Senate Bill 472: Requires Home Education Notification and Academic Reports

Author:
Senator Mary Easley

Summary:
Even before the Oklahoma 2009 legislative session has officially started, two bills have come to our attention, and we need your help. Both of these bills, Senate Bill 308 and Senate Bill 472, threaten the foundation of home education freedom that parents have in Oklahoma. These bills are scheduled to be officially introduced on February 2.

Senate Bill 472 would require every parent or guardian who is providing “other means of education” (i.e. home education) to their child to notify their local school district of this fact. If this bill is passed, every parent would have to submit a notice of their intent before the first day of each school year or within 10 days from beginning their home education program.

Senate Bill 472 would also require parents to submit a report of each of their children’s academic progress at the end of each semester. Every parent would be required to submit two reports a year to their local public school officials for each child to demonstrate how that child was doing in their home education program.

Oklahoma Christian Home Educators Consociation (OCHEC) has confirmed from Senator Jonathan Nichols, the chairman of the Rules Committee, that Senate Bills 308 and 472 will be killed in committee.

However, Senate Bills 308 and 472 did not pass out of committee.

Status:

2/2/2009		(Senate) Introduced
2/3/2009		(Senate) Referred to Senate Rules Committee

HSLDA's Position:
HSLDA is opposed to S.B. 472.

Action Requested:
No further action needed.

Background:
Some of you may remember that in the 2007 legislative session Senator Jim Wilson introduced a bill that was virtually identical to current Senate Bill 472. That bill, Senate Bill 375, was successfully defeated by the prayers and hard work of families all across Oklahoma.

Thank you for your part in fighting for freedom in Oklahoma! Feel free to pass this information on to others who are supportive of home education freedom. If you would like to be put on our email list to receive free vital e-lerts you may sign up here.

Other Resources

E-lert, January 13, 2009: Oklahoma—Action Needed, Homeschool Freedom Threatened by Two Bad Bills!

E-lert, January 14, 2008: Oklahoma—Update—Partial Good News on Negative Senate Bills

E-lert—2/6/2009 12:07:19 PM—Oklahoma: More Calls Needed on Bad Bills!

E-lert—2/6/2009 2:47:01 PM—Oklahoma: Update--No More Calls Needed!