LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
ACROSS THE STATES

NEVADA

Slow progress on regulations

Nevada homeschoolers worked long and hard to draft new regulations that would eliminate any possible requirement that homeschoolers meet the state's Content and Performance Standards public schools. Subsequent events have proven that this was a worthwhile investment of effort: other states, such as North Dakota, have filed legislation to require all homeschooled students to take Content and Performance tests. Nevada homeschoolers have effectively eliminated that threat.

Progress has not been easy in Nevada, however. Despite a long and careful process designed to bring together homeschoolers all across the state and to eliminate any objections from school officials, the Nevada State Board of Education hearing on December 14, 2002, was disrupted by surprising testimony against the new homeschool regulations. Five people testified against the changes, including Senator Maggie Carlton from Senate District 2 in Las Vegas.

Surprised by opposition from a senator, Nevada's homeschool leaders did what they could to save the bulk of the positive changes. In order to save the rest of the regulations, they dropped one valuable change that would have reduced the requirements for homeschool consultants. The board adopted the rest of the changes.

Because these regulations are only "interim regulations," Nevada's administrative procedure requires the state board of education to hold an additional vote on them sometime after June 30, 2003. Normally, the board simply readopts interim regulations as a formality. Due to the last minute objections in this case, however, homeschoolers plan to ask the board to restore the change that was dropped in December.

HSLDA attorney Scott Somerville contacted Senator Carlton to better understand her concerns. The senator was both gracious and honest, explaining that she has never been a supporter of homeschooling. While she recognized that many homeschoolers did an excellent job, she explained that she would oppose any changes that reduced the regulations on homeschoolers. When her friend Kent Anderson told her that the proposed regulations would reduce the requirements for consultants from three years of experience to one year, she objected to the change. Senator Carlton clarified that she had only intended to express her objections as a Nevada citizen, not as a legislator with the power to derail the process. Any concerned citizen has the right to ask the state board of education to explain its rulings, and she wanted to be able to follow the process of these changes. She said she never intended to use her power to disrupt the regulatory process.

Every Nevada citizen has the right to make his or her voice heard when the government prepares new regulations. Homeschool housewives and state senators each get their say. By working hard and staying united, homeschoolers can get the changes they need despite some opposition. We urge all Nevada homeschoolers to work together to see this process through.

— Scott W. Somerville