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A C R O S S T H E S T A T E S
VERMONT
Religious Exemptions Sought
More and more home educators in Vermont are applying for religious exemptions for part or all of the home school statute. Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 16 § 166b(j) reads,
After the filing of the enrollment notice or at the hearing, if the home study program is unable to comply with any specific requirements due to deep religious conviction shared by an organized group, the Commissioner may waive such requirements if he or she determines that the educational purposes of this section are being or will be met.
Despite the language "any specific requirements," Home School Legal Defense is now representing a family who has claimed a religious exemption for the entire home school statute. It is uncertain at this point whether the Commissioner of Education will accept the family's claim, or if litigation will be necessary. The complexity and intrusiveness of Vermont's home school statute has motivated many Vermont home educators not to comply with the law, but instead remain "underground."
Other Legislation
Vermont has been in a legislative frenzy since the Supreme Court struck down the state's property tax funding system for public schools. This has kept a number of bad bills from moving very far this year. House Bill 197 would prevent any person under 18 from receiving a driver's license unless he was enrolled in a recognized school setting. This is a common mechanism states use to try to raise the state compulsory education laws without "really making it compulsory." H.B. 203 would introduce a Certificate of Mastery program to Vermont public schools. This Outcome Based Education bill would create unlimited problems for home schoolers in the state. H.B. 411 would extend the school year from 175 to 210 days, fix the length of school days to eight hours, and otherwise intrude into school affairs.
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