Vermont
Committee spurns home schoolers
Despite overwhelming support from the home schooling community, the House Education Committee refused to act on House Bill 703, leaving it to die. H.B. 703 would have established that a child in a home study program is considered "enrolled immediately upon filing an enrollment notice."
In the great majority of states, parents can lawfully begin their home school program without waiting for any government official to do anything. In Vermont, however, if the Department of Education does not respond after a family files an enrollment notice, the family cannot legally home school for 45 days. If the department demands a hearing within that time, the family can be delayed an additional 40 days. During this time, the family is potentially subject to criminal prosecution and child neglect proceedings. This is true even if the family has fully complied with the law.
Instead of listening to the wishes of the home school community, the committee tried to push a watered down draft of H.B. 703 that would have encouraged judges under some circumstances to punish truant home schoolers more strictly than truant children enrolled in a public or private school. Because such discriminatory treatment would be completely unacceptable, HSLDA recommended opposing this draft. It subsequently died as well.
Our vision for greater liberty is long-term. Perhaps the November elections will bring lawmakers to office who understand the need for reform.
— Scott A. Woodruff
HOME SCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION
