| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 1/25/2012 11:33:43 AM Home School Legal Defense Association Urgent: Call Today, Attend Hearings Tomorrow to Fix Curriculum Description |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Virginia--Urgent: Call Today, Attend Hearings Tomorrow to Fix Curriculum Description Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Your help is needed urgently to support two bills that will fix longstanding problems with the "curriculum description" requirement for home instruction. Families in many counties have struggled for years, and even been threatened with truancy, when their local school systems have demanded detailed information about the content of their instruction--although the statute only calls for a broad curriculum description. More fortunate families in some counties have been allowed to submit a simple list of subjects. HB 1208, and the companion bill, SB 564, will correct this problem by inserting a common sense explanation of what "curriculum description" means: a simple list of subjects. These bills will dramatically reduce conflicts and put an end to the unreasonable demands and threats of school systems. Both bills are scheduled for a hearing early tomorrow morning! ACTION REQUESTED 1. As soon as you open this email, please call your senator and delegate, if they are listed below, and ask them to support the bills. Use this link to find out who your senator and delegate are: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=13520 2. Your message to your delegate can be as simple as: "Please vote YES on HB 1208. It will bring consistency and common sense to the home instruction curriculum description requirement." 3. Your message to your senator can be as simple as: "Please vote YES on SB 564. It will bring consistency and common sense to the home instruction curriculum description requirement." 4. Please consider attending one or both hearings tomorrow, January 26. If you can attend only one, please attend the Senate hearing. The Senate hearing will be at 8:30 a.m. in Senate Room B in the General Assembly Building, first floor, in Richmond (full Senate Education and Health Committee). The hearing on the House bill will take place at 7:30 a.m. in Room 5 East, fifth floor, in the General Assembly Building in Richmond (Subcommittee on Students and Early Education). 5. While the hearings start at 7:30 and 8:30, respectively, we don't know for sure when each bill will be heard. Be prepared to wait awhile. (The sports access bill, HB 947, will be heard in the same time slot as the curriculum description bill in the House hearing.) 6. The street address for the General Assembly Building is 201 North 9th St., Richmond, VA, 23219. Public parking is available in several locations, but allow some extra time. CONTACT INFORMATION--Senate Committee Senator Stephen H. Martin, Chair (804) 698-7511 Senator Richard L. Saslaw (804) 698-7535 Senator L. Louise Lucas (804) 698-7518 Senator Janet D. Howell (804) 698-7532 Senator Stephen D. Newman (804) 698-7523 Senator Harry B. Blevins (804) 698-7514 Senator Mamie E. Locke (804) 698-7502 Senator George L. Barker (804) 698-7539 Senator Ralph S. Northam (804) 698-7506 Senator John C. Miller (804) 698-7501 Senator Ralph K. Smith (804) 698-7519 Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters (804) 698-7508 Senator Richard H. Black (804) 698-7513 Senator Charles W. Carrico, Sr. (804) 698-7540 CONTACT INFORMATION--House Subcommittee Delegate Richard P. Bell, Chairman (804) 698-1020 Delegate R. Steven Landes (804) 698-1025 Delegate Christopher P. Stolle (804) 698-1083 Delegate Roxann L. Robinson (804) 698-1027 Delegate Joseph R. Yost (804) 698-1012 Delegate Kenneth C. Alexander (804) 698-1089 Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey (804) 698-1074 Delegate Mark L. Keam (804) 698-1035 BACKGROUND The word "curriculum" is vague. The word "description" is vague. Put them both together, and it's hopelessly vague! But that has not stopped some school systems from fiercely threatening truancy if families don't submit pages of curriculum information. Other school systems, consistent with HSLDA's guidance, ask for only a few lines. The Virginia Department of Education, possibly confused by the vagueness of the current law, has published inconsistent guidance for local school systems. This has encouraged a crazy-quilt of uneven application across the state. Sen. Dick Black is the sponsor of the Senate bill. Del. Brenda Pogge is the sponsor of the companion bill in the House. Home Educators Association of Virginia asked the sponsors to bring the bills, and HSLDA is fully supportive. HSLDA Senior Counsel Scott Woodruff will be present tomorrow morning to testify. Thank you for standing with us for freedom! Sincerely Yours, Scott A. Woodruff HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Who are the nation's best lobbyists? We don't know that this has ever been determined; but we do know that HSLDA's Federal Relations Department is the only national organization lobbying on behalf of homeschoolers on Capitol Hill. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1102 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
