Thousands of home school parents across the nation made their voices heard this past week as the U.S. Senate cast crucial votes that could effectively increase parental and local control of education.

     Phone calls made to Senate offices were so effective that one Senate staffer finally had enough and told the caller, bluntly, “we know what you’re calling about. We’ve received thousands of calls,” and immediately hung up.

     Home schoolers were cautioned earlier that none of this legislation could be approved by the Senate this year, but despite that warning, calls in favor of Republic Senator Paul Coverdell’s bill for A+ Accounts flooded Senate offices. Coverdell’s bill encourages tax-free saving for a child’s education whether the child attends private, public or home school. Callers also opposed an amendment offered by Sen. Glenn, D-OH, which would have eliminated A+ Accounts for children home and private school. Coverdell’s bill was approved by the Senate, 56-43, while Sen. Glenn’s amendment was resoundingly defeated, 60-38.

     Amendments to Coverdell’s bill included Republican Senator John Ashcroft’s amendment to defund national testing in reading and math, and Republican Senator Slade Gorton’s amendment to convert some federal education dollars to block grants of about $10 billion. Gorton’s measure would help restore a greater local control of education, as well as defund such failed programs like School-to-Work and Goals 2000. Gorton passed 50-49 and Ashcroft passed 52-47.

     Although some Senate staffers complained about the eruption of phone calls, others were just amazed. Staffers in the following offices had these comments:

     “We have received kajillions of calls and no one has supported the Glenn amendment,” according to the office of Sen. Enzi, R-WY.

The receptionist for Sen. Thomas, R-WY, said that the office had received 50 calls in the first hour-and-a-half.

     Senator Santorum, R-PA, reported that his office has been receiving “hundreds and hundreds of phone calls.”

     The office of Sen. Robb, D-VA, said they had received Away too many calls,” and Sen. Warner, R-VA, reported “you could definitely say we were getting a lot of calls.”

     Indiana’s Republican Senators Coats and Lugar received many calls, with Lugar’s office reporting that at least five staffers were answering phones one morning this week.

     The office of Sen. Ashcroft, R-MO, also reported receiving many calls.