| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 7/6/2007 3:31:28 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Arkansas: Legislative Wrap-Up |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== July 5, 2007 Arkansas--Legislative Wrap-Up Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: The Arkansas General Assembly adjourned for the year on May 1, 2007. HSLDA tracked several bills during the 2007 session affecting the rights of parents who educate their children at home. Most notable was House Bill 2394. This bill changes the definition of a "home school" in Arkansas, and was signed into law on April 2, 2007, by Governor Mike Beebe. Prior law defined this term as "a school primarily conducted by parents or legal guardians for their own children." The new definition for a home school is "a school provided by a parent or legal guardian for his or her own child." The new definition takes into consideration that a single custodial parent or guardian may elect to provide home instruction without raising the question of whether both parents must agree on this educational option for their child. Additionally, the amended definition indicates that a parent or guardian has more flexibility to obtain the services of other individuals in conducting the instruction. The parent or guardian does not have to be the person primarily doing the teaching. If passed, House Bill 2714 would have required a parent or guardian to have a high school diploma or GED before providing a homeschool education to a child or ward. Fortunately, this bill failed to advance beyond the House Education Committee prior to adjournment. It is notable that only nine states have this requirement in their homeschool law. Studies conducted on homeschooling have concluded that there is little statistical difference between the academic performance of children whose parents have not finished high school and those who have a college education. HSLDA is unaware of any problem in Arkansas this proposed law would have fixed. House Bill 2608 was a tax credit bill for educational expenses, including those associated with homeschooling. Unfortunately, this bill did not pass. Another bill affecting homeschoolers was House Bill 2810, which would have permitted these students to participate in extracurricular activities at public school. This bill died in the House Education Committee. Other bills tracked by HSLDA were Senate Bill 841, creating government-funded distance learning education programs, and House Bill 1157, regarding step-grandparent visitation rights. HSLDA opposed both of these bills and is pleased to report that neither was passed into law. We are grateful for your vigilance and involvement to support parental rights in Arkansas and keep your ability to homeschool your children free from unreasonable governmental interference. For more information regarding legislation affecting your right to homeschool in Arkansas, please visit our web site at http://www.hslda.org/AR Sincerely, Dewitt T. Black, III Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Will your children's inheritance retain its value? If you pass on a legacy of freedom, your children and their children's children will thank you. But freedom is never secure; it must always be guarded. Membership with HSLDA is an investment in the future that can be passed on to future generations of families wanting to teach their children at home. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
