Senate Bill 2271: An Act To Impose State-Mandated Proficiency Testing on Homeschoolers

Author:
Senator Jackson

Summary:

This bill would authorize the State board of Education to “establish student testing proficiency standards for promotion to grade levels for students in home instruction programs which are equivalent to requirements applicable to public school students.” This bill is now dead.

Status:

1/21/2008		Introduced and Referred to the Senate Committees on Education and Appropriations
2/19/2008		Died in Committee

HSLDA's Position:
HSLDA strongly opposed this legislation.

Action Requested:
None at this time.

Background:
Senate Bill 2271 would authorize the Mississippi State Board of Education to “establish student testing proficiency standards for promotion to grade levels for students in home instruction programs which are equivalent to requirements applicable to public school students.” Your calls to state senators are needed to stop this dangerous legislation!

If Senate Bill 2271 passes, it would essentially mean the end of homeschooling in Mississippi. Parents deciding to teach their children at home would have to conform their curriculum to the material taught in public school in order for their children to be able to pass the state tests. The Mississippi Department of Education, not parents, would determine the grade level at which a student was taught in a home instruction program.

Sponsored by Senator Sampson Jackson, II (32nd Senate District), this horrendous bill is now in the Senate Education Committee. Senator Jackson and members of the Senate Education Committee need to hear from you today!

Other Resources

E-lert—January 25, 2008—Mississippi: Calls Needed to Stop Testing Bill

E-lert—February 7, 2008—Mississippi: Testing Bill Dead

Bill Text    (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)