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From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
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January 17, 2008
West Virginia--Action Needed to Oppose Bad Driver's License Bill
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,
On January 10, members of the West Virginia Senate and House of
Delegates both introduced identical bills, S.B. 205 and H.B. 4023.
These bills would require every applicant for a driver's license under
the age of 18 to attain and maintain "satisfactory academic progress"
in order to be issued a license. Before they will be able to issue a
license to these drivers, the Division of Motor Vehicles will have to
receive a Driver's Eligibility Certificate verifying that the student
has a grade point average of at least 2.0. If a student's grade point
average slips below a 2.0 for any grading period, that driver may face
suspension of his or her license. Not only that, but it will also
immediately become illegal for him or her to operate a motor vehicle,
regardless of the validity of his or her license.
By requiring that all drivers under 18 maintain a certain GPA, this
bill creates opportunity for increased restrictions on homeschoolers,
first by requiring that they meet the standard of a 2.0 GPA, and then
by requiring that they prove this to their school district. This will
create a framework for adding state-imposed requirements for how
homeschoolers calculate their GPA.
If this bill becomes law, homeschoolers will have to submit
confidential personal information about their grades and ages to be
stored in a government database.
It is widely recognized that public schools have a crisis of falling
test scores and literacy rates. However, Lawrence Rudner's study of
homeschool students published in 1999
(http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=4656) shows that homeschoolers have
no such problem. It is unfair and unnecessary to place an added legal
burden on homeschooled students when they are already thriving.
Licenses should be issued based on the ability to drive safely, and
not used as a tool for advancing a social agenda. This bill will not
only result in increased requirements for homeschoolers, but could be
problematic for any West Virginia driver under the age of 18.
To view the bill, go to http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=4657
ACTION REQUESTED
Contact the following West Virginia Senators and Delegates to oppose
S.B. 205 and H.B. 4023.
Earl Ray Tomblin (D - Logan), Senate President
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7801
Email: spres@mail.wvnet.edu
Don Caruth (R - Mercer), Senate Minority Leader
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7901
Email: dcaruth@mail.wvnet.edu
Richard Thompson (D - Wayne), House Speaker
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3210
Email: Speaker.Thompson@verizon.net
Tim Armstead (R - Kanawha), House Minority Leader
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3240
Email: tarmste1@mail.wvnet.edu
Please give them the following message in your own words:
"Please withdraw S.B. 205 and H.B. 4023. Not only is it unreasonable
to link the issuance of licenses with anything other than the ability
to drive safely, but this bill will result in increased regulation and
reporting requirements for homeschool families. Public education
reform needs to take place in public school, and the negative effects
of a public school reform effort should limited to public school
students."
This issue affects all parents in West Virginia, so please call these
representatives even if you are not a homeschooler.
Thank you for your vigilance on behalf of all West Virginia parents!
Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney
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-> How many news articles did you read this morning over your
oatmeal?
We live in a world where concise information presented at the
right time can make a big difference in the outcome of important
legislative efforts. Yet it's tough to keep up with all the
issues that affect you. HSLDA does this for you in the areas that
affect your homeschool. Our emails and website enable you to
take quick, decisive action. Please consider becoming a part of
this team.
More reasons to join HSLDA...
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1923
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