Senate Bill 375: Establishes Notification Requirements

Author:
Senator Wilson

Summary:
Thank you for all of your calls to Senator Wilson and the Senate Education Committee members concerning Senate Bill 375. Your voice was heard loud and clear that parents conducting “other means of education” (i.e. homeschooling) did not need regulation.

We have been able to confirm with Senator Wilcoxson, who is the Co-chair of the Senate Education Committee that Senate Bill 375 is dead and that she will not let it be heard in committee. This is good news! However, we will continue work with state homeschool organizations like Oklahoma Central Home Educators Coalition (OCHEC) and Christian Home Educators Fellowship (CHEF) to monitor this and other bills to ensure that homeschool freedom is continued to be protected in Oklahoma.

No further action is necessary on this bill at this time. However, please continue to be vigilant concerning this issue and others that could affect homeschool families. As it has been said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”

Thank you for your part in fighting for freedom in Oklahoma!

Status:

2/6/2006

(Senate) Referred to the Education committee

HSLDA's Position:
Opposed.

Action Requested:
No further action needed at this time.

Background:
Senate Bill 375 would have required homeschool parents to notify their local school district of their intent to utilize “other means of education” (i.e. homeschooling) before the first day of each school year or within 10 days of beginning their program.

Senate Bill 375 would also have required parents to report to the local school district their child’s academic progress at the end of each semester throughout the school year!

Last but not least, S.B. 375 would have subjected homeschool students to the jurisdiction of the local attendance officer. Under Oklahoma law, an attendance officer can take temporary custody of any child who is found away from his or her home or school during normal school hours without a lawful excuse as authorized by the school district.

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