Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Does the Homeschool Non-Discrimination Act provide new federal handouts for homeschoolers? For the answer to that important question, join Mike Smith for today's Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Smith:
I'm here this week with HSLDA's Tom Washburne to talk about the Homeschool Non-Discrimination Act. Tom, HSLDA has always said, "Homeschoolers don't want special treatment, they just want to be left alone." But because several sections of HONDA deal with federal funds, some suspect that this new legislation is equivalent to homeschoolers asking for a handout. Is this true?


Tom Washburne:
No, Mike, HONDA's not about federal handouts.


There are only six provisions in HONDA. Let me take you through them.


The first ensures that homeschool graduates are eligible for admission to colleges which award federal financial aid.


The second clarifies that nothing in the federal special needs programs requires a child to be evaluated without their parents' consent.


The third allows homeschooling families to put their own money into education savings accounts for use on education expenses.


The fourth provision in HONDA simply grants privacy protections to homeschool records which are held by public schools.


The fifth allows for homeschool graduates to compete for a merit-based college scholarship offered by the federal government. This is a reward based on what a person knows, regardless of where they learned it.


The last section simply clarifies that the school hours of a homeschooled teen may differ from the school hours of traditional schools in regard to child labor law.


HONDA is not about federal handouts to homeschools, just sensible treatment.


Mike:
Thank you, Tom. And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.