House Bill 1183: Options for Homeschooling Assessment

Sponsor:
Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter

Summary:
Provides two additional options for parents to provide evidence of progress of the child receiving home instruction: (a) an evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, or a person with a master’s degree or higher in an academic discipline, having knowledge of the child’s academic progress, stating that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress; or (b) a report card or transcript from a community college or college, college distance learning program, or home-education correspondence school.

Status:

1/9/2008		(House) Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 1/9/2008 083327600
1/9/2008		(House) Referred to Committee on Education
1/30/2008		(House) Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 1-N)
1/30/2008		(House) Committee substitute printed 083367600-H1
1/31/2008		(House) Read first time
2/1/2008		(House) Passed by for the day
2/4/2008		(House) Read second time
2/4/2008		(House) Committee substitute agreed to 083367600-H1
2/4/2008		(House) Engrossed by House—committee substitute HB1183H1
2/5/2008		(House) Read third time and passed House (83-Y 14-N)
2/5/2008		(House) Vote: Passage (83-Yes 14-no)
2/5/2008		(House) Communicated to Senate
2/5/2008		(Senate) Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2/26/2008		This bill has now passed the Senate unanimously, and has been sent back to the House for approval of amendments made in the Senate.

This bill has passed in both the Virginia House and Senate, and has been signed by Governor Kaine. Thank you for all your support!

HSLDA's Position:
Support!

Action Requested:
None at this time.

Background:
Last year we saw a dramatic surge in unreasonable rejections of perfectly good assessments. Assessments with basically identical essential content that had been accepted previously were being rejected. New demands were being made. There was tremendous uncertainty because superintendents kept changing the rules.

H.B. 1183 would guarantee that local superintendents consider three types of assessments:

1. A letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, or a person with a master’s degree in an academic field;

2. A report card or transcript from a college, community college, or college distance learning program, or home education correspondence school.

H.B 1183 does not change the standard. Each of the above type of assessment would still need to show that the child made adequate progress. H.B. 1183 simply assures families that their assessments will not be rejected without being given fair consideration.

Other Resources

Legislative Round Up: Governor Signs Bills Improving Homeschool Law

E-lert—January 14, 2008—Virginia: Bill Introduced to Expand Assessment Options

E-lert—January 19, 2008—Virginia: Calls Needed Immediately to Expand Year-End Assessment Options

E-lert—January 25, 2008—Virginia: Calls Needed Immediately to Expand Year-End Assessment Options

E-lert—January 29, 2008—Virginia: Calls Needed Now To Increase Assessment Options

E-lert—February 4, 2008—Virginia: Calls Needed For More Assessment Options

E-lert—February 7, 2008—Virginia: Assessment Option Bill Heads for Senate!

E-lert—February 15, 2008—Virginia: Calls Needed Immediately to Expand Year-End Assessment Options

E-lert—February 19, 2008—Virginia: Assessment Bill Needs Your Help!

E-lert—February 20, 2008—Virginia: Urgent Action Needed for Assessment Bill!

E-lert—February 22, 2008—Virginia: Update: Assessment Bill Makes Dramatic Comeback, Passes Committee Unanimously

Bill Text