Senate Bill 291: An Act To Increase Homeschool Regulation

Author:
Senator D. Ryan

Summary:
This bill would have made the following changes in Montana's homeschool law:

1. Change the definition of "homeschool" to exclude stepparents and legal guardians from being able to teach a child at home;
   

2. Require parents to register their children with the local school district instead of notifying the county superintendent of the child's enrollment in a homeschool;
   

3. Require that parents be (a) licensed to teach in Montana, (b) hold a bachelor's degree, or (c) have a high school diploma or GED and be monitored by a state-certified teacher for two years;
   

4. Require the monitor to evaluate and report the child's academic progress to the school district twice a year;
   

5. Require homeschool students in grades 4,8, and 11 to take the same "nationally standardized examination" required of public school students;
   

6. Require that students scoring below the 30th percentile on the test be evaluated for special education services; and
   

7. Prohibit the homeschooling of children determined to have a developmental disability, such as autism and Down's syndrome.
   

This was one of the worst homeschool bills we have encountered.

Status:

01/25/2005		Introduced and referred to Education and Cultural Resources
02/14/2005		Hearing Scheduled in Senate Select Committee on Education
02/14/2005		Tabled after Senate Select Committee on Education Hearing
3/1/2005		Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal

HSLDA's Position:
This bill should be opposed.

Other Resources

Feb-18-2005 — Montana--Victory for Homeschool Freedom

Feb-07-2005 — Montana--We Need Your Attendance: Hearing Date Set for Anti-Homeschool Bill

Bill Text