Date:   From:   Subject:

7/9/01 6:33:26 PM Christopher J. Klicka, Esq., Senior Counsel of HSLDA Colorado Legislature Wraps Up

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From the HSLDA@Capitol Hill E-lert Service...
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July 9, 2001

Dear Colorado Members and Friends,

As you know, the state legislature concluded its 2001 session this
May. The most significant legislation that concerned home schoolers
this year was a large education proposal, Senate Bill 98. Initially,
this bill would have restricted home schooling freedoms, but vigilant
efforts of home schoolers effectively stopped its advance.

Last fall, Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) held its 60th
annual delegate assembly. During that time, CASB urged the general
assembly to repeal the legislature's 2000 modifications to the home
school law which allow families to send their notice of intent to
home school to any school district in the state. The CASB also pushed
for an amendment to "require home school students to participate in
the Colorado Student Assessment Program" (CSAP). The board reasoned
that "one way to assure some accountability in the home school
program is to have these students participate as a group in the state
assessment program."

CASB's goal was to include these amendments in S.B. 98. Treon Goossen
of Concerned Parents of Colorado learned about this attempt and
arranged a meeting with CASB's legislative counsel. HSLDA was also
involved in the negotiations. As a result of these negotiations, CASB
abandoned its amendment to require home schoolers to take the CSAP.

However, a compromise was reached, and an amendment was added to S.B.
98, which would end home schoolers' right to file in any school
district in the state. The new amendment would limit home schoolers
to filing in their own school district or any district bordering
their own. Also, an amendment was added to give the district
authority to reject a home schooler's transcripts if, upon testing a
child, his or her test results did not verify the accuracy of the
transcripts.

Although S.B. 98 finally passed both the House and the Senate and was
signed by the governor, the amendment limiting home schoolers' right
to file in any school district failed. This means that home schoolers
in Colorado may still file their notice of intent to home school
anywhere in the state.

Also, the language in the extra-curricular section of home school
amendments was slightly altered to say, "A student enrolled in a
nonpublic home-based education program shall have the same rights as
a student enrolled in a public school of the school district in which
the child resides or enrolled in and may participate on an equal
basis."

We are thankful that home school freedoms remain intact in the state
of Colorado. Thank you for standing with us for liberty.

Sincerely,

Christopher Klicka
Senior Counsel

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Home School Legal Defense Association
P.O. Box 3000
Purcellville, Virginia 20134
540-338-5600
www.hslda.org
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Other Resources

More information on Colorado's Senate Bill 98

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