill Text

S.F. 846 Bill History

H.F. 1037 Bill History