| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/7/2003 5:13:17 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Oregon--Committee to Vote on Homeschool Bill Tomorrow |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- April 7, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, On April 3, 2003 the Senate Education Committee conducted a hearing on Senate Bill 761, at which time approximately 120 homeschoolers packed the hearing room and overflowed into a second room. A lot of favorable testimony was presented in support of the bill, but time ran out before the Committee was able to conduct a vote. The Committee with meet again tomorrow, April 8, 2003, to vote. Your calls are needed to members of the Committee as they decide the fate of this bill. This legislation would repeal the notice and testing requirements of the homeschool law. Parents would be free to teach their children at home without any contact whatsoever with public school officials. REQUESTED ACTION We urge you to call the members of the Oregon Senate Education Committee listed below with this message: "Please vote for Senate Bill 761 which will relieve homeschooling parents from unnecessary state oversight. Home educators have earned the right to more freedom after demonstrating their success under the law for the past 18 years." Members of Senate Education Committee: Senator Charles Starr, Chair Bill sponsor - no need to call Senator Ryan Deckert, Vice-Chair 503-986-1714 Senator Ted Ferrioli 503-986-1730 Senator Bill Morrisette 503-986-1706 REASONS WE SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION: Senate Bill 761 would make the following changes in the current law: - expand the educational options for homeschoolers by providing that a child may be educated by the parent or legal guardian or "at the direction of" a parent or legal guardian, thereby permitting parents or guardians to appoint someone else to conduct some or all of the instruction; - repeal the requirement that parents notify the public school officials of their decision to homeschool; - repeal the testing requirements of the homeschool law, except for students participating in interscholastic activities at a public school; and - remove the requirement that the education service district or school district determine that a child under 18 is being homeschooled in order to get a driver's license. BACKGROUND Oregon first enacted a homeschool law in 1985, approximately 18 years ago. Since that time, numerous efforts have been made to enact amendments providing more freedom to parents. The most recent change in the law occurred in 1999 when significant progress was made in reducing state oversight of homeschooling. Senate Bill 761 represents a continuation of legislative efforts to gain more freedom for parents. If Senate Bill 761 is enacted, Oregon will join a growing majority of states requiring no standardized testing of homeschooled students. Further, public school officials will have no record of children being homeschooled, because parents will not be required to even notify public school officials of their decision to conduct home instruction. Oregon has the potential through this legislation to go from a state with a good homeschool law to a state with a great homeschool law. Let's work hard together to get this done this year. To see more information on this and other bills HSLDA is monitoring in Oregon, visit our website at: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/OR/default.asp Sincerely, Dewitt T. Black, III HSLDA Senior Counsel {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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