WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. House of Representatives by unanimous consent declared Oct. 1-7, 2000, National Home Education Week in a late night vote Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2000.

Bob Schaffer (R-CO), sponsored House Resolution 578, making Oct. 1-7, 2000, National Home Education Week. The U.S. Senate passed a similar resolution in 1999.

“Home education is thriving. Congressional recognition through this resolution emphasizes the point that home schooling is a mainstream educational option for today’s parents,” said J. Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association.

This has been a remarkable year for home schoolers, Smith said. Home-educated students won first, second, and third place in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. The first place winner of the spelling bee came in second in the National Geographic Bee, which was held a week before. A home schooler also won first place in the 1999 National Geographic Bee.

Home schoolers also achieved the highest average standardized test scores this year in the ACTs and SATs.

The resolution approved last night “congratulates home educators and home schooled students across the Nation for their ongoing contributions to education and for the role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for the Nation; honors home educators and home schooled students for their efforts to improve the quality of education in the United States . . . .”