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ACROSS THE STATES

UTAH

Amazing legislative victory

At the beginning of this year's legislative session, three states-Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Utah-required parents to obtain approval from the school district in order to homeschool their children. Given the current political climate in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, this requirement is not surprising. But Utah, the final approval state, is generally very friendly towards parental rights.

Nowhere was this proven more dramatically than in the Utah Legislature's passage of Senate Bill 59. The bill was drafted in order to remove the approval requirement, ease up on homeschool regulations, and clearly state that school districts cannot interfere in key aspects of homeschooling. Homeschoolers jumped at the chance to fix Utah's archaic system.

Thanks to the action of homeschool activists and family-friendly legislators, there was never much doubt as to the final success of SB 59. In the end, though, nobody could have expected the stunning good news. This bill passed unanimously, receiving not a single "nay" vote in its entire journey through the House, Senate, and governor's office!

The success of Utah homeschoolers is a testament to what we can achieve by being involved, and a great encouragement to homeschoolers in many other states striving to improve their laws. Thanks to Utah homeschoolers for their wonderful example!