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| Date: From: Subject: | 1/20/2005 5:05:35 PM Home School Legal Defense Association South Dakota--Homeschoolers Defeat Onerous Testing Bill |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== January 20, 2005 South Dakota--Homeschoolers Defeat Onerous Testing Bill Dear HSLDA members and friends: This morning the Senate Education Committee decisively voted against Senate Bill 11. No one testified in favor of the bill except the two sponsors, Senator Kooistra and Representative Roberts. Senator Kooistra presented a graph showing that South Dakota homeschoolers score higher on standardized tests than others. He then insisted that the public schools monitor the tests, but did not present any evidence casting doubt on the reliability of the test scores. With only a day's notice, HSLDA Attorney Scott Woodruff flew to South Dakota and testified against the onerous Senate Bill 11. He argued that no state insists on monitoring the tests homeschoolers take, and fewer than half the states require any testing at all. Woodruff also showed how the restrictive monitoring of testing proposed in Senate Bill 11 violated parental rights. In addition, each member of the Committee received a complete copy of the Rudner report, which shows that high test scores for homeschoolers is truly a national phenomenon. Several other homeschoolers testified against the bill. The room was crammed with parents who opposed the bill. They overflowed the hearing room and spilled out into the adjoining hall. Senator Kooistra could see there was little support for his bill. In his rebuttal, he said, "I have an idea where this bill is going." He then suggested that the Department of Education "step up to the plate." Senator Knudson offered a motion to defer the bill to the non-existent forty-first legislative day, which would kill the bill. He said that the proponents of the bill had not documented any problems to solve. Senator Bogue seconded the motion. Senator Nesselhuf said that greater public accountability is needed for public schools, not privately operated homeschools. He also said that his e-mail account had been "maxed out" with e-mails opposing the bill. When the Chairman called for a vote, every Senator voted against SB 11 except Senator Kooistra. Your calls, e-mails, and visits to the Capitol made a tremendous difference. Thank you for standing with us for freedom. Sincerely, Scott A. Woodruff, Esq. HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How many acorns can a chipmunk hold in its cheeks? We don't know! But we do know that gathering little by little enables ordinary folks to prepare for hard times. That principle is behind HSLDA's payment plan: by paying a month at a time, families can receive an annual HSLDA membership. Meanwhile, they can feel secure as they homeschool and focus on other priorities -their children. Don't go nuts trying to pay for membership all at once. Choose one of our convenient payment plans. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1937 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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